Originally posted by Serendipity: First off are...you looking to make big money or just looking for little painless ways to bring in more money? If you are looking for big money then you would need to do some of the things already suggested: Carnival, Tricky Tray, Auction, walk-a-thon, garage sale.
We do Yankee Candles each year in the spring and we do well with them. If you want to do candles I highly reccomend them as people love Yankee Candles.
We also did candy grams this year (We did heart lollipops). We made about $600 with that in our school of 300 kids. This was very simple for the money and the parents loved it as it was $1 fundraiser, so they were not breaking the bank to support it.
We also held a raffle for one of those huge inflatable holiday lawn snowmen. We did a snowman so it wasn't christmas specific. It was simple and not a lot of effort and we made like $400. We sold tickets for $1 each or 6 for $5...again the parents loved it as it was cheap and did not cost them a lot to participate.
Restaraunts like Pizzeria Uno's & Pizza Hut do fundraising nights. These are great because they require next to no work. You just let people know the dates and you get a % of whatever people order. Chuck E Cheese also does one...we did one with them this year and it was a disaster. They ran out of pizza 45 minutes into our being there, they were understaffed, and the manager was no help at all. Someone else I know also had a disaster with a chuck e cheese fundraising night, so I can't reccomend doing one of those. We always do Pizzeria Uno's a few times a year and do well with them. They give you two days in a row from open to close and you get 20% of the sales.
We also do Holiday/Family portraits on a saturday or sunday in November in the gym. We have a local photographer who comes and takes family photos with either a holiday or plain background. Then you can order picture packages or holiday photo cards. Everyone gets a 15 seating time so it is far more convenient then going to the mall at that time of year to have photos done. We made $500 and again it was painless and easy and we made that just off the people who came. Their are people who do it every year and they love it and look forward to it.
Our middle school did a jog-a-thon where the kids asked people to pledge $ for each lap they did around the school grounds. With about400 kids ( in a 1000 kid school) they raised $18,000. ( that averages to only $45 per child)
we are doing a cold stone fundraiser this year. We are having a ice cream social once a month and we receive a certain % of sales. Plus we are also handing out coupons to receive $3's for every cold stone ice cream cake purchased. The coupon just states the name of the school and $3's will be to go the school for every cake purchased. You can hand these out to everyone you know and if they buy the product anyway you have just received extra $$. Once a month or quarter can't remember they will automatically send us a check. A great way for families to socialize.
Our middle school PTO doesn't do a lot of fundraising, but things we've done (not all in one year) in the past include:
We used to sell the school's PE and atheletic uniforms.
This year selling backpacks (must be clear or mesh), T-shirts, and the "live-strong" type of rubber bracelet with the school logo.
Sponsored school dance. We can't get the ticket proceeds any more as those go to the school. But orgs can still sign up to sponsor a specific school dance and sell concessions, glow sticks, novelties.
Family nights (Chick-Fil-A, Cold Stone Creamery, other places). Not huge dollars, but really easy and no volunteers needed other than getting out a flyer.
Unfortunetly I am at a middle school. I think we will try the penny wars and see how well that does. Now I am trying to find a candy bar fundraiser that I don't have to buy a lot from and can get the kind I want. Everyone around here either offers kinds taht wouldn't sell for us, or expects us to buy a large amount.
