by Alan Haskvitz

It isn't a secret -- schools always need additional funding for activities. What isn't well known is how to raise funds without stepping on the toes of community businesses, taking away from class time, and tying-up human resources best used elsewhere.
With that in mind, I have found some exceptional fundraisers. Remember the keys to a good fundraiser are: good bookkeeping, motivation and thank yous. And if you can get something inexpensively and sell it for more, you are champion fundraisers.

My favorite fundraiser is the No Bake Sale - Bake Sale. It is easy, all profit, and the parents appreciate it. First, create a list of baked goods and complete cards with the item names and prices, for example, "Carrot Cake, $5." The parent selects this baked item NOT to make and sends $5 instead. You respond with a note thanking them for the carrot cake. Offer a variety of baked goods from "First Marriage Wedding Cakes" to "Crestfallen Angel Food Cake." The students can name the items and research how much they would cost to make, so it is educational as well.

Send the list home and have parents decide what not to make. You can also send the list to others in the community. Obviously, it is all pure profit and pure fun, especially the "Oops I Burned the Turnovers" which usually go for $10 and the $15 pan of "Brown Knees."

And the best part is, think how many calories aren't consumed!

Other fundraising ideas

Fun fair
Auction
Golf tournament
Selling candy, cake, discount books, etc.
Magazine subscriptions
A taste of "your school name" with food from parents
Walkathon
Book sale
Rent out space for toy exchange, sale
Coin drive
Bingo
Guess the weight, number
Raffles
The school band plays a street concert
Putting flags on people's lawns for special days. Students do this early in the morning of significant days such as July 4th and retrieve them that evening. Do this for five holidays and charge appropriately.

Online fundraising resources

A to Z of Fundraising Ideas

Can & Bottle Drive

Car Wash
A how-to guide

Celebrity Addresses
Ask celebrities to donate something to be auctioned

Curbside House Numbers

Custom Town Calendars

Fundraising Opportunities

Fundraising Yellow Pages

Goat Insurance

Leave Your Mark
Using commemorative brick pavers

Mom-O-Grams

Restaurant Takeover

School Fundraisers
Ideas for commercial and non-commercial fundraisers

School Fundraisers
Large link site to tons of ideas

Student/Faculty Contests

Target's Take Charge of Education

Teacher funding raising ideas

Thons
Ideas for everything from walk-a-thons to art-a-thons