Five Fun Fundraising Ideas
by Recently I’ve had to organize several fundraising events to raise money for a trip to Europe I hope to go on next summer. When I started brainstorming I had no idea what I was in for- but maybe if you’re in the same boat I was you’ll find this review of the strategies I’ve tried helpful.
1. Car wash
Classic car wash, of course, has to be at the top of the list. We called our local Chick-fil-A and asked for a date on which we could come and hold a car wash in front of the store. If you do this, more people will come, but be warned- you must book your date far in advance. We booked it several months before and managed to snag the last weekend date available in the time range we wanted. If you choose to do a car wash, also remember to set up two hoses, and have enough people helping to do two cars at once. Your line will go a lot faster and your customers will be a lot happier.
2. Christmas Caroling
If you can sing, this is a great one. Whether you go around a few neighborhoods or talk to the manager at your local Giant for a spot outside the store, people enjoy donating in exchange for entertainment, especially if it’s good entertainment. If you’re fundraising for a school function another good idea is to set up a booth at lunch for students and teachers to buy Christmas carols, which you can then go around and deliver.
3. Yard sale
Let’s face it, we all have stuff in our rooms, garages or attics that we don’t need. If you’re trying to fundraise with a group, put that stuf in a pile with the stuff of everyone else in the group, and you have yourself a huge yardsale. One man’s trash is another man’s treasure, after all, and this trash could get you quite a bit closer to your monetary goal.
4. Bake sale
If you have a few bakers in your group, or even if you know a few (talk to mom), this is a fun and quick money maker. Set up a table, or go around classrooms or door to door with a basket.
5. Hold a battle
Whether a karaoke contest, Super Smash Brothers duel or grand game of capture the flag, this fundraiser is easy to organize and easy to personalize. If you promise, say, ten percent of the earnings to the winner, people will want to participate- and will be happy to pay to. If you’re doing this through a school, ask for a time slot in the auditorium or on the front lawn. If not, any home public park should do just fine, depending on the nature of the battle.
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