Fundraising Ideas and Success Stories

Do you need some inspiration to help you decide on how to raise money for your organization or cause? I have some examples of what kind of fundraising is being done throughout the country.

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The following is an example of an annual fundraiser with a silent auction. Events like this take months of work but can raise a large amount of money. When you hold an annual event like this your organization usually makes more money every year.

In Everett, Washington, the Village Theatre will be holding their fundraiser on May 2 at the Everett Performing Arts Center. The event, titled “A Grand Night for Singing,” is a gala celebration with live and silent auctions, hors d’oeuvres and fine wine. Among the items on the auction block are a Broadway theatre trip, a private tour of SAFECO Field, a Boeing flight simulator experience, autographed theatre posters and opportunity to purchase a walk-on part in the Village Theatre’s upcoming production of “Hello, Dolly!” The gala raises money for a variety of Village Theatre programs including KIDSTAGE and Pied Piper youth education programs, ticket and tuition discounts to students, youth, seniors and active military. Tickets are $50-$100 per person.

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How about a dance marathon? A high school in New York has been holding a dance marathon since 1977 and this year earned a record-breaking $187.601. The proceeds will be donated to people in their community in need of such things as wheel chair vans, medical care and college scholarships. South Glens Falls High School has raised more than $1.4 million over the years with their dance marathon.

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Here’s a fundraising idea that is really fresh and creative. At the University of Florida, in Gainesville, members of Zeta Beta Tau fraternity are raising money for the Children’s Miracle Network by getting signatures on a gigantic rubber ball. The fraternity members are rolling the ball all over the campus and at the end of the week sponsors will pay a fee for each signature on the ball. So far they have over 2,500 signatures. This is Zeta Beta Tau’s second philanthropy event of the year. In the Fall, the fraternity’s kickball tournament raised $1,000 for the Children’s Miracle Network.

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And finally, fundraising is still being done for those who were affected by hurricane Katrina. In Gloucester Township, New Jersy, a community-wide Katrina Relief fundraiser will be held on March 25 at Timber Creek High School. The event will feature a magic show, games and contests, dance and karate performances, a storyteller/puppeteer, art exhibits, a fashion show, silent auction, lots of food and basketball games played between principals and staff of local schools. More than 1,000 people are expected to attend. Tickets are $20. Proceeds will benefit the residents of Ocean Springs, Mississippi, a town Gloucester Township has adopted and pledged to help recover from Hurricane Katrina.

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Article by Amy Passmore of DIY Fundraising. Visit www.diyfundraising.com for do-it-yourself fundraising ideas for nonprofit organizations, clubs, schools and groups.