Michelle, I'm not sure where you are in the US but our PTO does fundraisers with the local skate rink by setting up parties once a month. They offer us $1.25 for every skater we have come to the party.
Another one is the No Work Fundraisier, we send home a letter with a tea bag attached and simply ask for the parents to enjoy a cup of tea as they think about how much they would like to give the PTO. Now, we were able to tell parents this was a tax deductuble donations, double check that for your group.
Kids LOVE days they can dress funny or favorite team etc. We charge $1 for our kids to "dress down" from the school uniform. This one alone is an easy $500- $1000! Now granted we are k-12 with 1300 students but even the teachers and adminitrators participate! So much fun!!
For special projects, a penny drive is fun.
I've been trying to type as fast as I can think so please forgive the errors!
Most consultants for pampered chef, home interior, mary kay, avon, tastefully simply etc. all will donate a portion of proceeds as fund raiser. We have also done a fundraiser where we have a vendor fair. This is where we rent a 6ft table for $20's and the consultants come and set up for the day. We do advertise outside and send flyers home, advertise in newspaper (school news in our paper is free). The $20's a table is all profit because the school already has tables. If you need to rent tables figure you want to may at least $10's per table. Also ask the consultant to donate something for a future fundraiser or a % of their sales. It's also a tax write off for them to donate something to the school. We also combined this with a bake sale,and a concession sale (hot dog, chips and drink meal)If you would like a list of consultants we used email me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
I second the magazine sale idea. I wish our school did one...One other private school here in town does one every year and makes alot of money because almost everyone subscribes to magazines. You might consider giving each child a "goal" (not a requirement) but it would give people an idea of what you're expecting.
Lots of people love the wrapping paper sales (Sally Foster, etc.). Perhaps you could do one of these in the fall and one in the spring?
Our PTO is also starting with 0 dollars this year. We are starting off the year with a Spaghetti dinner fundraiser. We got everything we need for it donated, so it didn't cost us anything.
American Publishers Hearst is a magazine fundraiser that your school could try. They require no money up front. A lot of the orders are renewals from friends and families so your not asking the parents to purchase something they don't already have or need. They make good gifts too. They have a program called F.R.O.G, Family Reading Our Goal, that ties in with our family reading night. Good Luck! There number is 888-233-9041.
