How about the Gas and Grocery Cerificates. For each donation that someone gives to the school, they can save up to $50 per month on their Gas and grocery Bills, in the end it's a win-win. Donors help you and you intern help the donors during this time of hard ship. Just think of the families that a spouse has lost thier job, I know they sure would like to save $50 a month. The thing is, it;s not selling anything, its and incentive for the community to donate to your school, because they would receive something of great value as a gift! I know I like saving the $50 every month!
Check it out at: Home there are also links to other important websites dealing with the redemption and sorts.

We talked about just a family donation instead of any fundraisers this year-- but the problem, we have quite a few families that can afford to do one fundraiser, let alone donate 50.00-- and we figured each family would have to given 100-150. to meet our budget.
So this was a no way!!!--- but we have come up with events that anyone could afford. Movie night with a $1.00 per person donation, Bingo - only 4.00 per person-- restaurant nights, where anyone that eats that night, we get credit... this has worked for us this year.

Also a few more ideas are if you have a school newspaper or website sell business card size advertising to local business people. Take advantage of the free programs out there the recycling ink cartridges, cell phones etc., box tops, campbells soup program, go play, Tyson Foods Project A+. Make a community effort get everyone involved "squeek"

This is a blog I wrote a few months back it may help...

First of all create a buzz around what you are doing. What about it makes it great? Use that thought and build on it. Why will other people be interested in supporting it or care. Do you have a deadline or a certain dollar amount you need to achieve? Make this known it helps in creating the buzz.

Okay, keeping those things in mind use the power of the press... Local TV and radio stations will advertise your non-profit fundraising event. TV stations usually need 6 to 8 weeks where radio stations need a little less 4 to 6 weeks. Have some one in your fundraiser designated to take care of publicity for you notifying all the local TV and Radio stations in your area. Your local and community newspapers will also need to be notified. Have them put you in their community section or whats happening locally. These are all free.


Also, have fliers made put them at post offices, supermarkets, gas stations, convenience stores, Laundromats, hand out at town meetings ( getting permission for all these of course). If your group has a website get it posted on your website. Word of mouth works tremendously talk it up. Email it out to all friends and family members. Let people know the importance of your fundraiser.


Here is a great way to give your fundraiser an extra boost. Try to tie it into a holiday or seasonal happening . Also if there is something going on in town that many people are interested in tie it in to that event.

The year before last, I was co-coaching a Destination Imagination team, our children had won not just one of our teams but two teams from the same school in the same town. They had won the regional and state championships. We were on our way to the Globals that was 1500 miles away in 52 days wow that was great! We were so proud of our teams!!! BUT, we needed to raise $35,000 in 42 days in order to get there, UGH!

What did we do??? EVERYTHING! We did everything above that I had mention. Soon people who knew nothing about Destination Imagination were talking about it. We had created a buzz and a genuine interest. It just so happened, we had called a reporter at the local newspaper and he did a little article on the teams. From there, the governor of our state just happened to becoming to our local town meeting to discuss budget issues in education. Yes, we put a few calls into his office and the children got to meet him as well as have a picture taken with him that landed on the front page of our daily newspaper.

This buzz that we had created helped us in raising money, people knew who we were, what we were doing, why we were doing it, when we were going and were more than willing to donate something...With all this said, yes we did collect all our money needed. Let me tell you, we had no corporate sponsors there really isn't any here. The town we live in has about 22,000 people and quite a few are snowbirds and go south for the winter. Was it hard? You bet! Would I do it again? In a heart beat!

So, it doesn't matter what kind of fundraiser you are doing, whether you are collecting ink cartridges and used cell phones, collecting cans or store receipts, an Avon fundraiser, Tupperware fundraiser or if you are having a black tie or golfing event. In order for you event to be really successful you need to get the word out.

Sorry for the length...I hope it sparks some ideas
Laurie

Our school did this last year. As a parent I liked it. Write a check for $50 and be done for the year. This could have brought in over 15k as we have over 400 families), but only brought in 1/2 of what our large fundaraisers do as many families did not participate. I believe our total was around 5k.

We didn't call it anything special. Our PTA sent a note home saying we are not going to be doing a large fundraiser this fall, however, we are asking for each family to give a suggested donation of $50.

This year we did a Fun Run and the kids were able to enjoy it as well as raise money...double from last years donations only method.

This forum has a no solicitation policy and our hosts monitor it for such. "Tammy's" has been deleted now. But we users can help by reporting such postings. If you are logged in, you will see a red and white triangle in the top right corner of each post. As you see messages like this, click on that button and report ads/sales pitches (or other inappropriate postings). The Forum moderator will get an alert and can delete the posting.

This board can be quite active at times, so it's helpful if we users assist with policing it and notifying our hosts of inappropriate posts.

Go check out the press release at afrds.org under News Room. Survey entitled, "Survey confirms product sales out perform other school fundraisers". Basically..."direct donations or opt out program fundraisers were rarely mentioned (1%) as the most profitable school-wide fundraiser."

Esp. with the economy the way it is now...who really wants to just write a check and get nothing back in return? Not me!