The birds are chirping. The grass is growing. The snow has melted. It’s the perfect time to start making some $$$. Exactly what you were thinking, right? Whether you’re planning a playground build or community service project, you need to take advantage of some tried-and-true fundraising events that are PERFECT for this time of year. Read our top five spring ideas!
$: Potential fundraising amount is less than $500
$$: Between $500 and $2,000
$$$: More than $2,000
1. Car Wash $
What better way to spend a Saturday morning than sponsoring a car wash! This classic fundraiser is super easy to do. All you need are some common household cleaning items, an enthusiastic group of volunteers, and some dirty cars!
Prep Steps:
Secure a location for your car wash such a school parking lot, gas station, etc. Be sure that your space has a water hookup and is in a central location with high traffic volume.
Sell advance car wash tickets during the days leading up to your event.
Make huge signs to display all day. Stand on the sidewalk and flag people down.
Materials Needed:
Long garden hoses with nozzles
Buckets
Soap
Sponges and rags
A collection box or jar
Helpful Hints:
· Approach you local car wash and ask if they would be interested in helping out. Explain your playspace project and why they should become involved.
· Hold your car wash all day. For best results: 10am-4pm on a weekend.
· Location is the key to your success.
· Watch the weather and have the car wash on a sunny day.
TIP! Some communities have had success with “Topless Car Washes.” Before you blush, read on! Advertise that it’s a “Topless” car wash and set up the car washing area behind a business where it can't be seen from the street. People will flock to it out of pure curiosity! When the driver pulls into the wash area they find that a "Topless" car wash means 1) the bottom of the car is washed free but a donation of $X is required if they want the top washed; 2) the entire car is washed except for the roof for $X and for an additional $Y you wash the top; or 3) convertibles with the top down (topless) get a free wash! Pick the option you like best. Folks are generally pretty good natured and appreciate the ingenuity.
2. Benefit Concert $$$
Host the “Playing for Play” concert in your community. Hold a concert at a local high school and invite students, teachers, and other community members to perform. Who can resist watching children sing their hearts out? You may also recruit local artists who would love an introduction to a captive audience. Charge an admission fee and enjoy the show!
Prep Steps:
Contact a local music club or concert hall and ask them about incorporating an existing show into Playing for Play.
Produce flyers well ahead of time and event tickets.
Sell tickets to the event in advance. Set up a performance schedule and hold a dress rehearsal.
Materials:
Admission tickets
Flyers to promote event
TIP! By partnering with a music club, you have experts doing the legwork for you! They know the music business; let them run the show!
3. Flea Market $
Everyone loves a bargain! Gather families together to get rid of their used furniture, toys, garden equipment, kitchen gear, etc. Talk to professional vendors in your community, and invite them to!
Prep Steps:
Gather goods to sell. Engage families, neighbors, friends, etc in this effort. Be sure to reach out to professional flea market vendors, too by visiting flea and antique markets in your area. Decide what percentage of sales will go to your playspace project.
Choose a large space for your flea market. Designate spaces for each vendor.
Advertise your event.
Materials:
Space large enough for a big community sale!
Flyers
Helpful Hint: Consider combining this with some kind of food sales (subway sandwiches, popcorn, pancake brunch, etc.) Some communities have made just as much, if not more, from food sales than the sale of goods!
TIP! If you can find a large outdoor parking lot for a venue, designate each parking space as a “booth.”
4. Flamingo Hop $$
This hilarious, interactive game can result in huge donations for your playspace project. Community members such as students, parents, etc., pay to have a big pink flamingo in their neighbor’s or schoolmate’s front yard. In order to have the flamingo removed, the person that received the flamingo has to pay $5 to have it removed and placed in another yard. You’ll need more than one flamingo to start this game, or you can use your school’s mascot or anything else that has meaning to your community. Folks will love going out in the morning to see who got “flamingoed” the night before.
Prep Steps:
Either purchase a plastic hot pink flamingo or create a 4-foot tall wooden pink flamingo. You will need 6-8 flamingos to start this game.
Explain the game clearly to the community through informational flyers, or even beter, through a letter to your neighbors and members.
Explain that ten, huge, hot-pink flamingos will mysteriously appear in ten yards on a given day. For a $10, the flamingo can be removed, or the recipient can pay $15 to have the pink flamingo placed in someone else’s front yard. You can offer “flamingo insurance” for $25. This game continues until the cutoff date.
To avoid “flamingoing” someone by accident, have folks sign-up to participate in the Flamingo Hop.
Recruit volunteers to help deliver the flamingos.
Materials Needed:
At least 6 plastic flamingos or tall wooden flamingos
Registration forms
Helpful Hints:
· The element of surprise is important with this game, but it’s your decision to let the person know who sent them the flamingo.
· You can do an office-friendly version of this fundraiser by making paper cut-outs of flamingoes, and charge office mates to flock other people’s offices or cubes. Reduce costs for an office version.
STORY: One community raised nearly $2,000 and had a lot of fun with this fundraiser. While most donations were in the suggested range of $10-20, organizers were surprised by the number of larger contributions.
5. Plant and Garden Sale $$
Sell decorative and vegetable plants in the spring when folks are preparing to plant their gardens. Find a wholesale plant store to purchase high quality plants at a good price. Tell them what you are doing and they may give you an even better deal.
Prep Steps:
Secure a date and location for your event.
Collect plants.
Recruit volunteers with a “green thumb” to run the event.
Set prices for your plants.
Materials Needed:
Flats for carrying plants
Pots
Cash box
Tables
Helpful Hints:
· Have a backup location in case of rain.
· Consider selling decorative pots, or pots painted by school children, at your sale.