Now, more than ever, organizations across the country need to bring in funding to support programs and services. Parent/Teacher Organizations, youth groups, religious organizations, and more, are struggling with the fact that their constituents are cutting back on their giving. In today’s times, an organization must expect to run a few more fundraisers than usual in order to keep its fundraising goals in sight.

So, go ahead and have those bake sales, book fairs, cookbooks and candy-grams. But, if you’re adding one or two fundraisers to your typical fundraising schedule, why not try something new and different?

PONY RACES
Kids love to do arts and crafts. So, why not combine this love with a cute and creative fundraising idea? All children who want to participate make their own stick ponies and decorate them how they choose. (It’s easy – trace a pony head onto two pieces of rectangular felt. Cut them out and hot glue the two pieces together, leaving a space open to stuff it with fiber fill and place a craft stick inside before gluing it closed. Then, hot glue some yarn for the mane.) All interested jockeys pay an entrance fee of $5 or $10 to enter the race. Gather your group together, break up your registered jockeys into groups of 10 or less, and then have them “race” to the finish line. Provide small prizes for those who win each heat, and then enter each semi-finalist into one “finale” event.

Not only will an event like this be a lot of fun for the young ones, but be sure to involve the older crowd – teachers, clergy, and parents. You can even give prizes for the horses – best looking; cutest name. And, if you check with your town and state regulations, you may even be able to raise additional funds by taking “bets” on each race, which operate like a 50/50, so that your organization takes half the bets and the winners split the rest.

BAKELESS BAKE SALE
Bake sales are usually a big hit, but they are a lot of work for a small profit. It involves setting a date, gathering volunteer bakers, arranging sale space, and ensuring enough on-site volunteers to help sell products. This year, why not try a “bakeless” bake sale? Design flyers and send them out to your members inviting them to “purchase” an item from your bake sale. Provide a tear-off form on the bottom of the flyer that allows interested folks to check off the “products” they will buy for $1 or $2 each. Once you tally your orders, send a thank-you note to all who contributed, and include copies of recipes for the items they “purchased.”

This same concept can be used for a variety of standard fundraising ideas. For instance, a local shelter I worked with sent out tea bags with invitations for a “Stay at Home Tea Party.” Be creative.

AUCTION YOUR TIME
Do you remember the part in the movie “Oklahoma” when the town auctioned off picnic lunches? All the ladies made a wonderful lunch, packed it in a picnic basket, and then shared the lunch with the highest bidder. You can run with this idea in many directions. My son’s pre-school auctioned off special time with teachers, like a bedtime story for which the teacher would come to the child’s home, read a story, share a cup of hot chocolate, and then leave the book behind. Get your group together, decide what each of you brings to the table, and then create unique packages to auction off.

The bottom line is that you are competing with lots of other organizations for your donors’ dollars. You are even competing with your donors’ wallets. So, try some different, low-cost ways to raise extra funds, and you might just be surprised.

For more unique fundraising ideas, do an internet search, or check out the Fundraising Ideas and Products Center list of do-it-yourself fundraisers.


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