Psst! Hey, buddy. Wanna get a 2021 Porsche 911 Turbo S for ten bucks? The scenario seems about as likely as a windfall promised to you in that email from a Nigerian prince. But it actually is a possibility--the Porsche, not the email thing. Chances are you’ve come across one of the attention-getting luxury car or celebrity event giveaways from Omaze. We’ve even covered some of these sweepstakes here on HotCars. In an era when everyone questions everything, we wanted to use a curious eye to look more closely at what’s behind the for-profit Omaze. Read on, and we’ll even tell you how to enter Omaze giveaways for free.
Win A Bentley Bentayga Or Lunch With A Celebrity
Omaze.com currently features 11 automotive giveaways currently ranging from a $120,000 Vansmith-converted Mercedes Sprinter to a 2021 Bentley Bentayga worth $220,000. The platform also features exotic travel like a luxury trip to Fiji or celebrity-focused events such as lunch with Jonah Hill. The entry process is simple. Pick a donation amount for an item or experience, usually $10 to $100, and you’ll receive a set amount of entries for that drawing.
Where The Money Goes
To the company’s credit, Omaze is upfront about its business model. A charitable organization is preselected to benefit from each giveaway. When the drawing involves a car or trip, 70% of the proceeds are earmarked for the cost of the prize and related expenses. Omaze and the charity split the remaining 30%. For celebrity-oriented experiences, the charity gets 60% of received funds, 25% is tagged for marketing and related costs, and 15% goes to Omaze.
The net proceeds of each drawing go to a non-profit organization called Charities Aid Foundation America (CAF America) which then doles the money out to the respective charities. CAF America, which screens prospective causes for legitimacy and other factors, is a well-established concern that receives an impressive 100% score by Charity Navigator.
Omaze’s First Car Giveaway Nets Almost $2 Million For Charity
California-based Omaze was established in 2012 by Matthew Pohlson and Ryan Cummins. The firm’s activities were initially focused on celebrity-oriented experiences like lunch with George and Amal Clooney. However, according to a Fast Company article from last year, a 2018 McLaren giveaway raised an unexpected $1.9 million for the Movember Foundation. Omaze has made sure to feature high-end automobiles ever since.
Those modest donations of $10 and more add up. According to the company, Omaze’s operations have netted more than $130 million for a variety of non-profit groups. And while helping out a charity is always a good thing, look for the “enter without contributing” link below the donation amount boxes and you can enter each drawing for free.
Sources: Omaze, Fast Company, Forbes