A typical group, looking for ideas for fundraising activities, has to ask themselves one question: what are the best ways of doing it? It sounds like a very simple question, but the answer is often complicated. The reason is straightforward enough: what works for one group does not necessarily work for another.
The first step in the process is easy enough; gather together a group of like-minded people, brainstorm, and come up with some ideas. It is a virtual guarantee that the list will run the gamut. Here is just a short list of possibilities:
- Bake sales
- Gift cards
- T-shirts
- Turkey shoots
- Door-to-door sales
- Letter writing campaigns
- Holding a fair or bazaar
- Rummage sales
- Raffles
But, out of this plethora of ideas, how does the group select the best one for them? It all depends on the group itself, its members. They have to figure out what works best for them. If they are a large group with outgoing and gregarious members, then a door-to-door campaign or fair would work well for them. If they’re just starting and don’t have many members, a fundraising card would be the best way to go. Now, if the group is connected with a national organization (e.g. First Book, the Red Cross, UNICEF), then fund raising ideas are usually all worked out ahead of time. Those groups have a whole set of fundraising methods that are tried and true.
The most important aspect to be concerned about is to how the members work, and work together. Selecting a type of fundraiser that is not right for the group can be disastrous. The members will waste time, money, resources and effort, and get little (if any) financial return. If someone in the group is an artist, and they are teamed with someone else who runs a print shop or does silk screening; they can team up to create a great looking t-shirt.
When trying to find ideas for fundraising activities, there are some things to ponder. First, what will it cost? Make sure it is within your group’s budget. Next, does it make good use of the members and their talents? Will the idea appeal to the kinds of people you hope will donate to your group? Offering subscriptions to "Guns & Ammo" to the residents of an ACLF (Adult Congregate Living Facility) almost certainly won’t be a big seller. Also, donors like to feel as if they get something of value for their contribution.