Fundraiser Ideas » Creative Fundraising Ideas

10 Mission Trip Fundraising Ideas You Can’t Afford to Miss

KWylie — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 17:00:37 +0000

Undertaking a mission can be one of the most fulfilling trips in your lifetime; however, many mission trip participants worry about funding their humanitarian and charitable work. The following are 10 mission trip fundraising ideas that can help make your mission dreams a reality:

Business sponsorships. Visit local businesses and ask them to sponsor a portion of your mission trip, such as one day’s worth of expenses. Target businesses that advertise in your church bulletin or whose owners you know directly.
Send friends and family letters. Send a letter out to all of your family and friends and let them know about your upcoming trip. Include information about the work you’ll be doing, as well as the costs involved, and ask for their support.
Church support. Talk to your church leaders and ask them to contribute financially. Churches may have amounts set aside in their budgets for just this purpose. This is one of the most overlooked mission trip fundraising ideas.
Bake sale. Host a bake sale after church, noting that all funds will go to your mission trip. Make a display that details your trip for people to learn more about the mission they are supporting.
Salvation bracelets. With some rawhide lacing and beads in black, red, white, blue, green, and gold, make salvation bracelets to sell following church services. Sell them two at a time, so the buyer can keep one and give the other to someone else.
Garage sale. Think about the lack of material items the people you will help on your mission trip have. Now think of all the things you have that you could sell in a garage sale to raise money for your trip in what is one of the easiest mission trip fundraising ideas.
Sell fair trade items. From soap to coffee, there are dozens of fair trade items you can sell to help raise money for your mission trip. Check out the Internet for ideas and know you’ll be helping others around the world while raising money!
Car wash. Get your church’s permission to host a car wash fundraiser after Sunday services to help fund your mission trip. Gather together fellow mission trip participants and wash your way closer to having your trip paid for.
Mission trip dinner. With the assistance of family, friends or other mission trip participants, host a fundraising dinner with your upcoming mission as the theme. Have presentation materials detailing your trip available and serve local foods from the region you’ll be traveling to.
Raffle yourself off. You may not have the money to pay for your mission trip on your own, but you certainly have the time and the talent. Raffle off blocks of your time. The lucky winners will have your undivided service for four hours and you’ll do whatever chores they’d like.

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10 Christmas Fundraising Ideas Guaranteed to Spread Holiday Cheer

KWylie — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 17:00:31 +0000

Christmas is a time of giving. It’s the time of year that people are most likely to open their hearts and their wallets. The following Christmas fundraising ideas are designed to not only help your organization raise much-needed funds but also spread holiday cheer in the process.

Sell Christmas trees. Partner with a local tree-grower and borrow a section of a parking lot from a neighborhood business to set up your Christmas tree lot. Publicize the charity you support and offer free hot cocoa or hot apple cider to set your tree lot apart from others in town.
Sell Christmas wreaths. There’s no need to wait for the holidays to start the second of our Christmas fundraising ideas. Check online for suppliers who will even drop ship wreaths directly to your customers.
Hold a Christmas concert. Who doesn’t love an evening of Christmas music? Pre-sell discounted tickets to the concert and have full-price tickets available at the door. Be sure to let your newspapers and radio stations know about the event in order to receive free publicity.
Host a Christmas charity dinner. Turkey, ham and all the trimmings are involved in our tastiest of Christmas fundraising ideas. Add Christmas-themed raffle items for more holiday fundraising. If you’re not an expert chef, you could even hold a simple spaghetti dinner fundraiser with a Christmas theme.
Plan a Jingle bell run/walk. Take your typical charity run or walk, add jingle bells for everyone and an ample amount of Santa hats, and your jingle bell event is sure to spread holiday joy. Have entrants collect donations and award prizes for those with the highest amount of donations.
Offer Christmas carol-grams. Community members can send a little holiday musical spirit to family and friends while also supporting a good cause. You don’t have to be a professionally-trained vocalist to spread the joy of the season; if you dress festively and have fun, the carol recipient is sure to enjoy your performance.
Sell Christmas ornaments. There are several online companies that will customize Christmas ornaments for your organization. These limited edition ornaments are a great way to raise funds and raise holiday spirits! Put the year in your design, so that supporters will want to buy future years’ ornaments and continue their collections.
Plan a Christmas fun day. Put together a series of Christmas-themed activities and craft stations and offer a Christmas fun day to local children for a small fee. Not only will children have holiday fun, but moms and dads can get some child-free Christmas shopping in. Make sure Santa comes to visit!
Hold a Christmas bake sale. Everyone enjoys bake sale goodies. The holidays are no exception. Festively decorated sugar cookies, gingerbread men, Christmas spritz cookies and more fill people’s tummies and hearts with holiday goodness.
Christmas window painting. Local businesses love to have their store windows decorated for the holidays. From holiday sayings to full winter scenes, business owners can support your charity and make their stores more festive at the same time.

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10 Charity Fundraising Events to Raise Large Amounts of Money

KWylie — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 17:00:45 +0000

When your charitable cause needs large amounts of money, charity fundraising events can be your best option. The huge funds generated by these events can be used for a single project or the ongoing operations of your charitable organization. The following are 10 charity fundraising events that, if implemented correctly, are sure to raise large amounts of money for your organization:

Charity walk. Big name charities, like the American Cancer Society, use charity walks as one of their primary charity fundraising events. Have walkers gather pledges per mile from their friends and family. Invite the community out to support participants as they walk for a cause!
Charity 5K. Instead of gathering donations, runners pay an entry fee to compete in this charity run. Contact local businesses to sponsor t-shirts for entrants and donate items for the goody bags runners receive on the day of the race.
Charity concert. Let music bring people together for your cause. Contact local newspapers and radio stations to publicize your event. Pre-sell discounted tickets and offer full-price tickets at the door.
Automobile raffle. Who wouldn’t want to win a car? Contact your local automobile dealer and ask them to either donate the vehicle or donate a portion of the vehicle’s cost. As this is a big ticket raffle, publicize it in newspapers, the radio and the Internet to maximize raffle ticket sales.
Charity dinner. Couple a tasty, home-cooked meal with a good cause and your community will flock to number five on this list of ten charity fundraising events. If you’re a 501(c)3 organization, many grocery stores will donate gift cards you can use to purchase supplies for your charity dinner.
Charity auction. Gather donations from local businesses and supporters of your cause for a silent auction fundraiser. Combine both big ticket and lower priced items to attract the most bidders possible. Make it a live auction with an enthusiastic auctioneer spurring bidders on for more fun and funds!
Charity garage sale. Gather donation items from your organization’s members and other community members, and hold your sale in a high-traffic area. Advertise your sale well in advance, noting the organization it supports. For any leftover items after the garage sale, donate them to charitable thrift shops.
Charity tours of homes. Ask homeowners, particularly in your town’s historic district, to open their homes for a good cause. Sell tickets for private viewings of fine architecture in your community.
Penny carnival. Despite the name “penny carnival,” your organization can raise thousands of dollars with this family-friendly charity fundraising event. Sell tickets to take part in activities at the different booths. Add raffle items or a 50-50 raffle to raise even more money.
Face painting booth. Kids young and old love to have their faces painted. Locate your booth at a large community festival, such as a community Fourth of July gathering and watch the kiddies line up and dollars roll in.

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10 Ideas for Fundraising You Cannot Afford to Miss

UploadArticles — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 17:00:42 +0000

One of the best ways to boost the visibility and financial stability of your nonprofit or charitable organization is by designing and implementing exciting, original ideas for fundraising activities. These ideas can range from simple fundraising letters to elaborate gala events and numerous other activities that fall somewhere in between. Here are 10 ideas for fundraising your organization cannot afford to overlook.

Baked potato bar. A welcome alternative to bake sales and chili dinners, baked potato buffets can be set up nearly anywhere and typically require minimal initial investment on the part of your organization. Providing a wide range of toppings is the key to success with this fundraising activity.
Themed cookbooks. Depending on your organization’s particular mission, you may be able to produce a themed cookbook that highlights your cause while providing delicious recipes for your donors. Animal welfare groups, for instance, may want to include dog cookies or kitty treats in their recipe books.
Custom calendars. Calendars that feature volunteers are especially effective ideas for fundraising, since they serve the dual purposes of attracting donations and honoring individuals who have given their time and efforts on behalf of your organization.
Recycling. Numerous items, from printer cartridges to prom dresses, can be recycled, refurbished or resold in order to raise funds for your charity or nonprofit. By soliciting donations of these useful items, your organization can turn trash into cash for your cause.
Radio publicity. By partnering with a local radio station to raise funds for your organization, you can attract new donors and reach a far larger audience with your appeal for donations. Radio stations are often happy to help with fundraising drives in order to fill time and to improve their own public image.
Garage and yard sales. Rather than soliciting cash donations, your organization may be able to organize a neighborhood garage or yard sale in order to raise funds for general operations or a specific need. Donors can clear out unwanted junk while your organization reaps the benefits of these sales, making this one of the most cost-effective ideas for fundraising.
Sponsorships. Zoos and children’s charities often use sponsorships to raise funds for their operations. Your organization may be able to put the same technique to work by selling sponsorships for various charitable activities or upcoming events.
Ice cream socials. These nostalgic events can produce significant donations for your charity or nonprofit organization at minimal cost. Ice cream socials are a good way to introduce your charity to the community in addition to the fundraising potential they represent.
Friends groups. By establishing a core group of donors and presenting special events specifically for these friends of your organization, you can often create added incentives for ongoing donations to your charity or nonprofit.
Food stands at local events. Barbecue, hot dog or hamburger stands at local sporting events and festivals can often create significant revenues for your organization while enhancing your public visibility, making this one of the best overall ideas for fundraising. The additional exposure your charity or nonprofit receives from these activities can actually boost your regular donations as well, allowing your organization to enjoy a greater degree of financial stability.

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The Top 10 Breast Cancer Fundraising Ideas

UploadArticles — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 17:00:22 +0000

While the ubiquitous pink ribbon is perhaps the best-known and most successful symbol of the fight against breast cancer, a number of other breast cancer fundraising ideas can help local and national organizations raise awareness and increase financial support for the search for a cure. Breast cancer claims approximately 40,000 lives each year. By creating innovative and successful breast cancer fundraising ideas for your organization, you can help prevent these deaths and provide much-needed funds for medical research. Here are 10 breast cancer fundraising ideas to consider:

The pink car. Car donations can provide significant funds for breast cancer research. By soliciting donations of pink cars, your organization can raise large sums while also promoting awareness. Of course, you can accept cars painted other colors, as well.
Pink champagne breakfasts. Strictly for adults, these gala events are among the most elegant breast cancer fundraising ideas. By offering a continental breakfast along with pink champagne and orange juice, your group can easily attract donors for your breast cancer fundraising campaign.
Lingerie sales. Another fundraising event designed with adults in mind, a charity lingerie sale can provide funds for breast cancer research while entertaining and educating the public at the same time.
Pink roses. One of the most innovative breast cancer fundraising ideas is to team up with a local florist and promote their pink roses in return for a donation of a percentage of their sales. This is especially good during the weeks leading up to Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day, since your group can typically increase donations while also raising public awareness.
Social networking. By adding a pink ribbon image on your organization’s Facebook page or other social networking presence, you can encourage donations for breast cancer research at no additional cost to your organization. Be sure, of course, to link the image to a site that accepts donations.
Bake sale. Cupcakes, cookies and other pastries decorated with the easily recognizable pink ribbon can be sold for funds to be donated to breast cancer research. These sweet treats can make a big difference in efforts to find a cure.
Newspaper sales. By helping others keep “abreast” of current events, your organization can also attract significant donations for this worthy cause. In some cases, the local newspaper may be willing to dedicate a special edition of the paper to the issue of breast cancer and provide additional information for the community.
Pink ribbon-cutting ceremony. Local construction firms and businesses may be willing to combine a ribbon-cutting ceremony with a fundraising opportunity for your group by substituting a pink ribbon in place of the white ribbon traditionally used in these events. This can provide valuable opportunities for attracting new donors for breast cancer research.
Festivals and expos. By presenting an informational booth or kiosk at local events, your group can often find new donors and achieve increased financial donations for breast cancer research.
Bikini car washes. While these events are not for every fundraising group, they can provide a fun way to collect donations and increase public awareness of the need for funding for this worthy cause. Volunteers can wear pink bikinis or swimsuits to reinforce the breast cancer theme of the event.

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7 Great Halloween Fundraising Ideas

RHead — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 16:00:19 +0000

Halloween is a scary time of year, but it can and should be fun! We go trick-or-treating but, it seems, most people forget the trick. The real trick is to have fun.

Raising money for your charity is a necessity, but you can have fun at the same time. There’s a really neat way to combine the Halloween holiday with a fundraising activity that you can host year after year without really ever repeating yourself. Your guests and supporters will be happy to pay an entrance fee to your (1) House of Hilarity for a chance to have a good time and share the fun with their families. Instead of creating a haunted house, celebrate the holiday and raise the needed funds for your charity with a house full of laughter. Think of the fun everyone will have seeing their favorite Halloween characters in caricature and, otherwise, out of character. For example, perhaps your Count Dracula wants nothing to eat but chocolate; Frankenstein might do a song-and-dance routine like in the movie “Young Frankenstein”; and Dr. Jekyll’s Mr. Hyde might turn out to be a clown. There’s no end to the possibilities for this Halloween fundraising idea.

You could include a (2) joke contest in which contestants would donate a dollar to submit a joke. At the end of the evening, the jokes could be read out loud. The winner would be decided by the audience’s applause. After all, it’s all in good fun, and that’s what it’s supposed to be about. You could have different age or type categories. Just remember to make an announcement to keep the jokes clean if it’s going to be a family affair.

Another Halloween fundraising idea is the (3) traditional costume contest. You might have different categories including silliest, funniest, prettiest, and most creative costumes. Contestants could be encouraged to get creative with materials as well as characters. Again, the audience could vote on the winner by expressing their appreciation with their applause.

Any number of activities could be available, including (4) bobbing for apples, (5) playing musical chairs, (6) different kinds of races, and other activities. Blocks of tickets can be sold, so people won’t have to carry coins to pay for all the different things to do, each of which is another Halloween fundraising idea.

Another way to raise money during the holiday carnival is to suggest that people bring (7) treats and drinks to be sold. Someone could make cupcakes and wrap them individually. Someone else might bring some candy bars. No one has to feel obligated to bring a lot. Whatever the donation, it’s an easy way to add to your organization’s coffers. A little bit here, and a little bit there can really add up.

At the end of the evening, make sure there is a well-marked suggestion box that people can use to submit Halloween fundraising ideas for the next year. After all, a hundred heads are better than one or two. It will make a perfect way to end the perfect Halloween evening.

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The Top 10 School Fundraising Ideas

KWylie — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 16:00:56 +0000

As school budgets tighten across the country, school fundraising becomes an increasingly critical pursuit. Whether funds are needed to build a new playground or maintain an arts program, effective fundraising can dramatically impact the quality of a child’s education. What follows are our top 10 school fundraising ideas:

Corporate sponsorship. Partnering with your local businesses to raise money for a specific school project or event is one of the best school fundraising ideas out there. Public recognition of the donation, such as a plaque on a playground, lets the public know who to thank for the generous donation.
Donate a brick. Let the community physically help build a better education for your children. Commemorative bricks are purchased by community members and placed in hallways and patios, proudly displaying the names of those who donated for years to come. There is a brick fundraising company listed in our fundraising company directory.
Tree of Gving. A Tree of Giving is a permanent wall memorial of those who generously gave to the school. The trunk and branches of the tree spread across the wall and community members purchase leaves that will memorialize their donation for all to see. These are popular in hospitals.
Family carnival. Fun, games and prizes – who could ask for more from this idea on our list of top 10 school fundraising ideas? From cake walks to carnival games suitable for children of all ages, this is a fundraiser the entire family will enjoy!
Local restaurants. Contact your local restaurants to arrange a “School Night” for your school. The restaurant donates a percentage of sales to the school. They receive more business, families receive a yummy meal and the school receives much needed funds!
Basket raffle. Each classroom is charged with creating a basket to raffle off. At a school event, such as parent-teacher conferences, a school concert or an open house, sell raffle tickets and let the parents select which baskets they’d like to enter to win.
Discount cards. Discount cards offering discounts to local merchants are an easy way for children to raise funds for their school. Whether it’s for a specific event, such as a field trip, or just as general fundraising idea, discount cards are something everyone can use.
Talent show. Give children an opportunity to display their talents while raising money, with number eight on our list of top 10 school fundraising ideas! Even a nominal ticket price can raise hundreds of dollars.
Bake sale. Take advantage of captive parents and students at all of your school’s after school events with a bake sale. Parent-teacher conferences, concerts and open houses are prime opportunities to raise funds for your school with this tasty idea!
Recycling. This simple idea not only raises money for your school, but helps the environment too! Have a contest to see which class can collect the greatest weight in cans, with the winning class receiving a pizza party at lunch or an ice cream treat at recess.

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The Top 10 Adoption Fundraising Ideas

KWylie — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 16:00:40 +0000

Opening your heart to a child who needs a family to love him or her is a blessing for both you and the child. However, many adoptive-parents-to-be struggle with affording the costs associated with the adoption process. Following are 10 excellent adoption fundraising ideas that can help you bring that new family member home.

Host a themed dinner event. Plan a evening of themed fun, in this first of our series of adoption fundraising ideas. Contact your church or local social clubs to see if they will donate the space and sell tickets to family, friends and neighbors.
Golf tournament. Gather your family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers together for a round of golf. Award small prizes for the top team, longest drive, and more.
Garage sale. Make room for your new family member while raising money as well. Search your basement, attic, garage, and closets for things you really don’t need. Make sure to let people know the funds you raise are going to your adoption costs.
Bake sale. This is the tastiest of all of our adoption fundraising ideas! Host a bake sale at your church, a local business or your garage sale. Or, ask your employer if you can make it a weekly event at the office – Muffin Mondays!
Personal appeal. Send out an announcement to your family and friends and let them know you’re adopting a new family member. Detail the costs involved in the adoption process, and ask them to consider donating as a welcome gift to the new addition.
Have a home sales party. Contact a local home sales consultant, such as Colonial Candle or Pampered Chef, and ask them to donate their profits from your party to your adoption efforts. In exchange, they’ll receive new party leads and customers from your family and friends.
Host an auction. Gather up the more valuable items you have in your possession and ask local businesses to donate their goods and services. Couple this with your themed dinner event to maximize your fundraising results.
Host a benefit concert. Contact a local band and ask if they’d do a benefit concert to help you raise money for your adoption. Couple this with your auction and ask the local bar to donate a percentage of the sales for that night from people who bring in flyers.
Car wash. High school sports teams do it – why not you? Ask a business with high traffic if you can use their parking lot. You can even combine your bake sale for more fundraising fun!
Sell, sell, sell. Our final item on our list of adoption fundraising ideas is based on traditional fundraising sales. Search online and you’ll find numerous fundraising companies with a variety of products you can sell, to help you make money to fund your adoption.

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10 Simple Fundraising Ideas for Individuals

KWylie — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 16:00:05 +0000

When people talk about fundraising, we often think of a group of people getting together and raising money for an organization. However, what about the times when it’s just you trying to raise money for a worthy cause that is dear to your heart? Following are 10 simple fundraising ideas that you can implement:

Door-to-door. It may sound old fashioned, but there is a reason why big organizations still use door-to-door fundraising as their primary method. Be sure to bring material about the cause you’re fundraising for.
Corporate sponsorship. Contact local businesses and ask them to sponsor your cause in exchange for a marketing opportunity, such as having a company logo proudly displayed on a t-shirt you’ll wear at a big event.
Matching donations. Even if your own employer isn’t able to sponsor you, many companies offer a matching donation program for their employees in which they will match a certain percentage of funds raised for a charitable cause.
Hold a garage sale. Clear out the basement and closets of all your unneeded items and host a garage sale, with profits going to support your cause. When advertising your garage sale, be sure to explain that this is a garage sale for charity to further encourage people to come.
Host a bake sale. Everyone likes home-baked goodies, which is why a bake sale is one of our simple fundraising ideas! Host your bake sale at a high traffic area, such as your church, outside a business, or at your charity garage sale.
Recycling. Set up a can recycling bin at local businesses. Place a sign on the bin letting people know that not only are they helping the environment, but they’re helping a worthy cause too!
Put an article in your local paper. Write an article for your local newspaper talking about the cause, event or organization you are fundraising for, and ask for donations. Your local bank can help you set up a charitable account.
Local service clubs. Just because you’re an individual raising money, doesn’t mean you can’t ask groups for help, which is why this one made our list of simple fundraising ideas. Service organizations such as the Lions Club or Knights of Columbus may be able to assist you by hosting events for you!
Virtually network. Use social media, such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn, to reach out and ask for donations from your virtual community of friends and colleagues. Ask others to repost your information, to maximize the power of number nine on our list of simple fundraising ideas.
Host a party. Contact your favorite home sales party person, such as Pampered Chef or Mary Kay, and ask if they’d be willing to donate their profits from your party to your fundraising efforts. In exchange, they’ll receive new potential party leads and repeat customers from your family and friends that attend.

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10 Raffle Ideas You Can’t Afford to Miss

KWylie — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 16:00:02 +0000

Raffles are an excellent way for your organization or cause to raise money. For a small amount of money, people get a chance to win a much more valuable prize. Following are 10 raffle ideas you can’t afford to miss.

Table raffle. In a table raffle, donated items are laid out on tables with jars in front of each. Ticket buyers place their raffle tickets in the jar in front of the prize they’d like to win. Have a variety of prizes to attract the most ticket buyers.
50-50 raffle. The 50-50 raffle is one of the easiest raffle ideas. No pre-purchasing or donation of prizes is required. All you need are raffle tickets and then split the amount collected with the winner! 50% goes to the winner and 50% goes to your cause. Pay attention to local and state laws; be sure that this is not considered gambling in your location.
Basket raffle. Who doesn’t love a basket filled with goodies? Create a variety of basket types for people of various ages and interests. Themed baskets, such as a “The Chocoholic Basket” or “The Movie Night Basket,” are a popular raffle idea.
Automobile raffle. If you’re trying to raise a lot of money, then a big ticket item, like an automobile, is one of the most effective raffle ideas. Partner with a local dealership to see if they’ll donate at least a portion of the vehicle to your cause.
Workplace perks raffle. Raise money at your office by raffling off a chance to win a variety of workplace perks. An extra paid vacation day, a premium parking spot for a month, or even a free lunch with the boss are all great raffle ideas everyone in the office will want to win.
Everybody wins raffle. Everyone is guaranteed to win a small prize in this raffle! Get local businesses to donate promotional items, for the lower level prizes.
Gift certificate raffle. Ask local businesses to each donate a gift certificate to your cause. They’ll attract new customers to their store and support a great cause in the process!
Travel raffle. A chance to win a free vacation is one of the most popular raffle ideas. Purchase two round-trip plane tickets and a hotel stay for the lucky winner. Travel dates should be flexible, and you may get the hotel or airline to donate a portion of the cost to your cause!
Services raffle. We all need stuff done around the home or office. Contact local businesses such as handymen, cleaning companies, salons, carpet cleaners and accountants who provide much needed services. They’ll get new clients by helping your cause out.
Mystery box raffle. Add some mystery to your next raffle. All of your raffle prizes are wrapped in boxes. Like a table raffle, ticket buyers choose which mystery box they’d like to win. A list of prizes is available for people to peruse when they buy tickets.

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