Large fundraising events may take some time to plan but, they’re worth it.  The success of these events usually depends on three things: 1) planning; 2) people; and 3) positive attitudes.  Combine those three and you can’t go wrong.  Want to earn $2,000 or more for your playspace project?  Read on for THREE great BIG fundraising ideas! 

1. A-Thon Event

How about sponsoring a read-a-thon, dance-a-thon, walk-a-thon, or marathon? Have participants solicit pledges for each book they read, ½ hour they dance, or mile they walk or run.  

Prep Steps:

1.       Decide on what type of a-thon event to hold.  Consider an event that is child-friendly, like a sled-a-thon!

2.       Recruit community members to participate.

3.       Secure a location for your event, if necessary.

4.       If you decide to hold a walk-a-thon or marathon be sure to contact police for their assistance with street closings, guiding participants, etc.

5.       Create pledge forms for participants.

6.       Determine how you will collect pledge donations.  

Materials Needed:

1.       Pledge forms

2.       Other items will vary depending on the type of event you choose.

3.       Whatever a-thon you choose, be sure it’s fun and something that the community will enjoy. 

Helpful Hints:

·       Set a minimum amount per individual or per family to be raised in pledges.  

STORY! One community hosted a Slide-a-thon at a neighboring playground.  Kids collected pledges for the number of trips up the slide—and had a blast doing it!  It also raised the awareness of the need for a safe playground in their neighborhood. 

2. Cookbook Sales

A cookbook fundraiser can be accomplished in a variety of ways. You could give it a theme--such as desserts, easy 30-minute recipes, or recipes for cooking with your children. You can also do a basic cookbook divided into sections for soups, salad, entrees, and desserts. Let your imagination and your community’s cooking ability loose! 

Prep Steps:

1.       Determine what type of cookbook you’d like to produce and how you will collect recipes. You may want to consider whether recipe contributors will receive credit and/or if you’d like to include neighborhood or playground stories, etc.

2.       Develop a marketing strategy for the cookbook.

3.       Determine how you will print the cookbook and how it will be put together.

4.       Choose a price for the book.  A suggested price is $15 - $20.

5.       Have someone who is a skilled proofreader-editor and organizer arrange the contents of the book after the recipes are collected.

6.       If possible, find a local publishing company, university, or copy center that will copy and bind the completed cookbook at a discount or at no cost.  

Materials Needed:

1.       Computer

2.       Printer

3.       Order forms

4.       Marketing plan 

Helpful Hints:

·         The possibilities are endless. For example, you could have a recipe contest with all winning recipes appearing in the cookbook.

·         Promote the cookbooks by displaying and selling them in area businesses, at sporting events, and other special events in the community.

·         Throughout the cookbook, recognize the people who suggested recipes and helped put the book together. 

3. Silent Auction

A great way to raise funds quietly! Auction items are displayed with a bid sheet. Bidders walk around and write their bid on the bid sheet.  

Prep Steps:

1.       Collect donated items.

2.       Decide on a date and location for the event. You may want to consider holding it in conjunction with a larger event such as a dinner or dance.

3.       Recruit volunteers to assist with this event.

4.       Advertise. Advertise. Advertise. 

Materials Needed:

1.       Auction Items

2.       Tables

3.       Credit card verification machine

4.       List of items being auctioned  

Helpful Hints:

·         This event works best in conjunction with another event, i.e. a live auction, spaghetti dinner, dance, etc.

·         The better the prizes, the bigger the donations!

·         Each item should have a starting bid amount.  In addition, use bid increments on each item (such as $5) so that the bids aren’t increasing by pennies.

·         Decide in advance if people must be present to win.  You can collect names and phone numbers on the bid sheets if necessary.

·         Make sure you announce when the silent auction will be closing.  Be sure to give people enough time to record that last bid!

·         Once you announce the close of the silent auction, you can go around with a highlighter and mark the final bid amount.  This way, no one can come back and add their name after you have closed the auction.

·         Be sure to plan your system for paying and collecting auction items prior to the event.  Buyers can pay first and then show a receipt when they go to pick-up the item at the display table.  Or you can pull all the auction items off the display tables and have the items available at the auction redemption area.  If you have a lot of items, be sure you have enough volunteers to handle the cashing out and redemption. 

TIP! New businesses frequently love to get their name out by donating good or services to a silent auction. Be sure to talk about your audience to potential prize donors.

Looking for more fundraising ideas? Read "Spring into FUNdraising!"