These are great fundraisers. Especially on the weekends that tourists are in town. Gather items from everyone involved and advertise for about a week beforehand. You could even toss in a bake sale with refreshments and you could begin raking in the dough.

To have a successful sale, advertise as stated previously. Have one person in charge of the money. Agree ahead of time of you are willing to negotiate and how much below the sticker price. Make sure that there is enough help to relieve anyone who needs to go to the bathroom. Arrange for lunch and snacks so that you are not panicking when the stomach growls. Have a set time to start and end the sale. Have plenty of plastic and paper bags. Don’t forget newspaper or such to wrap delicates in. Be prepared to have “grab” bags toward the end of the sale to get rid of the items left. 

A rummage sale can be fun, but be prepared for those people who make it stressful. You will always find someone that wants to argue about a price or walk away with items for free. Make sure that you have a sign that is out front stating where the proceeds are going. This helps mellow some people.

No, I’m not confused here. This idea can work for a breakfast or a dinner. Want to raise money for a cause and really get the community involved? Have a pancake breakfast or a spaghetti dinner! These meals are usually priced low and draw a crowd looking for a cheap meal and a good cause. Charge $5-10 per plate depending on where you are located and the price of your ingredients. Find a place that will let you use the kitchen for free. Advertise more than two weeks in advance so that people can mark their calendars. 

For the breakfast include a drink, syrup and maybe even a meat like sausage or bacon. For the dinner have some garlic bread and a desert of cookies along with a drink. Have delegated in advance who the cooks are, trash patrol, servers, cashier and cleanup crew. Make sure you thank everyone and have a good time while raising money for a good cause.

Raising funds can be huge when a good prize is waiting for them. Go to local businesses and get either one big prize or a bunch of smaller prizes to raffle for. Time this with the Fourth of July festivities or other local festivals. Advertise all over the county. Start selling off tickets a week before because not everyone comes to the party.

Have a set time when the raffle ends and when the winner will be announced. Have noted whether or not the winner needs to be present to win. If they don’t, make sure that you have their information to get in touch with them. If they do need to be present, regular raffle tickets will work just fine.

Why not have fun outdoors with a fishing contest? Depending on where you are located and the regulations, pick a specific fish and decide on how the winner will be determined. Will it be based on number of fish or weight? Maybe you want to specific a particular fishing style. Entry fees could be based from $20-$50 dollars. Find a local sporting goods store willing to donate the prize.

Advertise!!!!! Don’t forget to mention who donated the prize. State all the rules plainly and talk with the DNR beforehand so that you do not afoul of the law. The only expense would be advertising! It is a great PR move and the community loves it.

These are just a few ideas to get you started. Don’t limit yourself. Look around and see what the public likes in your area. What works for one does not work for another.