Easy Fundraising Ideas
Pulling off an easy and profitable fundraiser is possible with a bit of planning and execution.
First, consider these three fundraising factors:
Time
How much time do you want to put into a fundraiser? How much preparation time do you have? Do you want just two weeks from start to finish? A month?
Then, how long will the actual fundraiser last? One day? One weekend? A week?
Effort
As little as possible. That’s the goal, right? Yes, but you will need to put in some effort in order for this to be successful. Start by defining success. How much money do you want to raise? Do you think that goal is possible in the time you’ve allocated?
Then start to consider this next factor.
Resources
The more resources you have the easier the fundraiser can be to pull off. If you have 20 volunteers performing different tasks everyone’s jobs become easier; you’re spreading the workload. But if you only have 5 volunteers each person’s job will require more time.
Either way, once you’ve assembled your team, find out what skill each volunteer brings to the table. Hopefully, you have some outgoing types that can do the promotion or “selling” of the fundraiser. Maybe there are a few who are good procurers who can find the tangible items you’ll need. Some may just be happy lending their time or muscle anywhere they’re needed.
The key for an easy fundraiser: 1) Recruit as many volunteers as possible to achieve the goal 2) Ask them how they’d like to contribute 3) Spread out everyone’s duties so their time commitment is minimal.
Easy Fundraisers
Raffles
Raffles have been around for years. Why? Because they’re easy to pull off. And they’re successful. All you need is a roll of raffle tickets and volunteers to sell them. Here are several raffles to try:
50/50 Raffle- Sell raffle tickets for a $1. You take 50% of the proceeds; the winner takes 50%. Your volunteers can sell tickets at work, at PTA meetings, or any event where there is an audience. Offer incentives for a multiple ticket purchase, e.g. four tickets for $5.
Another variation of this is to solicit donations from area businesses to use as raffle prizes. Tickets to sporting events, amusement parks, and services like “spa days” can be enticing prizes. This way you can have multiple winners: Grand Prize, Runner-Up, etc.
The bigger the Grand Prize, the higher you may want to consider charging for tickets.
Car Wash
Here’s all you need:
- Plenty of volunteers
- A high traffic location
OK. This isn’t all you need but it’s the lion’s share. If you have 20 or 30 volunteers at your disposal—say a high school baseball team—you’re off to good start.
Select a Saturday but have a rain date scheduled.
Find a venue—a location at a busy commercial intersection works well. Play the numbers game. You’ll need a place that ideally has several water hose hook-ups.
Find out what insurance requirements there are from your city or town, and from the business location. Also, find out your city’s regulations, if any, for water run-off, car wash products, etc.
If you advertise, you’ll increase your revenue. Try public service announcements (usually free for non-profits) through the radio and newspaper. Hang up flyers in businesses and common public areas like libraries. Ask your volunteers to spread the word to friends, family, co-workers and neighbors.
Make signs on poster board showing car wash, price and the charity. Have sign wavers at every corner.
Yard Sale
Big potential for success in minimal time. Get your volunteers to ask for donated items from family, friends, neighbors and co-workers.
Ask local businesses to donate items to sell.
Pick a location, ideally one with high traffic. Church and school parking lots make great venues.
Advertise in your local newspaper and radio station. Non-profits are often given free space if available. Post flyers in supermarkets and other high traffic areas. Post signs in the neighborhood of the sale. Use social media like Facebook. Use word-of-mouth. Make sure your cause is clearly listed.
Price your items generously—shoppers typically haggle for lower prices. Separate items by category, e.g. books, clothing, sporting goods, etc.
Try to individually price items. But if you can’t, group price them. For example, “All Books 50 Cents”, “Sporting Goods from $10 to $25”.
Fire up the grill! To increase your revenues, sell inexpensive hotdogs, hamburgers, chips and sodas. Ask a local supermarket to donate these items.
Final Words
Easy fundraisers can be successful with a little planning. Simply decide how quickly you want your fundraiser to happen. Then figure out your revenue goals. Finally, direct your resources (volunteers) for the best possible outcome.