How to Organize a Low Investment Fundraiser for Charity

Charlie and Dell, two of the horses at Tender Mercy Equine Rescue, are just a few of the residents at one of the many shelters that owe their existence to charity donations.

Donations and fundraisers are the mainstay of almost all nonprofit organizations. As many rely on yearly fundraisers to stay afloat, it is important to select fundraisers that are not only successful, but have a high return rate. While most fundraisers cost something to put on, it is important to make more money than you spend. Therefore, fundraisers with little overhead cost are a great place to start--especially for charities just getting off the ground.

Instructions

1. Have your volunteers save large glass jars, such as the ones that pickles come in. Have an afternoon where the volunteers gather at someone's house, with craft supplies such as fabric, fabric paint, ribbons and construction paper. Decorate the jars with the name and contact information for your group. Once they are decorated, start distributing them to local schools and businesses. Ask your contacts to display it in a prominent location, where spare change and bills can be donated by visitors and customers.

2. Ask your volunteers to search their basements and attics for unused items. Collect them at one of your volunteers' houses for a yard sale. Choose the house with the highest profile location, and on a summer weekend that coincides with a nearby carnival or fair. On the table where people pay for their items, add a donation jar as well as literature about your organization and any glossy photos that you might have. Also, larger items can be set up on eBay. There is a division of eBay called MissionFish that allows buyers and sellers to donate a portion of a sale directly to a charity.

3. Get in contact with one of the many companies that will pay a charity for recycling used ink cartridges for printers. For each cartridge, some companies will pay between $1 and $3. Advertise the fact that you are collecting for charity. Send notices out to schools and businesses, including information on how to get the cartridges to you.

4. Find out who are the artists among your volunteers. A great way to make some extra money--as well as help get the names of some aspiring artists out into the public--is to create original artwork depicting something related to your charity. For example, animal rescue shelters might create hand-drawn original sketches or paintings of adopted pets, or childrens' charities might create works of children at play.

5. Organize a dress down day for offices of volunteers' workplaces. Have each volunteer speak with a boss or manager, and see if they will allow the volunteer to sell stickers or cards to employees that will allow them to dress in jeans for one work day for a donation determined by the charity or by the donor.

6. Hold a walk. In exchange for participating, have individuals raise money to donate to the charity. A walk is by no means a new idea, but add a twist to it that will make it all your own. For example, animal shelters might encourage participants to bring their pets along, or have animal-themed activities at the end of the walk. Medical charities might encourage participants to come dressed as characters from M*A*S*H or in scrubs and nurses' uniforms, while childrens' charities might encourage a walk where everyone comes dressed as cartoon characters or superheroes.

7. Hire Santa for the holidays. Have a willing volunteer don a Santa suit, and ask for a minimal donation to have children, adults or pets have their picture taken with Santa. This also works for other holidays. Try dressing someone up as the Easter Bunny, Uncle Sam or even Cupid.

Tips & Warnings

• At any fundraiser, keep plenty of business cards on hand. Always be on the lookout for new volunteers or regular donors. Fundraisers are a great place to find them. For items that you do need to purchase, try to get them donated. Many businesses will trade goods or services for a mention in conjunction with your fundraiser--it's great advertising for them. Advertise--no fundraiser can be successful if people don't know about it. Most community newspapers will run a story that announces a fundraiser for no cost. Give them a call and ask for the editorial department.