The group who doesn't want to use a parent-based business is missing out on a great opportunity, in my opinion. I have learned that it can really pay off, especially in fundraising, to utilize all of the resources you have. It's so generous of her to offer up her commission! This is definitely not something you would be offered as just "joe shmoe" walking into a travel agency.
The best fundraisers for the least amount of work are magazine sales. The profit is really good and it's easy. Look for 50% profit. Making things to sell will be a lot of work!
We are a middle school with grades 5 & 6 and sale candy during our lunch period twice a month. We take in $800.00 amonth doing this.
We are thinking about doing the penny wars this school year also.
I like the idea of a travel fundraiser, however, my group is dead-set-against having a parent from the school involved. They DO NOT want to use parent -based businesses to raise any money. This parent is willing to donate her entire commission and if we book with a major cruise line they will match her commission. We are talking about $5,000 is one shot. How can I explain this to my group-- We are not just promoting this parent's business. They just don't get it.
I have found the discount cards are a good return on investment. You would need a volunteer to visit local businesses, wether they are mom and pops locals or franchise store fronts, to have them sign an agreement. It is free for the company to advertise, and they just need to agree to a deal that can be put on the card. Depending on how many cards you have printed you can earn a ton of money. You set the rate for each card and because you control the experation date, you can sell them for as long as you want to. The down fall is we found it was easier to sell them as a group at events instead of sending them home with students, although you can do presale sheets and send the card home once the money is received.
We have done this sale several times. Any questions feel free to contact me. I'll be glad to share what information I have.
We are only allowed one fundraiser a year. This will be our third year doing a walk a thon.
The last two years we raised $75,000 each year! We make a big party of it with a DJ and balloons. At the half-way mark of the walk the kids receive a popcicle. (We walk in late September) All kids (1,250) in grades K-5 walk. The younger kids walk a shorter distance. Evey kid who raises $50 gets a special tie-dyed t-shirt. Last year almost 1,000 of the 1,200 kids received a t-shirt. I really like that it is promoting a healthy lifestyle as well. And it gets the kids really involved in the fundraising.
I was also involved in PTA in San Diego and we did not sell anything either. We had "Hassle-free" fundraising, in which we sent home a flyer in the parent pack at the beginning of school and basically just asked for a donation, promising not to sell anything all year. We had several levels of donation $25, $40, $50 and $100. We raised over $20,000.
