It’s that time of year again. And by “that time” we mean … the beginning. Time to brush off the cobwebs, sweep off the dust, and get off to a fresh start.
We know that fundraising is one of the biggest endeavors that our PTO and PTA partners undertake on a yearly basis, and we’re here to help! Not only can we make managing your paperwork and funds easy-as-pie (no seriously, we can!), but we’ve got a few out of the box ideas that will make your next fundraiser the talk of the town.
1. Curb Appeal
It’s time to help the neighborhood decorate! This activity keeps everyone in town on their toes, and can definitely spur some friendly competition. Gather together a few dozen pink flamingos (or perhaps some other type of seasonal lawn ornaments – gnomes or reindeer, anyone?) and get your first round of participants to donate a sum of money to “landscape” someone else’s yard. When you arrive at the designated person’s home, they’ll have the option to provide another donation to have the goodies “replanted.” The only catch is that to “replant” the item, they’ve got to donate at least $1 more than what it cost to “plant” it in their yard. See how many times you can get the decorations “replanted” around town and then pack them away to reuse next year, or – in the spirit of silly irony – award them to whoever donated the most to have them replanted!
2. Penny Wars
This competition can be started at the beginning of the year (school or calendar) and kept going for as long as you deem fit! Set up is easy, and there’s little-to-no overhead cost. Just make sure you’re ready to count a lot of change at the end.
To begin, get together a container for each team (which can be split up by grade, classroom, homeroom, etc) and mark it clearly. From there, the goal is that the team with the most pennies wins. However, team totals can be thrown off by having any other denomination of money (from nickles to hundred dollar bills!) thrown into the mix. For example, if a team has 100 pennies and a one dollar bill, their total is 0. But if they have 101 pennies and a one dollar bill, then their team total is one. And yes, their total can get negative.
At the end of the competition, the winning team can get a prize, a special party (who doesn’t love a pizza party?) or they can choose a charity to donate a certain percentage of the winnings to in honor of the entire group!
3. Karaoke Idol
It’s time to show off your vocal stylings! Ask a local restaurant, skating rink, or other facility that has A/V equipment (or is known for having a great karaoke night!) to donate a couple of hours of off-peak time for your group to have a karaoke sing-off. Get a few “celebrity” guest judges (the school principal, the President of the PTO, the high school mascot) to give their scores as contestants work the mic. Funds can be raised either by buying tickets in advance or at the door, paying an entry fee to be a contestant, or both. And who knows – maybe your town or group really will be harboring the next big thing!
4. Spend It To Make It
This approach is a bit different, but hear us out! It’s The Apprentice meets Shark Tank, and nothing gets creative juices flowing better than a little bit of friendly competition. To enter the “Spend It To Make It” Challenge teams (or individuals willing to be randomly partnered up) must pay an entry fee. On the day of the event give each team a set amount of cash and challenge them to turn that cash into even more by spending it on supplies to create their own fundraisers… in one day. For example, $10 could buy a team soap and sponges to get a car wash going, or enough lemonade mix to hydrate the whole town.
5. Hire-A-Hand
Do you have leaves that need raking, snow that needs shoveling, or a lawn that needs to be mowed? Well, hire a hand! Raffle off volunteers who are willing to provide certain handy-man (and lady!) services during the year. This is something the whole family can get involved in too, not just parents. Younger kids (with their parents’ permission and supervision, of course!) can be “hired” to help wash a car in the summer, or give the neighbor’s pooch a bath.
And, of course, any time there is someone or a team to sign up, an entry fee to be paid, funds to be matched, community businesses to donate time and/or money, or any data or payments to organize, collect, or process, Pay4SchoolStuff.com provides the customizable platform and database to help your organization—easily, conveniently, and securely.
our staff members also like to throw in countless for wear features and a pinch of theatre.
I really liked your article .Great
Loving the hired hand idea! My sons and I do this around our neighborhood to encourage them to 1)help others and 2)raise money. I’m teaching them young!