Home
|
Money

This Week In Money Banking Budgeting Cash Management College Consumer Protection Credit Cards & Repair

Credit Scores Debt Earning Money Expenses, Family Finances General Advice Houses: Buy/Sell Investments IRA's

Legal Issues Miscellaneous Mortgages Retirement Savings Taxes Working Working Women
|
Food

This Week In Food & Groceries Alternative Food Sources Appliances Babies Beverages Breakfast & Dairy Children & Family Convenience Foods & Alternatives Cooking Cooking Tips Coupons

Diets Food Expenses Food Safety Freezing Foods & Freezer Meals Fruits & Vegetables Health Foods Kitchen Tools & Organization Leftovers Lunches Making the Most of Food Meals & Meal Planning

Meats & Poultry Meals on the Go Organizing Recipes & Coupons Pantry & Food Storage Price Books Recipes Restaurants Saving Time Shopping Tips & Tricks Snacks & Desserts Warehouse Clubs
|
Home & Auto

This Week In Home & Auto Air Conditioning Appliances Automobiles Buying Cleaning Consumer Protection Crafts Debt

Energy Finances Furniture Gardening Home Decorating Home Equity Home Repair Houses: Buy/Sell Insurance Investments Mortgages

Natural Living Organization Pests Plumbing Property Management Recycling Space Management Taxes Time Management Utilities
|
Lifestyle

This Week In Lifestyle Beauty Buying Canadian Interest Charity Christmas Cleaning Tips Clothing College Coupons Crafts

Furniture Gardening General Advice Groceries & Food Health Hobbies Holidays Home Decorating Insurance Medical Care Miscellaneous Natural Living

Organization Parties & Entertaining Pets Recipes Recycling Refunding Single Living Space Management Time Management Vacations Voluntary Simplicity
|
Baby Boomers

This Week In Baby Boomers Finances Funerals Health

Insurance Investments IRA's Legal Issues Medical Care

Mortgages Moving Retirement Savings Taxes Vacations
|
Family

This Week In Family Automobiles Babies Budgeting Cash Management Children Christmas Clothing College Crafts Daycare Debt

Dentistry Divorce Earning Money Education Expenses Family Activities Gardening Health Holidays Homeschooling Investments Marriage Medical Care

Miscellaneous One Income Families Organization Parties & Entertaining Recipes Romance Savings School Single Parents Taxes Time Management Vacations
|
20 Somethings

This Week In 20 Somethings Appliances Automobiles Budgeting College Consumer Protection Credit Cards and Repair Credit Scores Credit Unions

Earning Money Education Family Activities Finances General Advice Home Decorating Home Equity Home Repair Homeschooling Houses: Buy/Sell Insurance

Investments IRA's Marriage Mortgages Moving Retirement Savings Space Management Taxes Weddings Working
|
In Critical Condition

This Week In Critical Condition Automobiles Banking

Budgeting Consumer Protection Credit Cards and Repair

Credit Scores Debt Emergencies Taxes Working
|

Fundraising Ideas

Fundraising Ideas

Sites 4 Moms - Fantastic Fundraising Ideas

Looking for an Idea

I am looking for a unique fundraising idea. I am the Administrative Coordinator for Camp Willie a grief camp for children ages 7-14 in Whatcom County, Bellingham, WA. We have been trying to come up with a uniqe fundraising idea to do year after year to help send kids to camp. Do you think your readers could help?
Deanne E.

"Make Them Fly Away"

In reply to the quesiton about unique fundraising ideas, I just saw on a television 'news magazine' the other night a VERY unique (& quite humorous) way that a church youth group raised money.

They bought about 10-15 plastic pink flamingos (those horridly tacky yard ornaments) and then had people pay to get someone's yard decorated overnight. Everyone involved seemed to have great fun, and if I recall, the youth ended up raising more than twice what they'd initially needed. Of course, the youth came out the morning after decorating someone's yard to remove the flamingos, only to park them on their next victim's front lawn!
Donna

A Patriotic Flair

Something that I've seen groups do for an annual fund raiser is to sell a 'Flag Service.' For a set amount, say $15 per year, the group members come by on each Federal holiday and place a US Flag in your yard. After the holiday they remove it and store it for the next event. These are nice large flags mounted on PVC type poles. The group members pound a stake into the ground and slip the post on. The initial investment isn't too much and after the first year is hardly anything at all. Once a few neighbors get one, everyone else wants one too. It looks great and adds lots of community spirit around all the Federal holidays.
Janet

From a Band Director

Fundraising ideas from a band director:

If the kids are able to participate, have a Rock-A-Thon. The kids take pledges for rocking in a rocking chair for a certain number of hours. They rock together for, say, 10 hours and become closer friends while making the money in an easy way. Do crazy things for the kids during the Rock-A-Thon like throwing around water balloons around 3 am. After rocking, they collect the pledge money.
Have a silent auction. Get local businesses to donate items/services. It is beneficial for the businesses to donate to you, as they can write it off on their taxes. Then invite the community to view the items and write a bid on a sheet of paper in front of the item. Highest bid gets the item.
Sell poinsettas at Christmas and/or Easter Lillies for the holidays. Take preorders, purchase from a local nursery, and add a profit for you.
Sponsor a golf tournament. Get businesses to donate prizes and charge for the tournament play.

Susan B.

Treasured Pots

Here's one we're getting ready to do ourselves. When the kids have craft time, have them finger paint on some small clay pots that can be purchased inexpensively at craft stores or possible collected over time at garage sales. Once decorated, purchase seeds and grow some nice flowers or herbs. Many parents or people in the community would cherish these little plants and it would help raise money for your organization.
Jeannette

Your Wish, My Command

I was once an assistant director for a kids camp. One of the "fundraisers" we did that the kids thought was pretty fun was "Slave for a Day". We posted around town, schools, etc of a "slave" auction and the names of the "slaves" you could bid on. There was a minimum bid requirement and certain things (of course) were a no-no to have the "slave" participate in.

So, siblings, aunts, uncles, parents, and friends all came to bid on their favorite "slave." Some of the kids just had to wash their Grandma's dog for $20, but others had to organize the garage for Dad for even more money (or a little less, considering the auction price). And still others had to clean their little brothers room for his three weeks of saved allowance ($10!), which humbled the "slave" and made the little brother smile for months! It worked out quite well, and made quite a profit.
Amy B.

"Free" Car Wash

Our youth group once raised funds by taking pledges on a car wash. Instead of charging to wash the cars, each member went to family and businesses and got pledges. For example, my grandma pledged 10 cents a car and a business pledged 25 cents. Each member was encouraged to get 2$ in pledges, but many received more. A local grocery store let us use their hose and donated soap. On the big day we washed way over 100 cars for FREE!!! (Yep, free. We even had a sign "No Donations Please!" Each person in our 35 member youth group raised at least $200! WOW, that's a lot of money for a free car wash!
Melissa

Celebrity Assistance

Your camp sounds wonderful. I wish there had been something like that when my mother died and I was just 6 years old. One idea that might work is to have a celebrity auction. Write to celebrities ( addresses on the net) and tell them what you are doing. Ask them to send something that they sign. Pictures, clothing, books, tapes, CDs, sports items, etc. really work well. Don't forget to include your local celebrities like newscasters, TV personalities and so forth. Ask for donated space in the most popular mall around. Request public relations time on the media. Include the parents of those who have attended. You might even want to contact those celebrities who have suffered a loss. They might be interested in helping. How about contacting local adult grief support groups. Maybe they would help as well.
Pamela S.

Stay Connected with TDS

Subscribe to TDS Newsletters

Join over 250,000 other subscribers!

To subscribe, check the newsletters you wish to receive, enter your email address and then click Subscribe.

View the TDS privacy policy.

Money problems?
The Dollar Stretcher can help:

Afraid to lose your job?

Struggling with credit card debt?

Help for your mortgage?

Can't pay your debts?

Need some extra income?

Fighting bad credit?

What you need to know about bankruptcy?

Become money smart?

Trouble repaying student loans?

Looking for an answer to a frugal living question? Click here to ask a
Dollar Stretcher Stretchpert!

Contact the Dollar Stretcher at:
Dollar Stretcher
PO Box 14160
Bradenton FL 34280
941-761-7805

"The Dollar Stretcher, Inc." does not assume responsibility for advice given. All advice should be weighed against your own abilities and circumstances and applied accordingly. It is up to the reader to determine if advice is safe and suitable for their own situation.