Easy Fundraising

Have you ever turned up to a school 'wine and nibbles' event, only to find yourself dodging the Parent Association representatives trying to sign up new recruits? I recently signed up to what I thought would just be a passport to more nibbles evenings. Not so. Monday evenings have become fundraising evenings. Pleasant company, but the raising cash is hard work.

School fetes, craft fairs and school discos bring more to the school than just cash. These events are community events as much as fundraisers. Mum or dad helping on hoopla is not just about fundraising, it's about children seeing their parents participating and contributing their time. In addition to these regular social events you can top up your school funds all year round with a range of easy to manage fundraising options.

Cashback Reward Schemes are a new concept but are growing in popularity as a no effort source of funding. Most parents occasionally shop online, and these schemes offer schools the opportunity to earn commission (1% - 25%) every time a parent shops on the net. Parent Pages.co.uk/cashback

Know the latest pocket money toy craze? Get in on the act. If you know a product is popular, try and find a wholesale supplier and buy the minimum quantity. Sell them for a small profit at the Christmas fair. Tangles make excellent stress busters (for teachers), and work wonders with fidgety children. These can be bought wholesale for 75p each and sell like hot cakes for £1.00 each! One local school sold 500 at their summer fair! www.mytangle.co.uk

Customized items are always popular. My daughter's school ordered teddy bears wearing a jumper with an embroidered school logo. Bulk prices start from around £2.00 per teddy. If you sell 200 at £4.00 each, that's around £400 profit. These make great souvenirs for school leavers. Tea towels, mouse mats bags and mugs are irresistible and good to look back on when the kids are grown up. Prices start from £1.50 wholesale per tea towel and 100 can raise around £150.00. You need to spend time designing them but this is all part of the fun.
Art Screen Prints   Stuart Morris   Interprint  Countrysideart  Schoolyard

Recycling Schemes are another new fundraising idea and involve collecting unwanted printer cartridges, clothing, bedding, curtains, shoes, handbags and even mobile phones! One company pays per kilo of clothing donated and you can get £300 for 200 phones.
Recycool  Collect4schools  cartridges4causes  Bag2school  fones4schools

Engrave a Brick A name and message engraved and hand finished on a brick. This sort of thing is never a small project and needs careful planning. The fundraising potential is huge. You can create a 'wall or a walk of fame' Briconomics

Race nights  Good fun and a great way to spend an evening.
See Race Night   Race Night Services  Racenight.co.uk

Holding a book fair is an excellent means of getting free books. Some companies will help you organise bookfairs others will just sell through catalogues. Commission comes in the form of cash or books.
Scholastic   Usbourne Books Fairs