Ideas For Fundraising Activities

Ideas for fundraising activities are plentiful, as anyone can see by looking in their local newspapers or perusing the Internet, whether it is a church, school, or other nonprofit organization that needs to raise money. The ages of the members of the organization will help to determine the kinds of activities that will be involved, as will the number of volunteers one can rely on to help. Another top priority is the amount of money the group needs to raise. Generally, that goal is the first thing known because there is a specific something that needs to be paid for. Whether it's a new church organ, school playground equipment, or transportation for a trip somewhere, the specific funds needed is usually known.

Where youngsters are involved, selling something door to door is acceptable, and there are quite a large number of items that can be included in the ideas for fundraising activities. Food is usually good, and if it appeals to the buyer's sweet tooth, it's even better. Cookies and candy are universal favorites. Adults like things like gourmet coffees or gourmet nuts as well, so they might be considered. Sometimes the pleasure of the purchase is in the future, as with cookie dough. Another item that buyers must wait to enjoy are flower bulbs. The anticipation of spring flowers is a pleasure a great many people enjoy, and they will purchase bulbs for that purpose.

Simply asking people to come enjoy a meal is one of the more popular ideas for fundraiser events. If it becomes an annual event, people will return year after year to enjoy the turkey dinner, spaghetti, or whatever. That kind of fundraiser usually takes serious organization and a great many people to pull it off, so it will depend on the size of the group whether this will be a viable option. This is often combined with a silent auction of items people are likely to buy, and that will boost sales considerably. Ideas for fundraiser events are most successful if they are fun.

Product sales don't have to be limited to food or flowers. Ideas for fundraising activities could include magazines. Since some of these are published for everyone--children and teens, young adults, families, and older adults--there are titles that will interest most people. Another currently popular item that sells well is the household candle. Fragrant candles are especially popular during the holiday season, but many are appropriate year round. Some give the impression something good has just come out of the oven, while others are pleasant floral or outdoorsy scents. They can be found in so many stores that it's easy to see that a lot of them are being purchased, and that is the primary reason they are included in ideas for fundraiser events. Candles, of course, give off light as well. Christians will remember the Biblical references to a different kind of light. "I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness." (John 12:46)

When there are plenty of young people to recruit, one of the ideas for fundraiser events might be a car wash. A few adults can supervise youngsters who will do the work. As long as the event is held on a well-trafficked street, and advance publicity makes the public aware of it, this can raise a lot of money. Another choice among ideas for fundraising events that would require youth and young adults to participate is to have a walk-a-thon or bicycle relay to raise money. Sponsors who could be asked to pay per lap or a flat fee could be the source of considerable sums of money.

Age wouldn't matter at all if one of the ideas for fundraising activities were a yard sale/garage sale. Advance notice needs to be sent out to those people who might be donors of sale items, with all the pertinent information about when and where to drop off things, what items would be accepted (and which would not), and the date of the event itself. Then enough people should be recruited to tag and sort items, and a group to actually make the sales, and someone to keep track of the money throughout the day. It is complicated, but with organization can be quite successful.

When children are involved in carrying out the ideas for fundraiser events, the adults in charge must be certain the ground rules are very specific. They need to know what to say to potential customers before and after a sale, and how to respond when there is no sale. Keeping track of the money collected should be the job of an adult supervisor. Most adults have trouble saying "no" to a well-mannered child who is selling something for his or her school, scout troop, or other youth group.

When the organization is just adults, different guidelines are required, but still need to be included in the ideas for fundraising activities. Organization is the key to success, so once the fundraiser has been chosen, a precise plan needs to be made, and the details distributed to everyone who will be part of the event. When everyone knows exactly what his responsibility is, things run smoothly.

Add to: File Insurance Business article Teen Photo Images