Our school in Seattle has been doing wreaths for 5 or 6 years, making $2000-$5000 profit each time. No clue as to why it varies so much. I would highly recommend this project if you live in an area where evergreens and/or holly are easily available.
To make our wreaths we use wire wreath frames made by a company in Tacoma, Wash. The frames cost 50 cents each, and are basically wire hoops studded with a series of shorter wires. You crimp handfuls of greenery onto the frame using a special tool that bends the short wires together. It only takes a couple minutes to make a wreath this way. They look great and hold their shape. We sell ours for $15 and they usually sell out.
We mostly sell to parents and ask parents to ask relative and friends. Since the wreaths cost the same as or less than ones sold in stores, they are pretty easy to sell. We have had kids and adults try standing in front of Safeway selling them, but it hasn't really been worth the extra effort.
In the Spring and Fall we put out notices reminding parents about wreathmaking, and asking them to postpone major pruning until after Thanksgiving if possible. Right after Thanksgiving we put out another request for parents to bring in evergreen and holly and dump them in a specific spot behind the school building. I don't know what kind of official permission was required to arrange this, but I imagine there was something, due to possible fire hazard.
It's good to arrange a couple volunteers with pickups, who are willing to go to a few people's homes and pick up branches. Some people are willing to do major pruning at the right time but can't do the hauling.
Another good bet is to contact tree trimming companies in your area and tell them what you are doing. Ask if they will either dump a load of evergreens at your school or let a couple volunteers show up at a work site and take some branches. The best thing is if they will let you snip the smaller boughs off the larger branches before they run them through the chipper. You can get more usable greens than if you haul entire branches, with less debris to deal with later. These companies tend to be small outfits run by working guys with kids of their own, who are happy to help you out as long as you don't hold up their work. Be nice to them, show up with a big jug of hot coffee, cups and a dozen donuts, and 2 or 3 dependable adults with work gloves and heavy shears, who are willing to work fast and stay out of the way.
Dear NewbieVP,
I have personally coordinate a "wreath sale"
We also sold pointsettia's(sp). I am north of Chicago. I would recommend using a somewhat local grower (ours was about 5 hours north of us. And if you know you can get people to make bows,attach pinecones and other decorations I would recommend that you purchase them undecorated. Your profit will be higher. We averaged 50% of our sales. Same for purchasing potted christmas plants, use a local greenhouse. It is also great to involve the business community that PTO's always go to for donations.
We did the wreath sales 2 years ago, don't know which company as we have a new board and the old one didn't transfer paperwork But if had to do again, I wouldn't. It was a pain for people to pick them up, even with pancake breakfast pick-ups as well, missing orders, dead poinsetta's, dried wreath, garland was expensive. Sorry, but I would find another way if it was me.
We are losing a few of our "old standard" fundraisers which did not do well for the last few years. In looking to replace those funds, we have been looking at the option of selling Christmas Wreaths.
I am looking for any and all info you might have on running such an event: How long do you sell them? Who handles sales? Which company is best(we are in PA)? WHat do you charge? Is best to buy them undecorated or decorated?
But if had to do again, I wouldn't. It was a pain for people to pick them up, even with pancake breakfast pick-ups as well, missing orders, dead poinsetta's, dried wreath, garland was expensive. Sorry, but I would find another way if it was me. 
