Good Ways to Raise Money

So your band has been accepted to march in the Rose Bowl. That's great, except now you need the funds to cart everyone there. Here are some alternatives to the tired bake sale and car wash.

Hold a "sled-a-thon." Each student gets a monetary pledge for a trip down a snowy hill. Hold a potluck afterwards to warm up everyone up and earn a little extra cash. Hold a three-on-three basketball tournament. Charge a $40 entry fee; ask local businesses to donate prizes. Get creative and design an event T-shirt to sell. Do yard work in the community, such as mowing yards, pulling weeds and raking leaves. Hold a walk-a-thon, with sponsors pledging a certain amount for each lap walked. Host a talent show, recital or lip-sync contest for students. Local businesses can donate raffle prizes. Set out money jars in the school and establish money levels ($100, $250, $500) at which the principal and other school staff have to do stunts, cheers, act out play scenes, etc. Try "Chuck a Puck at the Rink," which takes place between periods of a hockey game. Members of the audience purchase a numbered puck and throw it into the rink. The person who gets it closest to the center of the rink gets a share of the money. This can be adapted to a basketball court by substituting numbered bean bags for hockey pucks. Host a dinner fundraiser complete with a live or silent auction. Another type of auction is a goods, services and talents, or G.S.T., in which local businesses, children and parents donate what they can. Some examples include a week at a time share, hair care services, food and restaurant gift certificates. Something else to offer at an auction or to raffle off are gift baskets assembled by students. One way to benefit the community and boost the economy is to hold a community job fair. Local companies can rent booth space for a fee; advertise on local radio stations and newspapers. Sell bricks engraved with the donor's name. Print school event planners outlining upcoming football games, holidays, dances, tests and band events. These can be sold at registration. Sell temporary tattoos with the school's logo at home sporting events. When October rolls around, sell Halloween insurance to people who want to avoid the hassle of cleaning soaped windows, toilet-papered trees and egged houses. Sell seat cushions advertising local businesses for sporting events. Try a rummage sale in the school gym or pool the cash earned from yard sales at students' houses.