Chicago State Foundation Raffle Official Rules and Regulations

Chicago State Foundation (“CSF”), an Illinois not-for-profit corporation with a tax-exempt status under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, with offices at 9501 S King Dr, Chicago, IL 60628, is conducting a raffle (“Raffle”) with prizes drawn at its 2025 Chicago State Foundation Gala to fundraise for the Chicago State Foundation.

The 2025 Raffle Official Rules and Regulations (the “Official Rules”) are set forth below. By purchasing a Raffle ticket (a “Ticket”), the purchaser acknowledges that he or she is aware of, and agrees to be bound by, these Official Rules and CSF’s interpretation of any such Official Rules. CSF shall be responsible for interpreting and applying the Official Rules. CSF’s interpretation and application of such rules shall be final.

Eligibility: Any individual who is 18 years of age or older at the time of the purchase of the ticket, except employees of the Chicago State Foundation or persons living in the same household as a Chicago State Foundation Employee, is eligible to enter the Raffle. All federal, state, and local laws and regulations apply. The Raffle is void where prohibited by law. Internet sales of raffle tickets are open to legal residents of Illinois only.

How to Enter: Tickets are $25 (twenty five dollars) each, or $60 (sixty dollars) for three. Only one (1) eligible person may be entered in the Raffle per Ticket sold. If the name of more than one (1) person is provided on a Ticket entry form and that Ticket is selected as a winning ticket, then the person named first will be deemed as the holder of record of that Ticket and declared the winner. The division of any prize among a group of persons purchasing a Ticket in common shall be to the sole responsibility of the person named as the holder of record of that Ticket should that Ticket be selected as a winner. CSF is not responsible for resolving any disputes that may arise from different individuals listed on a winning Ticket.

Tickets will not be sold after 7:00 p.m. central, September 26, 2025. Tickets may sell out before that time. An individual can purchase as many Tickets as he or she may wish, subject to availability.

Tickets may be purchased:

By the Internet. Visit here  and click on “Register Now” or “Sign In”. Follow the instructions to complete the registration steps and submit payment.

Tickets may also be purchased on site at the 2025 Chicago State Foundation Gala, at the Geraghty, Chicago Illinois.

All entries must include payment by check, money order, cash or credit card. CSF reserves the right to reject any entry form that is submitted without proper payment or payment that does not constitute “good funds.” No refunds will be made except under the following circumstances: any ticket order with payment received after September 26, 2025 at 7:00 p.m. central will be returned. No other refunds are available except in the exclusive discretion of CSF.

Upon receipt and acceptance by CSF of a proper purchase/entry, a receipt (ticket stub) of purchase will be emailed to the purchaser at the email address provided by the purchaser during the Ticket purchase. It is the purchaser’s responsibility to provide a valid, deliverable email address to CSF.  All purchasers in person at the Geraghty will receive a paper ticket stub.

Any defective or physically altered entry form, or entry form received without proper or sufficient payment, will be immediately disqualified by CSF. Prior to the Drawing, CSF may make a reasonable effort to notify the individual of a rejected or disqualified entry by attempting to make contact through the information provided at the time of the Ticket purchase request. Neither CSF nor its directors, officers, employees, agents or other representatives assumes any responsibility or liability for lost, late, misdirected, mutilated, incomplete, illegible or undelivered entries, or any other failure to receive entries, or any failure to deliver a receipt of purchase prior to the drawing deadlines.

Prize Drawings: Prize drawings will be conducted by a designated representative of CSF on September 26, 2025, at the 2025 Chicago State Foundation Gala to be held at the Geraghty, 2520 S Hoyne Ave, Chicago, IL 60608.

Entrants need not be present to win. Winners will be selected at random.  A finalized prize list and order will be displayed at the event.  Raffle Tickets will be pulled the night of the event, and prizes will be awarded based on the pre-defined order. 

All orders for Tickets must be received and/or purchased by the indicated deadline to be eligible for the applicable drawing. CSF assumes no responsibility for lost, late, misdirected or non-delivered email, or any other failure to receive orders or deliver receipts prior to the drawing deadlines.

Notification of Winners: Winners will be notified according to the contact information provided to CSF at the time of Ticket purchase. If a selected winner is unable to be contacted or located after a period of four (4) months from the draw date of the applicable raffle drawing, the prize or its cash equivalent will be deemed to have been donated to CSF.

In order to collect a prize, a winner must sign and deliver to CSF: (a) such written information as is required by any applicable tax and/or real estate laws, including, without limitation, his/her Social Security Number; (b) proof of identity in forms satisfactory to the CSF showing that the person claiming the prize is the same person who is named on the winning Ticket; (c) the winning Ticket stub; and (d) a signed agreement of terms and conditions. Winners of prizes of $1,000 or more may be required to submit a W-2G, Form 5754 or similar tax form (provided by CSF) for tax withholding purposes.

A list of winners will be posted on the CSF website one week of the applicable drawing.

Winning Odds: The odds of winning a prize will depend on the number of tickets sold.

Non-Deductibility of Ticket Purchase: The IRS has taken the position that amounts paid for chances in raffles, lotteries or similar drawings for valuable prizes are not gifts, and consequently, the purchase of a Ticket does not qualify as a deductible charitable contribution.

Taxes: There may be federal, state and/or local tax consequences of winning a prize in the CSF Raffle. Any and all taxes are the sole responsibility of the winner. Each purchaser of Tickets is advised to consult his or her own tax advisors with respect to tax liabilities that may arise from winning a prize in the CSF Raffle. Winners of prizes of $1,000 or more may be required to submit a W-2G, Form 5754 or similar tax form (provided by CSF) for tax withholding purposes. All appropriate and required federal and state taxes will be withheld by CSF in accordance with federal and state law, and CSF will remit the balance of the cash prizes to the winners.

Terms and Conditions: The Raffle is subject to these Official Rules. These Official Rules cannot be changed by any oral statement made by any employee, consultant or agent acting on behalf of CSF. By entering the CSF Raffle, entrants accept and agree: (1) to be bound by these Official Rules and the decisions of CSF which shall be final and binding; (2) waive any right to claim ambiguity in the Raffle or these Official Rules; and (3) that CSF may use the entrant’s name, photograph, likeness, statements, biographical information, voice and city and state address for promotional or advertising purposes in connection with the Raffle on a worldwide basis and in all forms of media, now or hereafter known, in perpetuity, without review, permission or further compensation, except where prohibited by law. Other rules and regulations may apply. Please contact CSF if you have any questions. CSF Raffle is void where prohibited by law. Prize(s) is/are nontransferable and cannot be exchanged for cash.

BY ENTERING CSF’S RAFFLE, EACH ENTRANT RELEASES CSF, ITS DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES AND AGENTS FROM ANY AND ALL LIABILITY FOR INJURIES, LOSSES OR DAMAGES OF ANY KIND (INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, ATTORNEY’S FEES) CAUSED BY PARTICIPATING IN THE RAFFLE OR WINNING ANY PRIZE OR RESULTING FROM ACCEPTANCE, POSSESSION, USE OR MISUSE OF ANY PRIZE, AND EACH WINNER AGREES TO INDEMNIFY AND HOLD CSF HARMLESS FROM ANY AND ALL LOSSES, DAMAGES, RIGHTS, CLAIMS AND ACTIONS OF ANY KIND ARISING FROM, IN CONNECTION WITH, OR AS A RESULT OF PARTICIPATING IN THE RAFFLE OR THE WINNER’S ACCEPTANCE OR USE OF ANY PRIZE.

A RAFFLE ENTRANT’S SOLE AND EXCLUSIVE REMEDY FOR ANY CLAIM AGAINST CSF 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). IN NO EVENT SHALL CSF, ITS DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS OR REPRESENTATIVES BE LIABLE TO ANY PARTY FOR ANY LOSS OR INJURIES TO EARNINGS, PROFITS OR GOODWILL, OR FOR ANY INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, PUNITIVE OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OF ANY PERSON OR ENTITY WHETHER ARISING IN CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

ANY CONTROVERSY OR CLAIM ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THE RAFFLE OR THESE OFFICIAL RULES SHALL BE SETTLED BY BINDING ARBITRATION ADMINISTERED BY THE AMERICAN ARBITRATION ASSOCIATION (PURSUANT TO ITS EXPEDITED PROCEDURES) UNDER ITS COMMERCIAL ARBITRATION RULES AND CONDUCTED IN CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, AND JUDGMENT ON THE AWARD RENDERED BY THE ARBITRATOR MAY BE ENTERED IN ANY COURT HAVING JURISDICTION THEREOF.

Cancellation/Termination of Raffle: By purchasing a Ticket and choosing to participate in the Raffle, each Raffle participant acknowledges and agrees that CSF has the right, in its sole discretion, to elect not to proceed with the Raffle for any reason whatsoever or for no reason, and in such event, a participant’s sole and exclusive remedy shall be to receive a refund of the full price paid by such participant for each Ticket purchased, without interest.

Registration with the State of Illinois: CSF has registered with the City of Chicago under Raffle License Number 3051633. The Raffle License Number will be published in all marketing materials where possible.