Fundraising

So, this post is about an entire board - the Fundraiser Ideas board. 

I started pinning these in preparation for our church's Baseball fundraiser.  I was put in charge of a silent auction.  First, I have to say our event would not have been as successful as it was without the help of a wonderful friend who called, gathered, and bundled, the donations, and my sister-in-law who gave us some tips to go by.

So, the posts that helped the most were the ones that explained how to request donations from corporate companies and sports leagues.  But the themed baskets ideas were helpful too.

Our first event, which was planned and donations requested in the 6 weeks before the event, raised over $2,200 for our baseball league.  And that was with only 3 women working on it, and my daughter being admitted to the hospital for a week and a half 2 weeks before the event.

We had date nights, concealed carry classes, paddle board lessons, an I <3 "insert local city here", things men like, family game night, flooring, local art, and many other great items/baskets. 

Next time we're going to make the entire event more of a carnival - dunking booth, games, snocones, the silent auction, and hopefully we'll get more donations.

Some tips we learned and from the people you helped me

• Start asking for your donations/sponsorships early in the year.  We had a few companies decline because they had met their donation quota for the year.
• Thank companies/people daily on facebook for their donations.  Preferably from your organization's site, but if that's not allowed, from your page.
• Have a letter on hand when you solicit - don't leave it, talk only to the owner/manager that can make a decision about donating.
• Create bid sheets as you build your baskets or determine what you are selling.
• Put a description on the bid sheets.
• Staple bid sheets together where the winner is the same.
• Place your payment table away from the pickup table.
• Close the bids in waves about 10-15 minutes apart.  This gives everyone a chance to place last minute bids if they lost something they wanted.
• Some popular basket themes are
• Baby
• Lottery (if it's allowed/legal in your area/organization)
• Gift cards (in a potted plant)
• Baking
• Craft
• Garden (we got a large pot from Lowes, some potting soil, 2 plants, and a garden decoration - people were fighting over it!)
• Women's basket (a local artist donated a piece of jewelry and a handmade beach bag)
• Men's basket (we had a green fee, fishing rod, Buffalo Wild Wing gift certificate, and some other small items in a basket - this was another one that people were bidding like crazy on!)
• Movie night
• Family night (we had 4 small board games and a pizza gift certificate)
• Beach (we had one of those chairs that come with a carrying bag, a cooler, a beach ball, and some toys for the beach)
• Don't put gift certificates out.  Instead, put out place holders, list them on the bid sheet, and keep them safely in a labeled envelope at the payment table.  Hand them to the winner as they come to pay.
• A good suggestion is to have at least 10 people to help you.

Well, I hope this helps you raise money for your organization!  And if you find anything on Pinterest that I don't seem to have, please let me know!  There is ALWAYS room for improvement!