One of the most popular school fundraisers is cookie dough. It’s a product that is appealing to both children and parents, and truly sells itself. Cookie dough is offered in 2 formats, tubs and preformed dough, and available in 2 sizes, generally 2lb which retails at $10 each, and 2.7lbs, that retails at $16 each.
When did a fundraiser last give you a return of 80% profit? Scratch off cards are highly profitable, as long as the fundraiser is implemented properly. Simply ask your supporters to scratch to reveal their donation. Most scratch card fundraisers offer coupons in return as a special Thank You to their supporters.
Pretzel Rods and Twists are becoming so popular that they’re challenging the traditional candy bar business. These sweet and salty treats are sprinkled with colorful delights and come in convenient carry cases for each seller. You have the option of $1 rods or $2 pretzel twists. I like that you can order as few as one case and always get free shipping.
Students love color runs and many schools are turning it into an annual event. It’s a perfect way to combine fitness and fun to generate school funds. The school puts on the run, often by having an outside firm organize all the logistics. The school raises money by charging the children a fee to participate.
These seasonally-themed gift catalogs typically feature 100-200 unique gift items and are very popular with both elementary and middle schools. Students will take orders from relatives, close neighbors, and parent’s work colleagues, and the school keeps 40%-50% of all funds collected. Orders are usually shipped pre-packed per student.
Can you imagine an easier product to sell? Popcorn has got to be America’s favorite snack, whether you’re munching at the movies, the office place, or at home watching a movie with the family! A quality popcorn fundraiser will offer a mix of flavors from the popular Chicago style to fudge covered popcorn.
Car washes are a blast and they raise funds. It’s a great opportunity for the entire team to bond, and it builds good team spirit. You may even bring the grill along, so the team can have burgers for lunch. Raise even more with your next car wash by selling tickets in advance and promoting it through social media.
Cookie dough fundraising is so popular, it warrants another mention. $10 cookie dough has become increasingly in-demand because of it’s lower price-point. Teams and even entire leagues are finding that people are buying 2 or more tubs of dough, simply because of the lower price. Groups in lower income areas are also finding it a huge plus.
“Will that be a chocolate covered almond bar or mint chocolate… Yes, of course you can buy both!” Candy bar fundraisers have been around for over 60 years – can you believe it? And although some $2 bars are available, the majority still sell for only $1, and you still make 40%-50% profit. A tried and true fundraiser, if there ever was.
Why not beautify your community while raising funds? A flower bulb order-taker fundraiser usually includes a selection of gardening delights such as hanging gardens, seed mats, bee-friendly plants and wonderful collections of flower bulbs. A nice way to grow awareness for your cause and your budget!
This fundraiser is a lovely way to express and expand your creativity through painting, while having a glass of wine or two with friends, all for a good cause. At the end of the event, you get to go home with your canvas knowing that the fee you paid for an evening of fun and laughs, is contributing to a meaningful fundraiser.
Looking for a new, fun and creative way to ask for donations for your non-profit? The Victory Scratch Card features 52 scratch offs, each covering up a donation amount and a positive quote. Donation amounts are only $0.50 to $3.00, and each scratch card will collect a total of $115 for your cause.
Here’s a fundraising idea that your congregants will love. The Journey of Faith candle fundraiser is the only program that labels their wonderfully scented candles with bible scripture. It’s sister fundraiser, Quote candles, has candles labeled with inspirational quotes, to appeal to all. Why not share a positive message, while generating funds for your church?
Discount cards are a favorite church fundraiser because it’s a win-win-win program. Your church earns profit by selling cards containing discounts at local merchants. Your supporters receive great value because of the money they save year-round, and the merchants get more foot traffic in their stores.
Church groups often use the engraved brick fundraiser when they are renovating their church. They can be engraved to honor a lost loved one, to mark a special occasion or even used as a family nameplate. Your church charges for every engraved brick, and it may even pay for the entire renovation.
The Dip Jar offers a new take on the tip jars and collection plates of the past. It’s truly an ingenious and fun way to raise funds at your next event. Whether you’re requesting a donation, selling a raffle ticket or other, your supporters simply dip their debit or credit card into the device, similar to a jar, to make their contribution.
Similar to setting-up a GoFundMe page, you’d set-up your online page to sell t-shirts to raise money for your cause. What’s cool, is that you design your t-shirt to reflect the purpose of your cause, and then use social media tools to sell online. It’s a great way to fundraise, while building awareness for your cause with every t-shirt sold.
There are a lot of people who want to support your fundraiser, without having to buy a product they don’t really want. When you set-up your crowdfunding page, they’ll know that almost 100% of the money they’re donating is going to your worthy cause. You can also use peer-to-peer tools to spread the word and maximize your online donations.
Color Runs put a new twist on the marathon. It encourages people of all ages to join in the fun and run through clouds of chalking dust thus creating the name, Color Run. The supplies are easy to find and fairly inexpensive. The runners raise funds by taking donations or pledges for their participation. Teens and young adults often increase their groups by including friends and family members.
This is a wonderful way to do fundraising as a family. It highlights the importance of committing to a cause and reaching goals. Since many families also invite others, there are often more people than expected. The increase in participants leads to larger donations and contributions for the event.
A Casino Night fundraising event offers a variety of adult gaming opportunities to bring neighbors, friends and the community together to raise money for your great cause. Local rental companies often stock everything from roulette wheels, bingo games, poker supplies and sometimes slot machines. They can also supply staff to serve drinks and snacks.
Make sure to get as many volunteers on board, in order to keep your overhead costs down. The key to a successful charity casino fundraiser is to maximize your foot traffic, and minimize your operating costs. With this in mind, ensure that you promote your event through all possible channels and get volunteers to run much of your casino night.
Golf tournaments draw big crowds so arranging one as a fundraising event will create a lot of attention. Arrange a time for your event with a local golf course and discuss donations for prizes with your local merchants. This is likely to increase interest and you will get more teams signing up for the event.
There is no easier way to get all your friends together than pairing up for a golf tournament. Not only are you raising funds to support an organization in need, you get to enjoy the fresh air and competition of a good golf game. Share the experience and encourage your family and friends to tell their neighbors and coworkers to increase the number of people in attendance.
An annual school picnic is a great way to raise funds for materials and books. Choose the day that you most likely to have good weather and provide an alternate time in case of rain. This increases the chances of having a successful turnout. Consider creating teams for events like pie-eating contests, water balloon tosses, or baseball games to increase interest and improve attendance.
School picnics may be considered student-only events but increasing attendance can mean more donations for books, sports uniforms, or art materials. These are always a major concern in school systems and the first areas cut. The more people who donate their time and money, the easier it is to provide a good educational experience for our children.
The Haunted House Fundraiser is a favorite of kids and adults alike. Contact a property owner with an empty store to see if they can donate the space. Ask local businesses if they can donate supplies or cover the utilities in exchange for recognition in your pamphlets or advertisements. Call friends and families to find as many volunteers as possible. This reduces your workload and increases donation potential.
When the big day comes, make your opening day a grand event with special activities. This will create a “buzz” and spread the word even more. Everyone likes to help and friends and family can get the word out faster than you can. Not only will people have a great time, but they will be helping a great cause.
The rubber duck race is a popular fundraiser that’s usually run on it’s own but sometimes during a local fair or carnival, as well. Your supporters will purchase a rubber duck and be given a receipt with a unique number on it. All of the rubber ducks will be dropped into a canal or contained waterway, and if your duck crosses the line first, you win. Often there are 10-25 prizes or more, so that so many people get to win.
Get prizes like money, trips, movie tickets and gift certificates donated by your local businesses, in return for visibility at your duck race event. You may also choose to hire a firm to run your rubber duck fundraiser. Be sure to use social media, radio and the local paper to promote your event!
Read-a-thons are often used to create interest in reading or raising money for libraries and schools. Set aside a period and that the reading event is taking place and provide all the participants with the general rules. This can include a “grand prize” for the most books read and awards to the runner-up. This encourages more kids to join and enjoy books.
Getting children to read is the most important part of these events but fundraising also provides income to help support future readers, students, and teachers. While this usually works well for schools and libraries, other organizations have used this technique to create awareness and battle illiteracy.
Game night is a fun way to get all your friends, family and neighbors together for a great time. This can be anything from board game marathons (think all night monopoly) to console gaming sessions. This results in donations or pledges made for those who stay up the latest, earn the most points, make the most money, or win the most games. Using popular games or the newest releases may increase interest and widen your target audience.
Gaming is a great fundraising opportunity for families with kids of all ages. Everyone can be part of their favorite games and bring along a friend. The money raised goes for a good cause and it can become an annual event.
Walk-a-thons are popular fundraising events used to raise awareness for specific causes or social situations. They are easy to arrange, require very little overhead, and depend on donations or pledges made to your participants. Putting the word out is the biggest challenge and contacting radio stations, newspapers, and local organizations will increase awareness and create interest in your cause.
Many families and friends join walk-a-thons in order to do something as a group while raising money for an idea they believe in. This brings everyone together to support something important and gives them a day full of fun and exercise.
A Kid’s Bingo fundraiser can be a great family event and is often organized annually or quarterly. To raise money, charge an entrance fee and get prizes donated. Sell additional items like drinks, snacks and pizza so your group can raise even more.
The materials can be printed off a computer or you can rent mark and wipe versions from a local rental facility. If your event is theme-based, you can create bingo boards that match your message to increase awareness. You could even hire an outside company to run the entire event, from A to Z.
Everyone likes to show off their skills and abilities and what better way to bring everyone together than a Talent Show. Contact your local schools or churches to find a location big enough to hold your fundraiser. Remember to organize your show by age-related groups to give everybody a chance. This will increase the participation and give parents as well as kids an opportunity to perform.
Performing for your friends and family can be exciting and memorable no matter how old you are. Many people want to share these experiences by inviting others to join them. This increases attendance and your fundraising potential.
The spaghetti dinner fundraising event goes way back. Many communities hold these events several times a year. In order to increase your profit potential, you need to reduce expenses. Ask about donated spacing and talk with local vendors and shopkeepers about making food donations. Talk with friends and families to get volunteers to cook and serve the food.
Food themed fundraisers are always popular for the elderly and busy parents. Spaghetti is a favorite among many kids and teens so mom and dad get a break while your organization gets the donations necessary to meet their goals. Serving extras like ice cream and desserts can increase the money collected from the dinner.
Arrange a chili cook-off for your local church or civic center to raise money for sports equipment or low-income families. If you include cookbooks or ingredient raffles, it can increase interest in the event. Make sure to advertise the fundraiser in the newspaper or with the local radio station to get as many attendees as possible. Since the participants usually supply all the equipment necessary to prepare and maintain their chili, there is less overhead and fewer supplies necessary for this fundraiser.
Food always creates interest and chili cook-offs have become a common affair. Combining this with another event means even more fun and a bigger turnout. Many communities enjoy holding these benefits annually in order to raise awareness and increase donations for these events.
Cheese and wine fundraisers make a great night out. New wineries and craft beer centers donate products just for the advertising. This allows you to increase your profit potential while keeping your expenses at a minimum. While women really love this fundraiser, mixing it with craft beers will increase interest and bring in the guys.
Women will invite all their friends and family for an evening of wine, cheese, and chatter. Including the beer makes it a great couples night and increases the donations to your organization. Pairing this with a holiday or event would make it even more successful for everyone involved.
The dinner gala presents a luxurious, sophisticated evening out that benefits a particular organization. Ask a restaurant to volunteer a room for the event and work with them regarding a dinner menu where portions sales can be donated to your association. This fundraiser also works if you cater it yourself at a high-end venue. Reducing your expenses allows you to raise more money.
Everyone loves to dress up and go out to dinner. Combining the two together for a special evening raises awareness for your cause. This also gives your friends and family an opportunity to indulge themselves with great food and company.
Carnivals have always been the go-to event for great fundraising ideas. Various vendors, contributors, and benefactors come together to raise a large amount of money for a designated recipient. Minus expenses, the profits are donated to one cause by the organizer or carnival committee and it’s open to the public.
Kids love the fun carnivals supply and these festivals help raise money for school functions, medical expenses, and local charities. Whether it’s dunking your teacher, knocking over bottles or buying snacks and drinks, the proceeds go to a predetermined cause or association. These events create awareness and support communities while educating them about a situation.
The ice cream stand is always a popular choice at almost every fundraising event. Supplies are purchased ahead of time or donations are arranged at local stores to minimize expenses. A large variety of choices improves the chance of successful sales and increases profit margins. It also increases interest for your audience.
Ice cream is the go-to snack for many people. Fundraising with this product is a popular way to raise some quick money and inform people of your cause. The expenses are low, if any, with a high return on investment. This makes ice cream stands a great way to support your favorite charity or event.
The silent auction, also known as the Chinese Auction, is completely anonymous. These events are done online, over time, or on location at a specific event. The items for sale are bid on in secret and put into a jar. The winning bid is normally the highest bidder and is announced at a predetermined time. This ensures everyone has an opportunity to participate and make themselves available at the appointed time.
Silent auctions have a vast variety of gifts and prizes donated to support their cause and can lead to friendly bidding wars. Whether it’s lottery tickets in a basket or a homemade quilt, bidding on an item is exciting and fun.
The 50/50 raffle is a popular fundraising idea because it works well in a variety of social settings. Tickets are sold either at the door or by specific volunteers who seek out people interested in purchasing them for a chance to win half the proceeds. Fifty percent of the money goes to the organization holding the raffle and the winner receives the remaining fifty percent.
This kind of raffle works great because the tickets are cheap and easy to sell. Members of the organization sell the tickets individually or in sets to capitalize on the chance of “hitting it big.” The quick return on investment is an inviting way to create interest in your fundraising campaign.
Dog walking is a new, creative way to involve the whole family in supporting a cause. Like most walks, the contributors collect pledges or donations for the participation. Regardless of the amount of money raised, each volunteer brings their pets and they congregate for a day of walking and fun with other like-minded individuals.
This fundraising idea combines man’s best friend and a commitment to exercise. Raising money for a good cause is just another benefit of spending time with family and friends. Fundraisers like this usually accompany other events and make a memorable day for everyone while supporting organizations important to the community.
A fundraising letter allows previous contributors an opportunity to continue their support. Information is arranged in a business correspondence that informs the recipient of expected goals and how they can contribute. This may include cash, a check, money orders or credit card donations. It may even give them ideas on how to raise contributions themselves.
Established organizations use this method to raise funds because they have an established connection that they can depend on for donations. This mailing list is made up of previous contributors. The funds donated to these organizations are usually made on a regular schedule. This keeps the money coming in throughout the year.
Gift wrapping as a fundraising opportunity is gaining attention. In some cases, volunteers have set a price they charge for wrapping gifts. Other organizations accept donations for each item they wrap and the proceeds are donated to a designated recipient or organization. These fundraisers are popular during the holiday seasons.
Paying or donating money to have gifts wrapped saves time for family members during the busiest season of the year. These wrapping stations allow community members to support a cause while giving attractive gifts to their loved ones. Gift wrapping also keeps the items a secret keeping the mystery of gift-giving while supporting local organizations.
The penny drive has had a history of being a successful fundraiser. The idea is to collect as many copper coins as possible and donate them to an organization designated early on in the planning. The “team” that collects the most pennies usually receives a predetermined prize for their efforts.
Pennies are often the forgotten coin so having penny drives is a quick and simple way to support your community without spending additional funds. This has been a favorite of kids and organizations for years because it is easy to operate and readily recognized. After the event is over, taking the bank has a machine that rolls the coins making it that much easier.
Box tops help supply educational services to private and public schools. This allows them to obtain materials that would not be within their budget. These fundraising techniques are supported by big-name companies and used throughout the country. These fundraisers help organizations provide free or low-cost opportunities for the schools and their communities.
Teachers and school aides collect box tops for their classrooms and the children they are responsible for. Not only does this save money, it gives the children a greater exposure to the world around them. Every little bit of money saved can be used with greater efficiency and supports the education of children.
A creative fundraising technique is called Rent a Team. Local sports groups rent their member out as a unit to complete some task for a fee. Whether it’s cleaning up a park or washing someone’s car, the money goes to the organization the team is supporting. Usually, this fundraiser helps the teams obtain uniforms or gear, but sometimes the money is donated to local charities and organizations.
Young team players learn how to work within their community when they participate in an event such as this. It also provides a helping hand to someone who needs to get some work done but may not have the time to complete it themselves. Either way, both parties reach their goals successfully.
Partner with a restaurant to raise money for a specific cause. Managers and owners usually agree to donate a specific percentage of sales from a certain menu item for a limited time. Whether it’s a day, a weekend, or a whole week, it usually draws in additional people to their establishment making it a profitable way to contribute to local causes.
As a win-win scenario, this fundraising idea introduces new people to the restaurant and provides the organization or affiliation with the donations. It’s a relatively cheap and effective way to advertise your event and support local businesses. Many communities welcome these partnerships as a way of funding donations because it reduces the need for door-to-door sales and protects families.
Creative fundraising continues to introduce new possibilities such as the Give It Up Fundraiser. Not only does this introduce a need to participants, it encourages them to give something up. Whether it’s a temporary change or a permanent one depends on the participant, but the money raised is donated to the cause that sponsored the event.
The idea for a fundraiser like this is to increase awareness. Whether it’s for diabetes or cancer, the importance of giving up something means participants will need to consider the impact it will have. Not only does this impact how they see themselves, it allows them to support a cause they really believe in.
Schools, churches, and sports organizations have rallied towards the bottle drive. Members of the community donate used, empty, clean bottles and cans. The proceeds are used to purchase uniforms, school supplies, art materials, or helping those less fortunate. During the holidays and summer months, many organizations use collection areas to keep the money coming in during their slower periods.
The benefit of this fundraising idea is simple; it recycles materials that take a long time to decompose and puts money back into the pockets of organizations, groups, and affiliations that help others. This is an easy fundraiser because many people forget to turn their bottles in and they are readily available to donate. It also allows people to donate without disrupting their budgets and still showing support.
An unusual, but economical and environmentally friendly fundraising program is called Recycle Printer Cartridges. While this usually is not a game, it is used to create awareness of the need for printer cartridges for schools, churches, low-income families, and non-profit organizations. When someone donates an empty cartridge for recycling or refilling, they receive a ticket or coupon for a prize. The more tickets they collect the greater the prize.
Specialized businesses pay for used and empty printer cartridges. This allows organizations to make money on these items that most people throw away. The more cartridges collected, the more money they make. When whole communities are involved, this can be quite a lucrative fundraiser for a church or school.
An innovative fundraiser is the shoe drive. Sometimes organizations ask for new shoes to be donated to their cause but usually, they are looking for lightly used shoes to donate. These types of fundraisers usually benefit children, low-income families, and the homeless. After collections are over, the shoes are handed over to schools, churches, or groups that have a list of recipients waiting for them.
Not only does this type of fundraiser provide for the needy, it helps to get the word out about other people in need. Shoes, sneakers, and boots were very often thrown out because passing them along was not very common. Shoe drives put these items to use and reduce the waste in the local landfills. This is definitely a win-win fundraising idea.
This has to be one of the craziest fundraising ideas! As the name suggests, the polar bear plunge is an event where a group of people supporting a specific cause “plunge” into icy water. Prior to this occasion, they collect donations or pledges from family and friends. The collected money goes to support whatever sports organization, church, school, or community group arranged the fundraiser.
While freezing may not seem to be a great way to collect donations, it really is a popular event in many communities. Annual polar bear plunges are inventive ways to raise awareness and accumulate funds. These events often support medical treatments, sports equipment, helping the poor and an endless stream of benefits.
Many students dream of seeing their Teacher in Jail. As a fundraiser, this is a fun, exciting way to raise “bale” for a favorite charity or organization. The teachers’ names are submitted by someone who wishes to see them “arrested.” They are taken to a designated “jail cell” where they will remain until they can contact enough friends and family to sponsor their release.
Fundraisers like this are entertaining for everyone involved. They create great photo ops and memories while supporting local charity events. Jail themed fundraisers usually raise larger donations that benefit the recipients. Larger fundraisers may hold several participants while waiting for them to reach their “bale” level contributions set in the beginning.
A traditional fundraising idea from “way back” is the Pie in the Face. People pay to either throw a pie at someone or pay someone else to throw a pie at a designated “victim.” Either way, the proceeds go to a predetermined organization that supplies the pies. Pies cost a preset amount and are relatively cheap because it usually consists of whipped cream in a pie tin.
Choosing the right “victim” to receive the pie can make the occasion memorable for everyone. The money goes to a good cause and the participants get a chance to “even the score” all in the name of giving. Events like this bring together laughter and fun while raising money for the community.