Every year, thousands of people spend $100 on a chance to win a brand-new house. Some of those homes are worth well over half a million dollars. The St. Jude Dream Home Giveaway is one of the most recognized charity raffles in the US, and most of what you pay goes toward a cause, not just a prize. Here is what to know before you enter.
What Is the St. Jude Dream Home Giveaway?
The giveaway is a fundraiser for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. St. Jude runs this giveaway in more than 40 cities across the country, and each city gets its own home. Each one features a local home, a local TV partner, and a local drawing.
Builders and trade partners usually donate the work. In Savannah, for example, the 2026 home was built at zero cost to St. Jude by a local builder and its trade partners. That is why the money from ticket sales can go to the hospital.
How Much Does a Ticket Cost?
In most of the 2026 giveaways I looked at, a single entry was priced at $100. That was the price in Waxhaw, North Carolina, Tulsa, Topeka, and Houston. Prices can vary by location, so confirm on your local giveaway page.
2026 Dream Homes at a Glance
Home values and drawing dates differ by city. These three show the range:
Location | Estimated home value | Drawing date |
Waxhaw, NC (Charlotte area) | $695,000 | June 17, 2026 |
Fresno, CA (Central Valley) | $500,000 | May 7, 2026 |
| Savannah, GA | $575,000 | June 2, 2026 |
Other markets vary widely. Topeka’s home was valued at $410,000, while Tulsa’s was $1.15 million. Values are estimates published by local partners.
Where Your Money Goes
The reason this giveaway exists is St. Jude’s mission. Families never receive a bill from St. Jude. The hospital doesn’t send families a bill for treatment, travel, housing, or food so that they can put all their energy into their child’s recovery. That policy depends heavily on public support. In Charlotte, 27,000 tickets sold in one day, raising $2.7 million. In Phoenix, tickets sold out in just under three hours and raised $1.3 million.
So even if you never win, your ticket is a donation to the hospital. Whether it counts as a tax-deductible gift is a different question. Check the official rules or ask a tax professional.
Bonus Prizes: The Part Many People Miss
A Dream Home ticket often enters you for more than the house. The smaller prizes come with deadlines, and buying early can pay off.
- Early bird and “tickets on sale” prizes: Savannah’s 2026 giveaway offered a $10,000 vacation package to anyone who bought a ticket by March 13.
- Mid-campaign prizes: Charlotte’s list included a Toyota Corolla and a $5,000 gift card.
- Open house prizes: In Charlotte, anyone who toured the house was eligible for a $10,000 shopping spree, even without buying a ticket.
Prizes change every year and every city, so read your local page for the current list.
How to Enter, Step by Step
Find your local giveaway
Each market has its own page on stjude.org, tied to a local TV station. Houston’s, for example, is at stjude.org/give/dream-home/houston.html.
Check the rules
Look at eligibility, such as age and residency, and at the ticket limits and drawing details. Rules differ by market.
Buy early
Ticket sales can end fast. The Charlotte-area giveaway sold out in less than 13 hours. Early purchase also keeps you eligible for the bonus prizes.
Watch the drawing
Drawings are usually held live on local TV. In Savannah, the 2026 drawing was held live during a WSAV newscast.
Things to Think About Before You Enter
It’s a long shot. Thousands of people enter each home, and a ticket costs $100. Treat it as a donation with a chance at a prize, not as an investment.
Winning a house has costs. Prizes of this size are generally taxable in the US, and you would also take on property taxes, insurance, and upkeep. Read the official rules and talk to a tax adviser before you count on a windfall.
Beware of look-alikes. Only buy through the official St. Jude page or the phone number a local station lists. Scammers like to copy popular giveaways.
Conclusion
The St.The giveaway is a simple way to support a children’s hospital, with the bonus of a chance to win a home. Know the odds, read the rules, buy from the official source, and enter because you want to support the cause. Any prize is a bonus. Visit giveawaylookwhatmomfound for more details.
