DIY: Youth Fundraising Ideas
Fundraising does not have to be a daunting task, but it should be well-planned, well-organized and well-promoted to maximize effectiveness. No matter what method your youth group employs, fundraisers can build camaraderie, increase visibility of your group and create a good work ethic among your members. All of these benefits partner with the fundamental goal -- to gather money for the maintenance, promotion, activities and mission of your particular youth group.
Other People Are Reading
-
Successful Youth Fundraising Events
-
Event-oriented youth fundraisers include ideas such as dinners (pancakes are cheap to make), services (like car washes or yard-raking), or fairs (in which stalls or tables are rented to vendors). Youth fundraising events often are successful because of the low cost of materials, the free cost of member labor, or the free cost of using already available facilities or spaces. These do-it-yourself fundraisers depend on the "sweat equity" and volunteer efforts of leaders and youth themselves.
Popular Sales-Based Youth Fundraisers
-
Youth leaders also can organize sales-based fundraisers, which use products manufactured by other companies. Candy bars, popcorn, calendars, local restaurant discount cards, candles and magazine subscriptions are just a few of the products available to offer in youth fundraising efforts (see references). Though it requires buying and accounting for product, the low-cost merchandise is often popular as a repeat fundraiser with youth supporters who come to expect the catalogs and products.
-
Activity-Oriented Youth Fundraisers
-
Youth love quirky or "dare"-based activities, often successfully implemented as part of a larger fundraising event. However, these activities can also stand alone, whether it involves a promise challenge, such as a leader pledging to shave his head if so much money is raised, or a wacky activity, like a hot-dog eating contest or a prank, like spearing a lawn with hundreds of plastic forks until the resident donates money. These activity-based youth fundraisers depend on supporters who are good sports.
Low-Cost Youth Fundraisers
-
Low-cost youth fundraisers can also be fundraising activities or events, but specific low-cost fundraisers will depend even more on equipment already owned, like video game tournaments (see references). Although the gain from low-cost fundraisers can sometimes be lower, tournaments or game nights can be low-maintenance fundraisers that require little effort.
-
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Creatas/Getty Images
