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A Few Fundraising Ideas
If your organization or group needs to raise money for a trip
or project, there is nothing wrong with another bake sale. However,
if you do something a little different, you may get more volunteers
for the event. You may also get more media exposure, meaning
more people will participate, which means more money raised.
Here are some new ideas.
A rummage sale is a common fundraising idea, but how about
a mobile rummage sale? This requires collecting donations of
things to sell, and the cooperation of someone with a pick up
truck. Organize the things as neatly as possible in the back
of the truck, and go door-to-door, explaining to the residents
that you are raising money for your cause, and asking them to
take a look at your sale. They may also want to donate things
to sell. Consider the beach or other busy places to go too.
Almost everyone is online now. If you collect donations for
a project or regular event, you can promise donors that they
will be recognized on your group's official website. They can
have a bit of internet immortality as one of the people that
made your event, trip or project possible. This is similar to
the common practice of donors getting their names put on a plaque,
but the website is accessible to all their friends anywhere in
the world, so they can show them how they helped.
Having a car wash is one of the most common fundraising ideas
out there. A dog wash, on the other hand, is less common. For
this to work, you have to have a place where many people walk
their dogs. A brush, some dog shampoo, and a source of water
are all you really need. You might also sell dog toys, dog snacks
and other pet-related things for even more profit.
A lot of businesses need to have the area around them cleaned
up. This includes restaurants that have trash around the edges
of their parking lots, and businesses that need their signs washed,
and others that need their sidewalks and lots swept. A crew of
young people could clean up the area in an hour for a set fee.
The business could write off the contribution on their taxes.
A treasure hunt could be a big event, and even an annual one
if your organization needs a regular fundraising event. The basic
idea is this: Rope off an area of a beach, and bury silver bars
and coins in the sand, allowing people to hunt for them for an
entry fee. Suppose you buried 4 quarter-ounce gold coins, 20
one-ounce silver bars, 1000 various foreign coins (some coin
shops will sell these to you for ten cents each), 500 dimes and
2000 pennies. At today's prices it would cost you about $1,000,
which you might first raise through donations. 300 people paying
$10 each would net your group $2,000, plus you could sell hotdogs
and drinks during the event.
With the exception of the last one, these are all relatively
cheap events to plan. Let the papers know about your plans, of
course. With the more unusual methods of fundraising you are
especially likely to get some free press coverage.
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