<p>D’s orchestra has a very big trip planned for next summer. (They’ll be in France and play at the D Day anniversary in Normandy.) The group needs to raise about $225,000. (There are about 100 members.) They do some fundraising every year for smaller trips, but this will require some new ideas. The director recently asked me to be on the fundraising committee along with a few others. </p>
<p>Anyone have any suggestions besides the typical carwashes, bingo games, chili suppers, etc?</p>
<p>I’ll PM you.</p>
<p>If you are anywhere near a college see if you can work at football games/basketball games. We had a girlscout trip to Europe and worked as bag checkers and ticket takers at games. We signed up as a group and as it was a non profit organization the money that was paid to the group (not individuals) was not taxable. There were rules about the ages of who could work.We also worked at a concession stand at a different venue - it was really hard work. (actually we hated that but just for my daughter we raised nearly $1000 with me, my husband, daughter and son working every session over a weekend). </p>
<p>We were a group of only 8 but with parents and siblings dragged in to work we raised over $24k (though I think we had 2 years to fundraise).</p>
<p>swimcatsmom–thanks for the idea. We are in a college town and do that already–not sure how much they raise though. I’m wondering if the group could do one of the concession stands though at a game. I do see groups doing that at the games too, just forgot about it.</p>
<p>My little fine arts group generally makes about $25000 from a yearly flea market and we hardly have 50 members. Ill bet that the parents of the kids have plenty of junk that they would be more than happy to get rid of.</p>
<p>^^^^We did that too though we called it a garage sale. It was a pretty large event. My friend is a DECA sponsor and DECA do a couple of large sales a year as fundraisers.</p>
<p>If you call it a “flea market” it adds a bit of continental flair, it brings to mind lovely autumns in Paris strolling thru the vendors stalls, and enables you to add an additional 20% to the price of that Ninja Turtle jelly jar. :)</p>
<p>I’m mot sure this will work for you, but it is an easy fundraiser that I just ran at my synagogue this spring.
SPRINGHILL and BRECKS FLOWERS/PLANTS FUNDRAISING.
[Fundraising</a> With Flowers](<a href=“http://www.fundraisingwithflowers.com/info.asp?ii=1]Fundraising”>http://www.fundraisingwithflowers.com/info.asp?ii=1)
They send you all the material, envelopes, catalogs (I sent both), order forms… you add a cover letter. The buyers pay you (check made out to the school program) and you tally up the orders, send the check in and the plants/flowers are sent directly to the buyer form Holland. You do not have to distribute anything. Shipping was only $3 per house.
For you, each child (100 of them) can be responsible for providing 25 names/addresses (or whatever you designate). Surely Mom and Dad’s friends and relatives will support the cause and get some great perennials too!
You may need to come up with a monthly fundraiser.
Also, chinese auctions work well around here. You need plenty of time to collect donations for it though.
Maybe you should have a parent meeting or get a list of all involved in the trip. Break into 12 groups and each group plan a fundraising event.
Good luck!!!</p>
<p>Along the same lines of working at a football game is working at an amusement park. We live near Dorney Park (good size amusement park) and they offer non-profits the opportunity to work a while day at a concession stand and then they give the wages to the group. [Fundraising</a> & Booster Bucks, Employment](<a href=“http://www.dorneypark.com/public/employment/booster_bucks/index.cfm]Fundraising”>http://www.dorneypark.com/public/employment/booster_bucks/index.cfm) But, you are talking about raising ALOT of money - good luck!</p>
<p>Here’s something that was done with a relative’s organization. I think it was comparable in size to your daughter’s orchestra. The kids attended a handful of schools, most of which were pretty large. Each student in the organization (with the permission of principals of course) baked two dozen cupcakes every week and sold them (on Friday) for 50 cents in the schools. Over the course of the year they raised over $500 per week with the investment of only cupcake mix and frosting every week. That’s not a huge amount of money, but it was steady money and every bit adds up. Of course, not every principal would allow this to go on, but in some big schools, four lunch periods a day, the students are happy to have an extra snack on Monday.
We’ve also raised a bit of money by selling the dollar a piece candy bars. Generally, the parents did the selling at work, and when done once in fall and once in spring, a lot of money can be raised. I once sold over $250 in a single day because people in offices will pay top dollar for readily available chocolate. Best of luck!</p>
<p>You need something big and fun – for adults. How about a casino night with a silent auction of donated items from local businesses or a golf tournament. Does your town have a Symphony? Perhaps you could coordinate with the professionals or with the college orchestra and perform with all proceeds to your group. That is a lot of money, but certainly a fantastic opportunity. Get the local press involved you may get donations just by getting the word out.</p>
<p>These are some great ideas–keep them coming.</p>
<p>I know cookie sales for fundraisers are pretty common but Otis Spunkmeyer now does fundraising cookie dough sales and I actually *want *to buy them rather than feel obliged to because I love Otis S cookies. My hairdresser’s son was selling them last year for an 8th grade school trip and she’s going to have to hook me up with another 8th grade parent this year so I can buy more!</p>
<p>These aren’t very original…but maybe will be “new” to your community:</p>
<p>Like Crazed’s idea…there are many wreath companies that do Christmas wreaths as fund raisers…if no other organization in your community currently does this item as a fundraiser. It’s a higher ticket item…can earn up to $10/wreath. Some send directly to buyer (easiest way - and can “hook” relatives and friends who live out of town) or send bulk for organization to distribute. Some do both…</p>
<p>[wreathme.com[/url</a>]</p>
<p>[url=<a href=“http://www.mickman.com/fundraising/program.html]Mickman”>http://www.mickman.com/fundraising/program.html]Mickman</a> Brothers Inc. - The Program](<a href=“http://www.wreathme.com/]wreathme.com[/url”>http://www.wreathme.com/)</p>
<p>[Christmas</a> Fundraising Ideas - Christmas Wreath Fundraising Opportunities](<a href=“http://www.alpinefarms.com/fundraising.html]Christmas”>http://www.alpinefarms.com/fundraising.html)</p>
<p>Also in the flower family…arrange with a local florist to get 2 or 3 styles/pricepoints of arrangements delivered at holiday time (Thanksgiving, Christmas). For the work you do publicizing and getting orders in advance, ask florist for 10% (or some other %) of sales. If you have them all delivered to one place, and ask buyers to pick them up…the florist might give you an even better discount.</p>
<p>Also…fruit sales. Like wreaths…can have delivered to one location, or directly to buyers. Most of these places have very well organized fundraisers
[Oranges</a> Fundraising - Citrus Fund Raising - Fruit Sale For School Fundraisers - Florida Indian River Groves](<a href=“Florida Indian River Groves | Fruit Fundraising, School Fund Raising”>http://www.floridaindianrivergroves.com/)
[Fruit</a> fundraising:navel oranges, grapefruit, apples](<a href=“http://www.800apples2.com/id13.html]Fruit”>http://www.800apples2.com/id13.html)</p>
<p>Lastly…my favorite…Sees Candy
[See’s</a> Candies, Inc. - Fundraising](<a href=“http://www.sees.com/fr.cfm]See’s”>http://www.sees.com/fr.cfm)</p>
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<p>i just spit all over my monitor. That just tickled me no end.</p>
<p>This opportunity sounds like it could be good for a couple of corporate sponsorships. I’d also consult the local veteran’s groups for ideas - VFW, AmVets, American Legion. If there is a local Chamber of Commerce, consult them.</p>
<p>I’m sure you’ve thought of this but what about the orchestra doing a dinner show kind of thing? Our church youth choir raised several thousand dollars in one night doing it. People bought tickets for a meal ( donated by a local sponsor) and were entertained by the kids. Some parents and sponsors performed also. Parents made desserts to sell after the dinner. It was a sellout and fun too because the kids got to do some “fun” music that they don’t usually get to perform in the usual church choral performances.</p>
<p>What a cool idea^^^^^</p>
<p>[Cy</a> Springs band has explosive fundraiser | EDUCATION | KHOU.com | News for Houston, Texas](<a href=“http://www.khou.com/news/local/education/stories/khou080704_tj_highschollfireworks.236e8592.html]Cy”>http://www.khou.com/news/local/education/stories/khou080704_tj_highschollfireworks.236e8592.html)</p>
<p>Check this out. A local band has partnered with a fireworks warehouse to provide free sales and stocking, in exchange for a percentage of the profits. They made about $50,000 just during the two week Fourth of July sale. </p>
<p>Also, one of our school organizations has a very successful calendar sale every year. The calendars feature photos made of all the male contestants in the Mr. “XX H.S” contest. (Very tasteful…tuxes/suits…no beefcake. 
) Our school district provides printing services, so the cost of each calendar is under $5 and they sell them for about $15. We have a large high school and practically every female buys a calendar, so it’s always a very good moneymaker.</p>
<p>A couple of other ideas…</p>
<p>I was on a PTO board that sponsored an annual school carnival. We had fun carnival booths; donated entertainment from local gymnasts, cheerleaders, musicians, cloggers, etc…; cooked and served bbq donated by local restaurants; held a silent auction of items donated by Houston Rockets and Houston Astros… </p>
<p>Downside…took months of preparation. Upside…5 hour carnival yielded about $45K in profits.</p>
<p>Also…the Little Caesars Pizza Kit fundraisers are very popular in our area:</p>
<p>[Little</a> Caesars Fundraising Program - Little Caesars Pizza](<a href=“http://www.pizzakit.com/default.asp]Little”>http://www.pizzakit.com/default.asp)</p>