Fundraising Ideas
By Jeff Moffitt
@moffittjc (128824)
Gainesville, Florida
January 9, 2016 8:05am CST
Last night, we had a kick-off celebration for a new foundation whose purpose is to raise funds to help fund and support my city's local parks and recreation department. Funds raised by the foundation will supplement the budget of the department, and help pay for things that aren't provided for in the city budget.
It was a fun evening with music, dancing, food and drinks, giveaways, a silent auction and a live auction. The attendance was double of what we expected, hopefully setting the tone for many exciting things coming up in the future!
One of the challenges we face is coming up with innovative fundraising ideas. One we came up with last night that we are going to try in the near future involves envelopes. Basically, you hang 100 envelopes on a wall, number from 1-100. People attending the fundraiser simply walk up to the wall of envelopes, pick one of the numbered envelopes, and then donate the amount of the number of their envelope. So, if I picked envelope #57 from the wall, I would donate $57. Very simple, quick, and easy, and if every envelope is chosen, we would raise $5,050 in just a few short minutes.
Do you have any great, amazing or innovative ideas for fundraisers? I would love to hear your ideas!
15 people like this
18 responses
@AbbyGreenhill (45490)
• United States
9 Jan 16
Around there they are big on cake -walks but I have no clue what it is! Good luck with your fundraising.
3 people like this
@moffittjc (128824)
• Gainesville, Florida
9 Jan 16
I was just about to ask you what a cake walk is? lol I guess I can look it up and see what it entails. I'm looking for simple, easy ideas for fundraising activities, because the foundation is already going to be doing the big types of activities (black-tie dinners, golf tournaments, auctions, etc.). I'm looking for smaller fundraisers to fill in the gaps. We'd like to offer something at least once a month, to keep the funds flowing, and also to keep our name out their in the public's eye.
3 people like this
@AbbyGreenhill (45490)
• United States
9 Jan 16
@moffittjc I'm sure you'll come up with all kinds of ideas...what about raffling off something get a store to donate a TV or computer?
2 people like this
@moffittjc (128824)
• Gainesville, Florida
9 Jan 16
@AbbyGreenhill We definitely will have that type of fundraiser coming up soon! We had a lot of artwork displayed last night at the kick-off event for the foundation, and all night long everyone kept asking if the art pieces were for sale! Unfortunately, they were just there for exhibit, but we realized that we can hold a fundraiser in the future to raffle off artwork and such! One of the things we did do last night was a silent auction, and many local businesses donated items for the auction, so we did make a lot of money from those items. One of the ones that was extremely popular last night was Domino's Pizza. They donate a year's worth of free pizza! That was one of our most popular items that was bid on last night!
2 people like this
@paigea (36143)
• Canada
9 Jan 16
Our granddaughter's school sold coffee mugs, travel mugs, key chains, etc. all with the student's art work. I loved that fundraiser as it seemed different than the others I'd seen. They used a company similar to this one:
It is more suitable to a school maybe. But the idea could be adapted.
Fundraising gifts and unique fundraising items featuring children's artwork for K-12! See how to display children's artwork for K-12 with fundraising products
3 people like this
@noni1959 (13009)
• United States
9 Jan 16
That is a nice idea. I just don't like the fundraisers where you pay for expensive wrapping paper for enough to wrap one present or pay $20 for a tub of cookie dough. Candy bars go over well and even though we are not to solicit at work, we can put a box in our breakroom with a sign. They sell out the first day.
4 people like this
@Blondie2222 (28610)
• United States
9 Jan 16
That sounds like a nice fundraising idea but hopefully people will have the money to donate with the envelope they picked. Glad you had a good evening and it turned out well
3 people like this
@moffittjc (128824)
• Gainesville, Florida
9 Jan 16
We can do the envelope fundraiser two ways: 1) the amount is written on the outside of the envelope, so the donor can see what amount they are picking; or 2) the amount is inside the envelope, and the donor won't know how much they have to give until they choose the envelope and open it up. We'll probably do two fundraisers where we try each method.
2 people like this
@noni1959 (13009)
• United States
9 Jan 16
The problem with expensive fundraisers, those on a tight budget but want to help can't go. The envelope idea is neat but if all the lower amounts are taken and only the higher left, leaves a chance not all will be taken off even if wealthy people attend. Silent auctions and even bidding out auctions are always fun. We did a fundraiser for a lady with cancer and people bought tickets for items that were donated. In-between music, numbers were read off. There also was a discount board for local businesses offering services and goods for a steep discount and what was bought the money was donated to the cause. A "park sale" would be fun too for donated items to be purchased. @GardenGerty has a great idea to hold activities in the park. People love BBQ's and maybe others can donate jellies, cookies, etc to sell as well.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (128824)
• Gainesville, Florida
9 Jan 16
We once held a black-tie formal dinner where everyone bought tickets NOT to attend! The premise of the fundraiser was that it was cheaper to buy a ticket to NOT attend than it would have cost to actually attend! We made a ton of money doing that! It was fun, and we didn't have to actually do anything other than sell tickets to an event that didn't exist!
2 people like this
@moffittjc (128824)
• Gainesville, Florida
9 Jan 16
If last night at our kick-off fundraiser was any indication, everyone pays by credit card nowadays! lol
1 person likes this
@VivaLaDani13 (60812)
• Perth, Australia
11 Jan 16
I like the envelope idea.
I can't really think of anything good right now. I mean you already mentioned things that gets a lot of people involved. Music, food, dancing etc. As long as people are feeling involved and having fun then that's good.
Or maybe more games to win prizes. Like pay for entry / to play but they still win a prize by playing Bingo or... Quiz Nights..I don't know. It's hard to answer when being asked on the spot. I will probably wake up in the middle of the night and think of ideas lol
Is it worth to hire animals or clowns and stuff like that? Or some sort of entertainment to draw all sorts of people in for all ages.
Cake sale?...yeah I need to think about it lol sorry too tired to think.
How about your own American Idol lol I would go to that to see the great singers and the not so great singers. Would be hilarious.
2 people like this
@VivaLaDani13 (60812)
• Perth, Australia
12 Jan 16
@moffittjc lol I was going to say that too actually.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
9 Jan 16
I think that you need an ongoing and sustainable fund raiser. In my former town we have two thrift shops. Both are run by and managed by volunteer committees. One funds a charitable group that helps with disaster relief and support in the other town. The other one funds repairs and improvements of that Opera House I mentioned. It went from needing to be torn down to being an attractive venue for all kinds of group activities and a tourist attraction People in town are very anxious to donate to both thrift shops and to shop there as well. I donate all the time because the money stays local and because it is more convenient that giving stuff out of town or having a sale myself. Also popular are dinner theaters, or doing catering for local theater productions with a nice meal done to complete the evening and all profits to catering group. Just a few thoughts. When the weather is warm an activity in one of the parks would serve a two fold purpose of raising funds and showcasing where they go. In my tiny town we had a soup supper at Christmas to showcase library improvements, get people social, and raise funds for the library.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (128824)
• Gainesville, Florida
9 Jan 16
Thank you for all the wonderful ideas! We probably won't do the thrift store idea, because just about every non-profit in our town has a thrift store it seems! But I love the idea about doing fundraisers in our parks to showcase our various facilities, parks and programs! That is an excellent idea!
2 people like this
@Marcyaz (35316)
• United States
9 Jan 16
I have helped come up with ideas for a dog park in another city and it seems the ideas did help out. One of my ideas was to have a booth set up and sell some items that have been donated then at the other end of the sidewalk have another booth set up with items that are new and have people guess how much one of them costs. If they guess correctly they win a prize or they can buy the item for whatever price you have set for it. Then you can make arrangements with one of the restaurants and have tickets to be sold for a meal, maybe even have a local play some music or have a magician if one is among your friends. Ask some local stores to donate prizes for the raffle you will have at the restaurant and someone can type up something similar to a menu as to what stores are donating to the raffle. Good exposure for small companies that are not that well known.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128824)
• Gainesville, Florida
10 Jan 16
Thank you! These are all wonderful ideas! We have a local craft brewery here in town that is very popular. We are going to partner with them on an upcoming Friday night where we get 10% of all the money they make on that particular night! Considering how busy the tasting room at the brewery gets on Friday nights, we stand to make a very large sum of money!
1 person likes this
@cherriefic (10399)
• Philippines
9 Jan 16
That's a great idea of fundraising. Maybe it will be good to ask for sponsors as well.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128824)
• Gainesville, Florida
9 Jan 16
The foundation has a whole big list of fundraising and sponsor activities planned, so they are already working hard on sponsors and sponsorships. We're just looking for some fun and easy fundraisers to schedule as "fillers" in between the big fundraising events.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128824)
• Gainesville, Florida
9 Jan 16
I don't think the foundation will engage in car washes, I think they are looking for bigger types of fundraisers, but we do have the kids in each of our youth sports programs do car washes and bake sales as fundraisers for scholarships to our recreation programs! Those types of fundraisers can be very effective, and it gets the kids involved!
2 people like this
@moffittjc (128824)
• Gainesville, Florida
9 Jan 16
It is actually a very popular fundraiser, and can raise money very quickly without a lot of effort or planning.
1 person likes this
@Marilynda1225 (91013)
• United States
9 Jan 16
I don't have any fundraising experience to share but I do like the idea of the envelopes you mentioned. Seems like a good way to raise some money
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128824)
• Gainesville, Florida
9 Jan 16
I came across a few good ones doing some research on the internet. One that looks like fun (as long as I don't have to clean up), is painting a large grid on a field, something like 10x10 squares, and then selling each "square." Then, let a cow or horse or other animal loose on the field, and whatever "square" it poops in is the winner! The winner gets half of all the money raised, and the organization keeps the other half!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128824)
• Gainesville, Florida
10 Jan 16
You can never go wrong with a bake sale! We also do them throughout the year. Another popular fundraiser we have done the past two years is a spud bar. For a $5 donation, people can get a baked potato and all the toppings they want! Very popular. In the summer we do an ice cream bar that is quite popular as well!
1 person likes this
@whiteream (8567)
• United States
11 Jan 16
@moffittjc We did an ice cream bar like that once. It was lots of fun.
@fishtiger58 (29819)
• Momence, Illinois
9 Jan 16
I don't know what they allow in Florida but here many of the school kids and other organizations do donations on the streets. What I mean is they give you a piece of candy when you give a donation when they come up to your car while you wait for the light to change. Also selling candy bars at businesses. Of course you have to get permission from the business to do that outside their store.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128824)
• Gainesville, Florida
9 Jan 16
I don't know if it is a statewide law, but here in my city it is illegal to do any type of fundraising in the streets or sidewalks. Most people just sit outside the front entrances of grocery stores and Wal-Marts to ask for donations. Everybody and their brother does that, so what we are looking for is something a little more innovative. Something off-the-wall that you don't see every day. But thanks for the idea!
5 people like this
@fishtiger58 (29819)
• Momence, Illinois
9 Jan 16
@moffittjc you are welcome, if I come up with anything I'll let you know.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (128824)
• Gainesville, Florida
9 Jan 16
@fishtiger58 Thank you! Sometimes talking it out (or in this case, writing it out) can get the creative juices flowing in the brain, thus leading to some fun new ideas!
3 people like this
@scheng1 (24649)
• Singapore
10 Jan 16
I think you can sell stickers or ask the artists in your area to draw the coloring books for sale, since adult coloring books are the fad of the moment.
I think you can rope in the help of the children in primary school too.
You can ask them to give advice on topics such as politics, family, money, drinking and whatever else, then you can publish some of these into books to sell to the public.
@moffittjc (128824)
• Gainesville, Florida
10 Jan 16
That is a great idea! Thank you! You are correct that adult coloring books are very, very popular right now! This would be a great time to take advantage of that popularity!
@lokisdad (4226)
• United States
12 Jan 16
I would have probably try to price a selection of pastry that was easy inexpensive to make and mark them up and cover the cost and donation. If you normally charge $5 for a Apple pie and icecream dessert that day it would be $15 for that dessert and anyone who bought one maybe $10/15 dollars go to donation. A few games not sure really but your ideas were pretty good.
@lokisdad (4226)
• United States
12 Jan 16
@moffittjc that's pretty cool too when you do things like that it makes donating fun for people and they are more likely to donate and possibly more than they would have because they are having fun. i need to do something like that for a car lol jk
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128824)
• Gainesville, Florida
12 Jan 16
We're also going to try selling coupon books. You pay $10 for the book, but it has about $100 worth of coupons in it.
1 person likes this
@softbabe44 (5815)
• Vancouver, Washington
10 Jan 16
Doing activities is fun the more the more it will help.
@Auntylou (4262)
• Oxford, England
9 Jan 16
The envelope thing sounds fine as long as you have a fairly well heeled crowd!
@moffittjc (128824)
• Gainesville, Florida
9 Jan 16
We would customize the number of envelopes to match the economic prosperity of the crowd at hand. That's the beauty of it...if your group is on the lower economic end of the scale, and $20 is probably the most someone could afford, then you only put envelopes up there to 20. If it is a more affluent crowd, you can go even higher! The foundation was talking about doing one where the envelopes go up to 144. Apparently, if every envelope was claimed from 1 to 144, we'd raise over $10,000!
1 person likes this
