Fundraising ideas

Fundraising is an excellent way to make group travel affordable for more of your students. Because fundraising teaches organization and cooperation, it also enhances the educational value of the entire experience. Working toward a common goal brings your group closer and gives students a sense of pride for financially contributing to their tour.

 

GETTING STARTED

Whether you want to pull together something quickly or hold a more extensive fundraiser, we have great suggestions to get you started. Ask your tour consultant for our Fundraising Guide. This guide includes a variety of tried and tested fundraisers with details about how to operate them, materials you will need, how much time each fundraiser will take and the amount of money each fundraiser will yield.

A few of our favorite ideas:

  • Easy fundraising ideas: Holiday gift-wrapping or a flower sale are two fun and quick ideas.
  • Moderately easy fundraising ideas: If you want to make a few hundred dollars, a car wash, yard sale or a spaghetti dinner are great fundraising options. Try to get local businesses to donate supplies to keep costs down.
  • More challenging fundraising ideas: If you're trying to raise some significant cash, try a silent auction or gift calendar. These fundraisers may take the most time and advanced preparation, but they yield great results.

 

Tips to keep in mind:

  • Consider other fundraisers going on in your community. Don't compete with groups that have regular fundraisers, like the Girl Scouts who sell cookies every year.
  • Make sure you've got the time. Try not to plan a fundraiser where there's a big family event on the horizon that requires a lot of planning of its own – a wedding for example.
  • Decide how much time and what resources you're going to dedicate. Consider the scope of the project and its goals. Do you want to raise the entire amount necessary to pay for your tour or just a small portion? Do you want to hold a single event that raises all of the money or a series of smaller ones? Are you willing to invest any of your own money up front?
  • Evaluate our list of fundraising suggestions in the Fundraising Guide and consider which ones are suitable for your goals.
  • Create a fundraising contract and have each student sign it. Doing so keeps your students and parents on the same page from the beginning.