Why Unusual Fundraisers Make Money
Melissa Peterman asked:
When trick or treaters come to your door and one of them isn’t wearing a costume and they are still asking for candy, how does it make you feel? Likely, you will oblige and hand out candy regardless, but you may feel more inclined to give candy to the trick or treaters who are dressed in costume. There is something about the creative and unusual that draws people in as well as hard work and solid effort. Those who were in costume went the extra mile, strongly made an effort and therefore were more likely to be rewarded. Think about this next time you need a Fundraising activity . How will your fundraiser stand out compared to the hundreds of fundraisers out there competing for your organization’s charity?
Unusual Fundraising Ideas That Make Money
Charge an Entrance Fee: Raise funds fast by charging an entrance fee. Ask for a donation simply for even coming in the door. This may seem like an assertive way to get extra money, but when you have a sign that says donation only, you would be amazed at just how much that can add up. Even pocket change can add up to a lot.
Dog Wash: Anyone can wash their own dog or their own car, but offering to wash them as a service for a fee or donation and people come with cash in hand. A car wash Fundraising activity is very common- too common. In the summer time, one can expect to roll by a dozen carwashes for various school teams and organizations before crossing town. But a dog wash is less common. Dog washes can be a great social event as well- people are proud to bring their favorite pet to a fundraising event like a dog wash, when you give back a little when you are asking for a lot- those are the fundraisers that can make the most money. A dog wash is almost 100% profit as well. To start your dog wash you only need a few things: An area with a source of water, a brush, dog shampoo. You might want to have some rubber gloves as well. Earn more money by selling dog treats.
Everyone Has to Eat at Some Point!
One of the easiest fundraising activities has to be food. Bake sales, cake walks and the original lemonade stand have been money makers for a long time. People spend money on food because it’s a necessity and usually affordable. If you have family or friends who can donate to the cake walk, bake sale or even hotdog stand, you can make 100% profit. Think of a low cost food that you can sell at a reasonable price and a phone number list of volunteers who can help!
Game Night for Prizes: Have a game night party with all kinds of board games and video games. Charge an entrée fee of $2-$5 per person to enter. Divide up games by age group. i.e. Candyland and Chutes and Ladders should be played by ages 10 and younger, and pool or darts should be played by 15 years and up. The winner of the competition will have won the most games. They must win at more than one game and at least attempt all the games of the night.
Tickets To Stay Home. This may be the oddest fundraising activity out there. A fundraiser where you ask people to pay for an event that doesn’t even take place. The event is all in the non-event details. Send out an email invitation describing the fundraiser with a link to your cause and ask people to donate money to your “imaginary” event. Instead of email, you can send a paper invitation with images of the charity or organization you are hoping to raise money for. You can assure them that for the cost of getting ready for an evening out, you are saving them money by not attending, but donating anyways.
Think about the unusual or the un-tapped resources for your next fundraising activity. Chances are, if people are paying for a product or service already, you have the opportunity to offer the same product or service for a fraction of the cost, break even on expenses and make almost 100% profit for your organization.
When trick or treaters come to your door and one of them isn’t wearing a costume and they are still asking for candy, how does it make you feel? Likely, you will oblige and hand out candy regardless, but you may feel more inclined to give candy to the trick or treaters who are dressed in costume. There is something about the creative and unusual that draws people in as well as hard work and solid effort. Those who were in costume went the extra mile, strongly made an effort and therefore were more likely to be rewarded. Think about this next time you need a Fundraising activity . How will your fundraiser stand out compared to the hundreds of fundraisers out there competing for your organization’s charity?
Unusual Fundraising Ideas That Make Money
Charge an Entrance Fee: Raise funds fast by charging an entrance fee. Ask for a donation simply for even coming in the door. This may seem like an assertive way to get extra money, but when you have a sign that says donation only, you would be amazed at just how much that can add up. Even pocket change can add up to a lot.
Dog Wash: Anyone can wash their own dog or their own car, but offering to wash them as a service for a fee or donation and people come with cash in hand. A car wash Fundraising activity is very common- too common. In the summer time, one can expect to roll by a dozen carwashes for various school teams and organizations before crossing town. But a dog wash is less common. Dog washes can be a great social event as well- people are proud to bring their favorite pet to a fundraising event like a dog wash, when you give back a little when you are asking for a lot- those are the fundraisers that can make the most money. A dog wash is almost 100% profit as well. To start your dog wash you only need a few things: An area with a source of water, a brush, dog shampoo. You might want to have some rubber gloves as well. Earn more money by selling dog treats.
Everyone Has to Eat at Some Point!
One of the easiest fundraising activities has to be food. Bake sales, cake walks and the original lemonade stand have been money makers for a long time. People spend money on food because it’s a necessity and usually affordable. If you have family or friends who can donate to the cake walk, bake sale or even hotdog stand, you can make 100% profit. Think of a low cost food that you can sell at a reasonable price and a phone number list of volunteers who can help!
Game Night for Prizes: Have a game night party with all kinds of board games and video games. Charge an entrée fee of $2-$5 per person to enter. Divide up games by age group. i.e. Candyland and Chutes and Ladders should be played by ages 10 and younger, and pool or darts should be played by 15 years and up. The winner of the competition will have won the most games. They must win at more than one game and at least attempt all the games of the night.
Tickets To Stay Home. This may be the oddest fundraising activity out there. A fundraiser where you ask people to pay for an event that doesn’t even take place. The event is all in the non-event details. Send out an email invitation describing the fundraiser with a link to your cause and ask people to donate money to your “imaginary” event. Instead of email, you can send a paper invitation with images of the charity or organization you are hoping to raise money for. You can assure them that for the cost of getting ready for an evening out, you are saving them money by not attending, but donating anyways.
Think about the unusual or the un-tapped resources for your next fundraising activity. Chances are, if people are paying for a product or service already, you have the opportunity to offer the same product or service for a fraction of the cost, break even on expenses and make almost 100% profit for your organization.