Fundraiser Ideas for Students and Organizers
Whether your child is involved in sports, band, or mathletes, the odds are good that at some point, they’re going to need some extra cash.
Funding for our public school system seldom covers a lot in the way of extracurriculars, and so students and parents are left to scrape up money for important things like transportation for a competition, training camp, instruments, new uniforms, and supplies.
Luckily, there’s a long tradition of school fundraisers, and most people are more willing to loosen their purse strings when it’s for the kids.
Even better, getting students involved in the fundraising process makes them more invested in success, and helps them to appreciate the opportunities they have.
Here are a few of our favorite ideas for student fundraisers:
Host a Communal Garage Sale
Everyone has a few items sitting around in storage that they really don’t need. In fact, 95% of Americans could really benefit from some basic de-cluttering.
Encourage families at your school to de-clutter for a cause when you put together a huge garage sale. They donate the items, and you sort them, price them, and sell them.
This means that with virtually no overhead costs, you can raise thousands of dollars in just one day. You’ll need:
- Effective advertisement to get the word out (hint: your best customers will be those same parents who donated their own things.)
- Enough man hours to sort the donated materials.
- An way to process payments efficiently.
Some individuals will want a big enough event that it’s worth hosting at the school. Others will prefer to host the garage sale at someone’s home, in which case, here are some tips for prep.
The Good Old Carwash
What is it that students have in spades? Energy! Pair that with a functional hose, some suds and sponges, and that’s all you really need for a carwash.
Pick a day in the late summer when dust and/or patchy rain contribute to dusty, dirty cars, and put up some signs on a Saturday.
Students will enjoy playing in the water, but make sure that you have a system down to make sure that cars are actually driven away looking beautifully clean.
If you want to go the extra mile, make sure that some reliable students are equipped with dustbusters and microfiber cloths to get the car interiors as well.
Local Business Sponsorships
If you need to scrape up some fast cash without throwing together an event, consider local sponsorships.
There are plenty of businesses in the area who wouldn’t mind some marketing opportunities to get their name in front of parents of teenagers.
Additionally, being able to sponsor a local team of kids has tax-deductible benefits, too! You can offer advertisement on choral programs, basketball stadiums, in the yearbook, and even at the prom. Here are some businesses to consider:
- Orthodontists and dentists
- Flower shops (especially in the case of school dances)
- Local car dealerships
- Restaurants
Holiday-Grams and Service Opportunities
Maybe it’s time to get creative about what it is that your students really have to offer, and the holidays are the perfect time to do it.
If you’re raising money for an arts program, think about what your students can create and sell to raise funds.
Hosting an art sale can be extremely lucrative, and will motivate your students in a way that they’re probably not familiar with.
Are your young artists more about performance? Bands and choirs can offer holiday-grams, wherein customers pay your students to show up at someone’s home or place of work to carol and bring a little holiday cheer.
But maybe your organization isn’t about artistic creativity. Maybe you’re raising money for the track team.
You can still find great opportunities to put their energies to work. Offer 1 hour of yard work, childcare services, or computer help.
Oftentimes, the best gifts aren’t things that you can wrap and put under the tree.
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Category: Charity
