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Charity loto · Téléthon season

Téléthon loto: organize a charity loto for the AFM

The Téléthon loto is a strong tradition in France: every year, hundreds of towns organize a loto in support of the AFM Téléthon (fight against myopathies), usually on the first weekend of December. This guide covers procedures, communication, prizes and donating the proceeds.

Start my Téléthon loto Full organization guide

Why a Téléthon loto works particularly well

  • Audience motivated by the cause — Téléthon lotos draw 2-3× more people than a classic nonprofit loto, especially in villages where the event is awaited
  • More generous sponsors — a prize for a Téléthon loto qualifies for an AFM tax receipt (60% deduction for companies). The yes rate among merchants is very high
  • Boosted communication — free relay via the official site telethon.fr (national calendar), via the local Téléthon coordinator, and in the regional press
  • Motivated volunteers — recruiting helpers for a Téléthon loto is easier than for a classic loto: charitable engagement mobilizes more broadly

When to organize the Téléthon loto?

The AFM Téléthon takes place every year on the first full weekend of December (typically the 1st or 2nd weekend of December). Options to slot in your loto:

  • Official Téléthon weekend (Friday-Saturday-Sunday of the 1st December weekend) — maximum visibility, mention on the national calendar
  • The week before — a good option to build engagement and collect ahead of the big weekend
  • The month of November — possible but “pre-season” effect: less media buzz
  • January-February — not recommended unless for a specific cause (Téléthon collection is centered on December)

Preliminary steps — checklist

  1. Contact your departmental AFM Téléthon coordinator via telethon.fr — they'll provide official logos, tips, press contacts
  2. Declare the loto at the town hall at least 1 month before (see our authorization guide) mentioning “for the benefit of the Téléthon”
  3. Register on the national Téléthon calendar (free, via telethon.fr) — your event will appear in the official weekend agenda
  4. Prepare posters with the official Téléthon logo (strict AFM brand guide — use only the files provided by the coordinator)
  5. Define the donation method (check, transfer, town hall deposit) — inform the audience on-site
  6. Reach out to sponsors 2 months ahead mentioning the possible AFM tax receipt

How much does a Téléthon loto bring in?

Téléthon lotos are among the most profitable. Typical observed numbers:

Event sizeCardsGross incomeDonated to Téléthon
Village Téléthon loto150-300€750-1,800€500-1,200
Town / county seat Téléthon loto400-800€2,000-4,800€1,500-3,500
Urban Téléthon loto (large crowds)1,000+€5,000-12,000€4,000-10,000

Generally, a nonprofit donates 60-80% of gross to the AFM Téléthon, after deducting costs (purchase of final prizes, venue, printing).

How BingoShow saves you time

For a 400-card Téléthon loto, BingoShow saves you ~5 hours of work compared to a traditional “paper” loto:

  • Card printing: 5 min to generate 400 unique cards (vs ~3h photocopying)
  • Draw: automatic with screen display (vs manual cage)
  • Winning-card verification: 1 second (vs 1 min reading the numbers)
  • Sponsors showcased: logos rotating on screen all evening
  • Recap PDF: sent after the evening with stats (cards sold, prizes, winners) — useful for the Téléthon report

Total BingoShow cost for a Téléthon loto: €9 (monthly pass) or €14 (30-day pass with no commitment). VAT not applicable.

Frequently asked questions

Can you organize a loto for the Téléthon with your nonprofit?

Yes, it's even a strong tradition in France: hundreds of towns organize a loto for the AFM Téléthon each year, usually on the first weekend of December (official Téléthon date). The organizing nonprofit can be any loi 1901 nonprofit (festivities committee, parish, seniors' club) that donates all or part of the proceeds to the AFM Téléthon.

How do you donate the proceeds to the AFM Téléthon?

The AFM Téléthon (Association Française contre les Myopathies) collects donations via several channels: (1) direct bank transfer to the Téléthon account, (2) check made out to “AFM Téléthon”, (3) deposit at the town hall or with the local Téléthon coordinator. Ask for a tax receipt in your nonprofit's name — most donations qualify for tax reduction (66% for individuals).

Do you need authorization for a Téléthon loto?

Yes — like any nonprofit loto. Town hall declaration mandatory at least 1 month ahead, per Article L322-3 of the Code de la Sécurité Intérieure. See our complete guide on authorization. The mention “for the benefit of the Téléthon” must appear on posters and on the declaration form.

Can the AFM Téléthon help organize?

Yes — each department has a volunteer AFM Téléthon coordinator who provides: (1) the official logo to use on posters/cards (within the brand guide), (2) template posters, (3) local press contacts, (4) sometimes sponsored prizes. Contact your coordinator via the official site telethon.fr.

How many cards / what price for a Téléthon loto?

Téléthon lotos are often more generously subscribed than classic lotos — audience motivated by the cause. Target: 300-600 cards at €5-7 per card. This generates €1,500-4,200 gross, of which 60-80% in profits goes to the Téléthon. With BingoShow, you handle up to 500 cards per session on the Pro plan, unlimited on Premium.

How do you communicate to fill a Téléthon loto?

Triple effect: (1) classic communication (village posters, social media, local press, municipal newsletter), (2) mention “for the benefit of the Téléthon” which motivates the hesitant, (3) **AFM Téléthon channels**: national Téléthon events calendar on telethon.fr (free visibility), relay via the local coordinator. Communicate starting 1 month ahead.

What prizes are typical for a Téléthon loto?

Téléthon tradition favors prizes **donated by local merchants in solidarity** — hampers, vouchers, hams, small appliances, gîte stays. Approach sponsors by saying: “the proceeds go to the Téléthon, your logo will be displayed all evening and recognized in the local press”. Very high acceptance rate.

Is the Téléthon loto deductible for sponsors?

Yes, to some extent. In-kind sponsor donations (prizes given to your nonprofit for the Téléthon loto) qualify for an AFM Téléthon tax receipt, with a 60% tax deduction for companies (mécénat). The sponsor must ask your nonprofit for a receipt certifying the value of the donation, to forward to the AFM for the final tax receipt.

Organize your Téléthon loto with confidence

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