Any Good Fundraising Ideas?

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Hi Everyone!

I know that there has been many threads on this issue, but I am always looking for new ideas. Of course we need to raise alot of money for our banquet and things like that, but our nursing class is going on a missionary trip next year during spring break. There is about 15 of us going, so we need to raise about 15,000 (1,000 a person) for us to go on this trip. We have started the idea of publishing an article in the newspaper that people can donate and it would be a tax write off for business's. We are also going to send emails out to a huge alumni list. We have also sold candles and other things. So I am interested if any of you out there has ever tried to raise a large sum of money like this and if so, what did you do? Oh, and we are also doing car washes this summer. Has anyone ever gone on a mission trip before?

Carolanne

612 Posts

Wow, that's a large sum of money. My first thought was car washes, but that's an awful lot of cars! :chuckle How about a nursing dance marathon and people (family, local businesses, doctors, the hospital, etc.) could sponsor you. You could get your local newspaper involved to run an article on it and create awareness in the community. Ask local merchants to allow you to set out a collections receptacle on their counters. Another idea might be a big outdoor cook out at a local popular field and ask for local stores to help donate the dogs and hamburgs. Make it a family fun day which would appeal to kids - maybe one of your classmates could dress up as a clown, do face painting for the kids, make animal face balloons, have games, etc. If you draw a large crowd and charge a few dollars a head, it could add up. Maybe your local radio station would be willing to advertise for you. Sounds like a lot of fun for an awesome cause. Best of luck to you!

nightingale, RN

2,404 Posts

When my kids were in preschool, through a church (built in participation by parishioners) we had a "silent auction". Goods, services, and art was donated (tax deductable) to the cause and was autioned off via a list specified for that item or service. There were also refreshments served and sold that day. I have heard of big wig ones with black tie and all.

Now, my youngest in a Girl Scout and I hope to use this Fund Raiser if she get selected for a GS Europe trip in 2006. I will need the big money there too as I am trying to go as well.

Let us know how you do!

Oh yes, and we talked about pumping gas too!

night ;)

colleen10

1,326 Posts

Wow!!!!! That sounds so awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!! A lot of money but I think well worth it.

Here are a couple ideas for fund raisers from my high school and college days.

when I was in high school I think the parents booster club for the foot ball team made a decent amount of money by creating "noise makers" to be used at the games.

They were these really big tin cans that had little rocks inside them and then at one end of the can a hole was cut where a large dow rod was inserted to make a handle. The cans were decorated in school colors, logo, etc. painted on and had streamers stuck to it too. They were really cool. I think I probably still have mine some where. Maybe you could do something similar for your college sports events. I would check to make sure though, that they would be allowed to be taken into the game. I think back then (10 years ago) they charged $10.00 a piece for them but they were really cool.

In college we did bake sales, raffles, "cow pie lotto", we had a bunch of baseball caps made with our College name (Penn State) and then underneath it had the "College of Agriculture" underneath it. We sold these to other students in the college of Ag. and made a lot of money because we were the only ones that you could get such a hat from. Maybe you could do a hat with your college and "school of nursing" or if you go to a place big like PSU "College of Sciences".

We also did Chinese/Silent Auctions as fund raisers. We would ask for donations from local businesses or ask that they give us items at a discount. We also had alumni create and donate gift baskets and then we had an auction.

Basically, you line up all of the items around a room and place a note card or piece of paper in front of each item. People can walk around and if they are interested in an item write down what they are willing to bid. Then, if someone else comes along and likes the item they can write down a higher bid. At the end of the specified time period the last person on the list (with the highest price) wins.

I have also seen this done as a raffle. Coffee/ tin cans were placed in front of the items and people would buy so many raffle tickets. They would place their ticket in the can of an item that they liked and then at the end of the period you hold a random drawing from each can. Who ever's ticket is pulled wins the item.

I really like those types raffles and they can be a huge money maker depending on what types of items you raffle off and how many people you get to come. Items that I have seen auctioned/raffled off are gift certificates to hair/nail/spa salons. Getaway weekends at a nice local hotel, Certificates to florists, gardening places, restaurants. Items like Lenox clocks and figurines, professionally upholstered stools/benches. Gift baskets with different "themes" ie. a wine basket with wine, cheese, and glasses. One for the kitchen with cute little tea towels, tea bags, cups, etc. Christmas basket with ornamnets, music CD, etc.

Since you are going on a "mission" I wouldn't have any problem asking your local churches for ideas and assistance in raising money. I'm not saying they should just give you money flat out, but they may be willing to let you in on some of their fund raising activities.

At my church we often have people come into church and before we do the collection they will get up and speak to the church from the podium, explain what they are doing (going on a mission, trying to send the youth group some where, sending money to Appalachia, etc.) and then they will have a second seperate money collection during the service where that money is given specifically to them for their cause. Maybe if you or any of your classmates allready belongs to a congregation you can ask your pastor about this and see if your church can help you. Our youth group frequently sells donuts and coffee after mass as a fund raiser. And don't feel weird if you or some of your fellow students belong to a church or are not religious. I can't tell you how many people in my church see me in my uniform at church right after clinical and say "nursing, that truly is it's own mission". I think you would get a lot of support if you explain where you are going and what you will be doing.

AmyLiz

952 Posts

Selling candybars is often a good fundraiser. Also, check around...I think Dominos Pizza has fundraising too, where you sell pizza coupons or something like that. Pizza & candy are always good things to sell...everybody likes 'em! :)

HyperRNRachel

483 Posts

My children's school fundraiser (and the only one I buy products from) is selling cookie dough. Sounds crazy...I know. BUT there are companies out there that package tubs of a variety of cookie doughs. Such as chocolate chip, german chocolate, peanut butter, sugar, snickernoodle, white chocolate macadamian nut, and so on. The tubs ( i hate to sound cliche) sell themselves. And the quality and taste of the product is excellent. I will see if I can get the company name if it is something you may be interested in.

Specializes in Gynecology/Oncology.

Can you get some people together to organize a bake off? Make crafts? Most people like buying things when they know it's for a good cause.

colleen10

1,326 Posts

Hyperstudent and Jen,

The cheerleaders for my local high school go around and sell tubs of cookie dough. The price usually ranges from $10-14. It may seem expensive but it is a big tub of frozen cookie dough. You can get dozens and dozens of cookies from it. The nice thing about it is that 1) it tastes good and they have a big selection like macadamia nut, white chocolate, peanut butter, etc. and 2) you can take it out and thaw it a little bit, make however cookies you want, then put the tub back in the freezer for use later.

I don't know how much money they make off of it but I always buy one or two when they come around selling.

colleen10

1,326 Posts

PS I think it's called something like "Grandma's cookies" or something with Grandma in the title

Specializes in Gynecology/Oncology.

Oh, yeah. Someone at work sells this once a month for her son:

http://www.marketday.com They have the big cookie dough tubs, and just about anything frozen like chicken nuggets, potato skins, breakfast quesadillas, etc.

Jen2

931 Posts

Thanks everyone so much for all your great ideas. I am writing them all down and will take them to my next "mission meeting". I am just so excited to have the opportunity to do this because it's for such a great cause. We will be helping children that have been left abandoned by their parents. Many of them have HIV/AIDS, hydrocephalis, and so many other conditions. It will be a great learning experience as well. I will let you all know how it goes. Wish me luck and pray for our cause. Thanks again everyone!

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