Monday, February 18, 2008

FUNDRAISING FUN!

Two weeks ago we had is our annual school fundraiser. As always, it is pretty crazy and loud.
As many of may agree, school fundraising is always a challenge. Many of us can relate to selling pizza kits, cookies, gift wrap, etc. Because of our busy schedule, it seems like we are usually purchasing these items that our kids are suppose to sell to neighbors and relatives.
Several years ago, I took the plunge and was PTO Co-President for our public elementary school. Luckily, fundraising is pretty easy here. We have a very generous neighborhood; last year parents donated over $100,000 to put astroturf soccer-field on the playground. Even though parents are generous, they were tired of always being asked for money here and there, so we decided on a new strategy.
We set a goal to consolidate our fundraising activities and have one big fundraiser for the school as well as give parents to write a check. We estimated that we spent $100 per child on enrichment activities so you could write a check and not have to participate in any other fundraising activities for the year. The second was initiative was creating a Bingo Night and Basket Raffle. We raised about $5000 in one fun evening.
For the basket raffle, classrooms pick a theme and families donate items for the themed basket. Raffle tickets are stuffed in buckets in front of each basket and tickets are drawn for each basket between bingo games. A basket raffle make it possible all children to win and is more fun than a silent auction. Families pay $25 to play bingo and there are prize for winners of each bingo game.
This is my friend JL wonderful basket she put together for a Movie Night Basket. She did a beautiful job.
IT GET'S BETTER:
For a University of Michigan Music Society Fundraiser, instead of a silent auction, we are going to have baskets for adults. Our auctioneer suggested that we have a buy-it-now price.
I think we may donate a scotch basket which will include a scotch tasting and 5-6 single malts, plus glasses, etc. The value is suppose to be approximately $500-600. Anyway--this should be a fun evening in the Fall.
I would love to hear any ideas you may have for fundraising. We are always looking for new ways to raise money.

4 comments:

Linda S said...

did someone say scotch?

love your blog!

PaperCourt said...

Cute idea! Every school in Seattle does an Auction. It's a little overboard!

Glad I found you...love your blog!

Steph said...

I don't have any new ideas, but I do love what y'all have done! I will take that to the table, when we start planning for next year!

Tickled Pink And Green said...

Not that this is an idea for you, but our school (private) just had a Silent Auction. The great thing about it is some of the people at our school have great vacation homes, and they always put them up for auction, as in the "Week at golf course home in Jackson Hole Wyoming" which is what my hubby bid on and won just last week... Another family donated 4 nights at their beautiful lakehouse (and I mean it's beautiful and huge - sleeps 16, so we can invite other families)...and we bid on(& won)that too. So we get credit for contributing to the school, and get some bargain vacations from it! We've done this at least every other year! I love those auctions!