A duck race is one of the simplest fundraisers there is. Supporters pay to adopt a duck, the ducks race down a river, and the first one over the line wins a prize. A virtual duck race keeps all of that and drops the river: the ducks race on a screen, so nobody needs a bridge, a net or a permit, and supporters can take part from anywhere.

This guide walks through running one from start to finish.

1. Pick a date and a cause

Give yourself three to four weeks between launching the race and running it. That is long enough to share the link in a few newsletters and group chats, and short enough that people do not forget about it.

Tie the race to something people already turn up for if you can: a summer fair, a quiz night or the last day of term. The race page works just as well on its own, but a room full of people watching the same screen is hard to beat.

Write a few lines about what the money is for. "New books for the school library" raises more than "general funds".

2. Price your ducks

Most races charge between £2 and £5 a duck. Lower prices bring in more ducks, since children and grandparents will often adopt several. Higher prices suit a smaller, more committed crowd.

You can also:

  • Cap the number of ducks, so the page counts down the places left and people act before it sells out.
  • Take donations alongside entries, for supporters who want to give without racing.
  • Offer prizes donated by local businesses, which is also a good way to get those businesses to share the race.

3. Check the rules on prizes

In Great Britain, a paid race with prizes can count as a lottery. Offering a free postal entry route turns it into a free draw instead, which normally means no licence is needed. Every Pledglings race page includes one automatically. If your race has no prizes, the question does not arise.

If you are unsure, check with the Gambling Commission before you launch. The rules differ in Northern Ireland and outside the UK.

4. Share the link

The race page is the whole campaign. Put it:

  • in your newsletter and on your social media
  • in class, club and parent WhatsApp groups
  • on posters, as a QR code
  • in an email to last year's supporters

Supporters adopt a duck, name it and dress it up. A funny duck name gets shared, so encourage them to have fun with it.

5. Race day

Open the race on the laptop you will actually use a week or two before, to make sure it runs. On the night, put it on the big screen, press start and let the ducks go. Anyone at home watches the same race at the same moment from the same link.

When the ducks cross the line, read out the winners, thank everyone and leave the page up for anyone who missed it.

Ready to try it?

You can race some ducks in the free demo right now, or see how Pledglings works in more detail.