Many schools have had to make major cuts to programs and activities for students due to the ongoing financial crisis in almost every school district in the U.S.
As a result, many schools programs such as the student council, drill team, and academic clubs have had to fend for themselves financially.
Most districts allow individual school groups and clubs to fund raise. Administrators are aware that these clubs and activities are essential to students. They know that fundraising is a great way to keep these programs afloat. Check your district or school policy to see what the requirements or restrictions are regarding raising money through on-campus sales for your club or program.
Below are some fundraising ideas that are low-cost but have the possibility to generate strong revenues.
Fundraising Ideas
School supplies are great sellers. You can stock up on pencils, erasers, markers, crayons, and glue sticks, at your local dollar store. Oriental Trading Co. is also a great online vendor. There are tons of online discounters from which to purchase school supplies. These can be sold yearlong since students need to replenish them constantly.
Santa Grams or Valentine’s Grams are great fundraising products. You can buy the lollipops at your local membership big buy store or even some dollar stores. You can add "homemade" greeting cards by finding free coloring pages online and making copies on cardstock. Color them, and add glitter, or whatever you like. Sell a pencil and lollipop or just the lollipop alone. Several school supply discounters have seasonal pencils for nearly every holiday and special event you can think of.
Plus, deliver the candy grams around the school. Many students love the idea that they can send or receive a treat on a special holiday.
An Arts and Crafts Bazaar is a great way to develop the entrepreneurial spirit in your group. Try to keep to items that are handmade and have low overhead. Have a variety of things to sell. Jewelry, toys, decorated pencils and or pens, student created comic books, pottery, and handmade ornaments are just a few items which are good sellers.
Make sure you advertise and create interest not only within the school, but your local community as well. Who knows, you might be helping the next Martha Stewart or Stan Lee get his/her start.
Movie Afternoon/Night is the latest trend in making money for clubs or programs. The movie is usually free, and you sell movie snacks to your theatergoers. Make sure you buy plenty of staple movie snacks like popcorn, candy, juice, or soda. Choose a movie that is kid friendly and age appropriate.
Mother’s Day Gardening Kitsmake wonderful gifts. You’ll need inexpensive, small plain flowerpots or dollar store beach pails, seed packets, and soil (optional).
Your group can decorate the flowerpots using tempera paint and stamps or stencils. If you go with plastic beach pails you can forego the painting of course. Place a seed packet, a little baggie of soil (optional) inside the pots/pails. Wrap them with colored cellophane. Add homemade gift cards too (Again find free coloring pages appropriate for Mother’s Day).
You might want to take orders for the Mother Day’s kits to make sure you don’t over or under order the necessary supplies.
Fundraising Fun
These moneymaking ideas are just a small sampling from the myriad ideas to raise money for your school club. If you’re just getting started, try to stick to something that is low-cost and manageable for everyone involved.
Remember, fundraising for your club should not only be financially beneficial, it should also be fun.
Sharlene Scott - Sharlene is a mom, teacher, wife, and writer. As the mother of two special needs children, Sharlene is committed to leveling the playing ...
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