The reluctant raffle guy
Nathan Sessions never set out to start a raffle company. He dislikes gambling and politics, and this business is steeped in both. He built Maine’s first approved platform because a nonprofit needed it and no one else would.
Marketers first
Maine Online Raffles is built and managed by Levin Marketing Solution, a Maine agency that spent years running websites, email, and ad campaigns for small businesses and nonprofits across the state. That work taught us what actually moves people: clear offers, smart pricing, and consistent follow-up.
Every raffle on the platform inherits that playbook. It is the quiet reason the referral links, checkout, and follow-up all pull in the same direction.
How we got here
A belief destroyed along the way: that you have to love an industry to make a difference in it.
Websites, email, and ads for small Maine businesses. A few nonprofits find their way in.
When COVID canceled events, one client pivoted their in-person raffle online, and made it through because of it.
New law: charitable online raffles only through a licensed vendor. No licensed vendor existed.
After months working with regulators on a process that didn’t exist yet, the approval came through.
The head of the Gambling Control Unit personally called to ask why Maine Online Raffles wasn’t helping more organizations. Realized the need to help other nonprofits with raffle fundraisers.
After the shooting in Nathan’s hometown, a local organization asked for help. With under two weeks of prep, the raffle raised over $50,000 in a weekend. The work stopped feeling like client services.
After months of rebuilding, platform 2.0 ships, with over $100,000 invested in compliance and checkout tech.
Nathan testified before a state committee for wider access; LD 863 opened approved online raffles to all Maine nonprofits, businesses, and individuals. Membership Raffles, our flagship raffle format, launched in December.
The DIY tier launches with this website: free self-serve raffles for the whole long tail of Maine fundraising.
What we stand for
Maine nonprofits fund real change. They deserve stable revenue, not constant stress, and fundraising that builds momentum instead of grinding organizations down.
Maine nonprofits fund real change. They deserve funding they can count on.
Not a string of random events. Offers, follow-up, and continuity beat one-time pushes.
Clear messaging, smart offers, consistent follow-up. That’s the whole trick.
Every ticket sold the legal way, with clear disclosures and documented drawings. Trust is the asset.
