If you have a kid in school, you’ve been a part of, a provider for or a patron of a bake sale. Mountains of sugar-laden, food coloring-filled, preservative-packed treats spread across folding tables covered in paper tablecloths. With food allergies on the rise and parents’ focus on nutrition (not to mention Federal nutritional guidelines for schools) changing, this antiquated method of raising funds is going the way of the dinosaurs.
This month, as you finish your healthy back-to-school shopping and start mapping out events for the school year, consider pitching one of these creative fundraising ideas to your school’s event committees. Or spearhead the effort
1. Jog-a-thon
Encourage healthy habits and raise money for your school by organizing a jog-a-thon. Each student has friends and family pledge a flat amount for the event or a dollar amount per lap. Then, with the help of a few parent volunteers to track laps, a fun and kid-friendly playlist and the sheer of joy what is essentially extra recess for the kids, you have a fantastic fundraiser on your hands. The best kinds of fundraisers are, of course, the ones that require the least output, and a jog-a-thon is definitely a simple and healthy option.
2. Family fun night
While you should make sure the event itself if free, face painting, corn hole, a pop-up photo booth, temporary tattoos and raffle prizes all rake in ticket sales which quickly lead to fantastic fundraising.
- Collect props like giant glasses, colorful wigs, feather boas and a variety of hats, splash-paint an old sheet as a backdrop and ask a parent who owns a great camera to take the pictures at your pop-up photo booth.
- Someone at the school owns a corn hole set, guaranteed. Ask them to loan the school the set for the event, and watch the beanbags fly. If you can have multiple sets, that’s even better.
- Face painting kits and temporary tattoos require a small financial output but are always a big hit with the 10 and under crowd. Be prepared for long lines and freakishly excited groups of kids clamoring to be turned into their favorite superhero or furry friend.
- Raffle prizes take a bit more planning and a lot more volunteers.
3. Bingo bash
You’ve never seen a more rabid and rowdy gang of grubby handed gamblers than a bunch of elementary school students and their parents at an evening of bingo in the multipurpose room. Bingo sheets flying, cheers of excitement and jeers of sore losers will echo through the school. Of course, they won’t be playing for money; rather, you should have a collection of prizes donated from local stores, restaurants and businesses.
4. Flea market
People have stuff they need to get rid of. Other people have stuff they are looking for. Organize a family flea market at your school to help those people find each other. Ask each seller to donate a portion of their profit to the school in exchange for the convenient retail space in the school parking lot. Add a few parent volunteers to keep things running smoothly, and you’ve got yourself one seriously low-cost fundraiser on your hands.
5. Online shopping affiliations
This one requires nothing more than following the instructions on various online retailer sites to set up an affiliate link and then sending out said link in the weekly school email newsletter. Remind parents that this is the easiest and most helpful way they can help their child’s school keep its valued and beneficial classes like art and music. The best part is that there’s no cost of operation for the school, and all of the parents who claim to be too busy to make it onto school grounds have no excuse but to dive in and lend a helping hand.