Fundraising ideas please!

[GraingerGuy]

Hi all,

Ok, my kids have to raise around 600 dollars to do their trip to Texas. I was wondering (For all you parents and teachers, etc out there) if you had any great ideas for fundraising.

Here are the guidelines:

1. There can be no gambling of any kind. (Yes...even Bingo)
2. Car Washes are out. (The city has made some new laws about that because of water pollution.)
3. No alcohol of any kind is allowed.
4. Cannot sell jewelry or meat products. (We are an SDA school and the SDA church in general frowns on jewelry and promotes vegetarianism)

Ok....that is what I have.

Here are the ideas I already have:
1. Quintessential candy sales.

2. Auctioning off the kids: Let me explain before you sickos twist it all around. I would be asking them what they would be willing to do (clean house, fix computers, etc) and the community would bid on them. All the money that was bid on them would go to their tour fund.

3. Sell Coupon books.

4. Sell items donated from businesses.

Thanks for the ideas all!

[oblongmelon]

How about a flea market/rummage sale/bag auction to start things off? We just had a bag auction at our lodge and it was so much fun..each bag had a theme and was filled with "secret" theme items.. people paid 5 dollars for an armful of tickets to have their names entered into the bag auction. (example: The Italian bag was labled- Tuscan Night Delights and included 2 can's of spaghettio's, a small votive candle, plastic tablewear saved from someone's trip to McDonalds,A box of bread sticks from the Big Lots store that cost a dollar, 1 bottle of sparkling grape juice (aldi's-1.29), a package of Biscotti from the Big Lots store (.89), 2 paper cups, a cheap can opener from the dollar store, and a post card of Tuscany that was originally a picture found on the internet and printed out on cardstock..the girl who decribed the basket to the audience was very funny, giving a very moving speech about "who wouldn't want to spend a romantic evening in Tuscany with someone they love etc etc..."
We had a bag from every ethnicity we could find-and filled them with anything we could find (cheap but fun!) that pertained to that particular region..
We had Italian, Chinese, Mexican, Japanese, Polish, Russian, German, Irish, English, just to name a few-and also tossed in things like Alaskan (which contained a bunch of hand warmer packets, mittens, energy bars, a whistle, a plastic solar blanket, chocolate, a survival book, a roll of toilet paper and a few other necessities for someone who would get stuck in an alaskan blizzard...it was tons of fun and we had about 40 bags to auction off ..none of the audience knew what was in the bags until they were opened at the end..we made about 800 dollars just from that.
We also have been doing Friday Night soup sales...(and you don't need meat for those! Imagine the possibilities!)
soup is very cheap to make, and we contacted Montana Mills Bakery (don't know if you have those in your area) but they donate all the bread for free as long as you fill out a slip for them with the event name and what it's for..the main cost we had was for the bowls and spoons, and take out containers for people who wanted to take soup home instead of eat in..we made TONS of money on that and get more and more people each week-so many that we've run out of soup which we sell for 2.00 a bowl (includes bread, and a beverage if you eat it there-with one free refill of the soup)..
There are SOO many things you can do..
how about having a haunted house for Halloween? Kids love that stuff..I can give you all the details about having one of those as we did them all the time when my kids were in scouts..
Pancake Breakfasts-parents cook, kids clean tables and serve ..6 dollars a person for all you can eat pancakes (and most people will only have 2 or three), along with some fruit salad, beverages, and assorted toppings and syrups for the pancakes..if you have anyone who plays instruments quite well-entertainment is good..see if local places like Lowes in your area, and local radio stations will donate prizes for raffles-I know Walmart and Lowes does here...usually if you send a letter to the companies on the before the first of the month a few months prior to when you actually want to have an event-places donate whatever you need up to and including, items to raffle off, foodstuffs, paper products..Walmart has some kind of program where they match the amount of money you raise and they let you host bakesales in their exit doors..
Bags of fresh kettle corn sell well, as do Cookies by the pound sales-Everyone bakes whatever they like -10 dozen cookies -which really isn't alot..you set them up on tables cafeteria style, when people come in you give them a paper bakery box (or wax bag if they don't plan on getting alot of cookies-give the kids gloves, and when the people walk around picking out their cookies-the kids put them in the boxes or bags for them, then at the end of the line-they get their boxes weighed and pay per pound for the cookies..(he he..cookies tend to weigh alot due to the density of the flour and the butter!)...set a price..5 dollars a pound-even 6...people pay when it's homemade..
How about a Holiday/fall/winter/craft fair? If your church has a hall-it's basically just putting an advertisement in the paper for crafters to rent spaces-10 dollars a space..they can bring their own tables or you can provide them if your church has them....and this is a perfect time to sell SOUP or things like Cheese danish or cakes and coffees,and grilled veggie shiskkabobs, etc.., ..Where do you live? I know where-when the leaves start changing-people dig going to holiday craft fairs to the point where you can't find parking spaces...You make pure profit on the rental of the space (you'd only need 60 vendors),and whatever food you were going to sell..the only cost to you would be the cost of the Ad, plus the initial cost of food and plates and cups..
oh..the list goes on and on...
Pumpkin decorating contests? 3 dollar entry fee-offer a prize
We have what they call "pumpkin farms" here..not sure if you have them..
basically just a display of pumpkins decorated like various assorted theme characters (think charlie brown/snoopy)..the pumpkins are the heads or the bodies..they offer hayrides, food, AND crafters galore..nothing like a nice hot caramel apple sundae to get your blood sugar up..parking is free, the display is free- but have carving pumpkins to sell by the pound, and of course foods, and crafter table rentals..(these are usually done outside under tents)
Run a bus trip to a big city for a day of shopping..(I can fill you in on details for bus trips if you like)..you make profit off the price of the tickets for the bus..
How about having a sports team in your area have a "kids going on a trip and need money night-or-insert the name of your organization here" night..I know the Binghamton Mets donate part of the proceeds of games to some organizations..as did the Binghamton Dusters/Whalers/Rangers/Senators AHL leagues..
yeh..and the list goes on...but don't forget-most times you have to spend money to make money...

[Nija]

I'd second the Garage Sale/Rummage Sale idea. Those made us a nice pack of dough, and I'm sure with proper planning and execution you could make quite the killing.

I'm not too sure where you live, but if there is a Masonic Lodge in the area, you could offer to up some kids for their stated dinner to serve and clean up. We used to make about $100 p/dinner.

[oblongmelon]

OOOO how about a YANKEE CANDLE SALE???? Ever smell these things? awesome..completely awesome!...definately worth the money you pay for ..or even a WINDY HILL CANDLE SALE..?? I can personally vouch for the fact that these candles are comprable to Yankee candles-I buy them all the time..they are GREAT!..here's a link!...
www.windyhillcandlefactory.com

check the fundraising link..not a bad deal if you ask me..
http://www.windyhillcandlefactory.com/furapr.html

[Nija]

I don't want anyone to take this the wrong way but: I don't want anyone to sell me a 'Yankee' candle. I don't like paying for my candle to be 'Yankee'd, as it were. I'd also recommend against the 'Windy Hill' Candle. Mostly because I had beans last night, and that's no hill. It's a mountain. I intend to make it over said obstacle. Using only the "Windy" part of that candle company.

[captainhook]

Bake sale.... has anybody already suggested that to you? I hope I'm the first!! hehe

[oblongmelon]

Bake sale.... has anybody already suggested that to you? I hope I'm the first!! hehe

yes I did... LOL...
unless you have a TON of stuff bake sales really don't make too much money (unless of course you are standing in Sams Club exit door and they are willing to match your profits! )

[Grimm]

Sell Amway?

Sorry, I'm not much of a fund raiser type of person.

[InfiniteNothing]

Make the kids race for the money. That is, have various sports events and have the kids find sponsors (i.e. $10/mi biked).

Why are they going to Texas anyways?

[RoniMan]

depending on the demographics of your city, you could hold a tournament of some sort. Basketball, volleyball, badminton, pingpong, scrabble, etc. You go to local businesses and ask for sponsorship. They can donate $10-$50 (they could write-off the donations) worth of prizes, and in return, their name will be on the flyers, or you could hang a banner the day of the event.

we did a vball tournament down in SD. subway gave a few free 12in subs coupons, and the local AMC gave me a few free movie passes. I realized that I could make a dinner/movie packet out of it.

i just realized something, is this only for YOUR kids, or all the kids on the...btw, what is this for anyways? little league? speech & debate?

[YanksFanRy]

Easy, easy fundraiser:
Many restaurants (examples: Taco Mesa, Baja Fresh, Chili's, Ruby's, Pizza place, numerous others) will donate 10-20% of money taken in at their restaurant. All you have to do is hand out sheets that the restaurant often provides with the name of your group, some information, and they'll specify a time range. Anyone who eats there and turns in this sheet, whatever they order the percentage will go to your group. It doesn't always make a ton of money, but it's insanely easy to get going.

[dbax791]

Here are the guidelines:

1. There can be no gambling of any kind. (Yes...even Bingo)
2. Car Washes are out. (The city has made some new laws about that because of water pollution.)
3. No alcohol of any kind is allowed.
4. Cannot sell jewelry or meat products. (We are an SDA school and the SDA church in general frowns on jewelry and promotes vegetarianism)

Well crap. I guess my idea of having a wagering pool on what kid can wash a car the fastest after slamming a 12-pack and a ribeye to win a gold bracelet is probably not an option.

[Grimm]

I know! Kidnap a school official and collect ransom money. There, easy.

[Airencracken]

SNIP

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! Paragrahs please! That hurt my eyes. Looked like a passage outta finnegans wake.

[wung]

sell advertisements on your kids' foreheads ...

[GraingerGuy]

Well crap. I guess my idea of having a wagering pool on what kid can wash a car the fastest after slamming a 12-pack and a ribeye to win a gold bracelet is probably not an option.

hahahahahaha!!!

No...I'm thinking our churches that support us would frown on that.

This is for a music tour. I'm taking my band and my special choir to Texas because the seniors of this year have never been able to go to a "big" tour. They have always gone down to southern CA and I think they need something different.

[RoniMan]

hahahahahaha!!!

No...I'm thinking our churches that support us would frown on that.

This is for a music tour. I'm taking my band and my special choir to Texas because the seniors of this year have never been able to go to a "big" tour. They have always gone down to southern CA and I think they need something different.

perhaps a "benefit" concert? if the people in your community is supportive enough, u can put on a concert and sell refreshments. if there needs to be something more, then say that 10% of the proceeds will go to hurricane victims. ppl are usually more likely to open their wallets if it's for charity.

[renovation]

do a paper or bottle drive if your state is like michigan and has a returnable bottle collection !

[GraingerGuy]

perhaps a "benefit" concert? if the people in your community is supportive enough, u can put on a concert and sell refreshments. if there needs to be something more, then say that 10% of the proceeds will go to hurricane victims. ppl are usually more likely to open their wallets if it's for charity.

Actually, we are doing a benefit concert. We always have a choir and band benefit every year which brings in 12k or so. I'm hoping that it will be better this year because I've been here for 3 years and now people know that I do quality music.

[PrObLy]

When I was in highschool people often sold these:
http://www.ozarkdelight.com/fundraising/

I probably spent 20 dollars on those things.

[renovation]

here another idea - curb marking -you need to get the ok from the police and firedept but im sure they be more then happy to let you .charge like $20 per house. get a pack or two of 5 in stencels .and some cans of black or floresent green paint .and put out flyers i know here schools have done it in the past and the police dept loves it makes it a wwhole lot easyer for them to find a home . total cost per home maybe .75 cents