Official Raffle Rules

Encouragement Communications, Inc. (Encouragement Communications) is a Non-Profit 501 (c) (3) organization that has been in existence and in good standing continuously for over 33 years.

This Encouragement Communications Outdoors Raffle (“The Raffle”) is a fundraising effort to support Encouragement Communications’ religious, charitable and educational ministries. We also share support to other sister non-profits of our choosing, who have a similar philosophy and compatible objectives. (See “Our Ministry Partners” section of this website).

Encouragement Communications is chartered and based in the state of Texas. The Raffle will be conducted in accordance with Texas’ Charitable Raffle Enabling Act (“CREA”) HB 2757, (June 15, 2021, CREA Update).

This is our Spring / Summer 2026 Raffle. Included are 2 sets of prizes. Each set includes 5 major prizes and 20 minor prizes. See prize descriptions and values under the “Prizes & Descriptions” section of this website. Odds of winning a prize valued at $500.00 or more are 1:320. Odds of winning one of five major prizes are 1:1600. A “Major Prize” is one that has a value of $4500.00 or more. 1st place prize value is approximately $40,000. Winners are drawn randomly and certified by an uninterested party in a drawing open to the public.

The raffle is open to participants at least 18 years of age at time of purchase. Employees, contractors and board members of Encouragement Communications as well as the immediate family members of the same are not eligible to participate.

Each ticket will be sold for the price of $65.00 (USD). Tickets will be sold exclusively through an independent agent website – Raffle Creator – to be accessed through a link from this website. (i.e. To purchase a ticket and participate in The Raffle, a participant, originating on this website, must leave this website and be redirected to the Raffle Creator website via a link by clicking the “Buy Tickets” button on this website). Raffle Creator is a secured website. Raffle Creator transacts the ticket sale, keeps track of ticket sales, keeps your financial information safe, issues tickets and receipts, forwards ticket and participant info to Encouragement Communications, etc. Being an unrelated party, Raffle Creator provides added integrity and safety to The Raffle process.

Tickets can be purchased beginning May 1, 2026, 8:00 am CST. All tickets sold are considered sold in Texas when purchased. By purchasing a ticket, each participant agrees to be bound by and adhere to all terms and conditions in these rules. The Drawing for the Spring / Summer 2026 raffle is September 30, 2026, or sooner if tickets sell out before this date. Don’t wait - tickets may sell quickly!

At the drawing, 25 winning tickets will be drawn, along with 5 additional alternate tickets. Winners will be notified by phone / text and/or by email or regular mail if necessary, and all participants will be notified eventually of the major prize winners on this website. A winner will be disqualified if the winner cannot be reached after a reasonable effort has been extended, is determined to be ineligible, or cannot or does not comply with these Official Rules. Encouragement Communications will have made a reasonable effort to reach a winner if it has made at least three attempts to contact the winner via phone / text or by email address provided when purchasing the raffle ticket – and/or within two weeks of the official drawing. If a winner cannot be located, is disqualified or declines acceptance of the prize, Encouragement Communications will move up the prize winner of the nearest lesser prize to their spot, identifying a new winner for that place prize. All other lesser place winners will also move up consecutively. Encouragement Communications will substitute 1 of the 5 alternate tickets previously drawn to take the place of the original 25th place, (now 24th place) winner.

Each winner of a Major Prize is solely responsible for all taxes (Federal, State and Local if any), as well as registration, insurance and other expenses incurred with claiming a prize. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) requires withholding for non-cash prizes with a declared value exceeding $5000.00, after deducting the cost of the winner’s ticket. The winner pays the withholding tax to Encouragement Communications at the rate of 25% of prize value (current IRS prescribed withholding rate). Encouragement Communications forwards the withholding payment along with appropriate forms to the IRS. Winners will receive appropriate tax forms and be copied on all tax forms sent to the IRS. After this is complete, the winner is eligible to claim the prize.

All Major Prizes awarded must be claimed and accepted in our Texas office. Winners are responsible for arranging transportation of any major prize won, especially if they live more than 100 miles from our office. If a winner chooses to forfeit a prize they must do so prior to taking possession of the prize.

By entering The Raffle, each entrant releases Encouragement Communications, its directors, officers, employees, volunteers and agents form any and all liability for injuries, losses or damages of any kind (including, without limitation, attorney’s fees) resulting from or caused by participating in The Raffle or by winning any prize or resulting from acceptance, possession, use or misuse of any prize, and each winner agrees to indemnify and hold Encouragement Communications harmless from any and all losses, damages, rights, claims and actions of any kind resulting from or arising from, in connection with participating in The Raffle or the winner’s acceptance or use of any prize. In no event shall Encouragement Communications, Inc., its directors, officers, employees, volunteers and agents be liable for any loss or damages of any kind, including injury or death relating to or from participation in The Raffle or the use of any prize even if such loss or damages results from or is caused or contributed to by the fault or negligence of Encouragement Communications, Inc, its directors, officers, employees, volunteers or agents.

A Raffle entrant’s sole and exclusive remedy for any claim against Encouragement Communications, Inc. arising out of the sale of tickets or the conduct of The Raffle shall be limited to the return of the purchase price paid for his or her ticket(s).