No matter how worthy your organization or fantastic your cause, sooner or later you may need to raise funds to support it. That’s where these top fundraising ideas come in. Just keep in mind the ideal fundraiser should be enjoyable and, most importantly, bring in more money than it costs to produce.
The Infamous Bake Sale
Bake sales have long been the epitome of fund-raisers, or at least they used to be. Homemade baked goodies can attract a crowd by their very aroma alone, provided you have a slew of volunteers willing to invest the time, effort and cost of supplies it takes to whip up a batch of something delectable. And you also have to hope it’s indeed delectable.
Bake sales can still turn a profit, although several factors seem to work against them. One is the short-lived nature of your product. If you don’t sell all the delicacies in one day, your profit can end up as bird food. Bake sales are not a very good match with the changing times, either, thanks to the fitness and health-conscious craze.
Handmade Arts and Crafts
Handmade arts and crafts are another old-school way to raise funds for your cause, but it, too, has its hazards. For starters, you may be at a loss if your group isn’t full of the creative types and you end up with 142 Popsicle stick birdhouses. You can always try to recruit local artists and artisans to donate their works for your good cause, but such recruitment takes time and is not 100 percent reliable. Artists who may be gung-ho to participate from the get-go may have forgotten about their enthusiasm by the time your deadline to submit arrives.
You’ll also need a place to sell all the arts and crafts, people to man the tables and enough room to best hang or otherwise display your lineup of wares. One more you must is a gentle touch when arranging or transporting the items, as arts and crafts are one of the more breakable fundraising options.
Selling T-Shirts
Selling T-shirts can be a stylish way to raise money, especially if your logo is particularly jazzy and something people would want to display on their chest. You don’t necessarily have to feature your organization’s logo front and center on your apparel, but you do need a catchy design that is as attractive as well as shirts in many available sizes. The initial investment in dozens of shirts can be a detriment that can backfire. You may get stuck with loads of shirts that are too big, too small or just to plain ugly to wear.
All-Out Rummage Sale
Getting your organization’s members, family, friends, coworkers and neighbors to donate used items you can sell for funds can lead to little investment for a whole lot of profit. Maybe. While getting the goods for nothing is a major plus, you still have to set up a space, possibly clean any items and promote the sale so people actually know it exists and will come. You may also end up with a lot of junk no one wants to buy, which could be a headache for storage or removal.
Concert or Event
Nabbing a local band to play crowd favorites can lead you to cash for the ticket sales, but you still have to rent a venue. And if the band has a big ego or a member doesn’t happen to be related to someone in your organization, you may have to pay the band.
The same holds true for other local or even nationwide celebrities you may be able to invite to give a lecture, stand-up comedy act or workshop in hopes of raising funds through ticket sales. You need to make sure you’re assured enough ticket sales to cover the cost of the space, the speaking fees and any other outlays associated with the event.
Custom Car Magnets
Custom car magnets can be a snazzy, easy way to make money for your cause or organization, and they come complete with several advantages over other ideas. They won’t rot like the foodstuff, don’t involve sizing issues like the t-shirts and don’t necessarily need a special venue like the concert or rummage sale. Their small size and durability makes them easy to transport to community events and outings your group members were already planning to attend.
Two more pluses are their options and versatility. You can order custom magnets in different shapes, sizes, styles and with custom artwork or text you choose for yourself at no extra charge. Slapping one on your own car serves as instant advertising for them as well as your cause and you can easily keep a batch in your trunk to sell them wherever you roam.
The cost is also right. Depending on how many you purchase, you can turn a profit of several dollars per magnet, a much greater profit than you’d see after your add up all the ingredients and efforts that go into the infamous bake sale.
Since they are completely removable, they don’t mar the car like traditional bumper stickers. In fact, people don’t even need to own a car to enjoy them. The custom car magnets work equally well on refrigerators, filing cabinets or other magnetic surfaces that could use a boost with an enticing design promoting your really good cause.
