Fundraising

 If you are planning on doing fundraising it can be a simple task making hundreds of dollars or it can be a large task like planning a wedding making thousands of dollars.

Here are some ideas we learned while planning and doing a large fundraiser we did for Melissa.  This also includes some information from other families.   Remember this is just a sample to get you ideas started there are so many other ideas out there keep asking and looking for more.

Ideas of things to sell:

Pizza Hut cards

Papa Murphy cards

Krispy Kream

Pizza Ranch

Candy Bars

Wrapping paper

Candles

Jars at local businesses for extra change

One family had several businesses donate all their lost and found items and sold it at a rummage sale. Another family is selling stainless steel water bottles with information about their son printed on them. Another has a relative who is a team leader at a large corporation. They had a casual dress day for $2 donation and a raffle (with donated goods), such a small things

Ideas for an event:

Pork Loin Meal

Spaghetti Supper

Pancake Feed

Concert

Dance

Auction/Raffles-Make sure if you are doing an auction or a raffle that you have the necessary permits for your area. 

We made tickets 1 for $5 or 10 for $20.  The goal was to get a donation of $20 it didn’t matter how many ticket were in the pot. 

We had many people selling.  I made envelopes with a print out so the person selling could write down the persons name how many tickets they bought and their telephone number.  This gave us a double check list to make sure that every one who bought tickets had their tickets put in the pot.  The person put all the tickets and the money in the envelope.  I also put a current picture of Melissa with a very brief explanation about her. 

Instead of doing a trip which can have strings attached I would suggest that you do something with a more clear end.  Some ideas are

 ½ a pig,

 ¼ of a cow,

Scooter

Motorcycle

a cash pot with only a certain number of tickets sold

Helpers:

Tell everyone you know and ask them to help

Co-workers

Friends

Relatives

Teachers

4-H groups

FFA groups

Church groups

Veteran groups

Fire and Rescue groups

Donations:

We asked every place we talked to if they would donate something.  Several grocery stores donated about 10 dozen buns each, the pop was donated, the room, we got the meat at cost, the paper for flyers and copying, and the list goes on.  People are so great.  It can’t hurt to ask.

Media:

Most newspapers in our area will put fundraiser information in the paper for free.  We contacted all the tv stations and one came and covered the benefit.

Matching Grants:

Most of the time you will only be able to work with one of these organization at a time.  These are not the only ones check out your area.

Modern Woodman of America

Thrivant Financial

Knights of Columbus

Setting up a trust:

You will need a trust for most children on Medicade or Social Sercurity so you do not loose services or the money from the benefit which they can take if you do not have it protected in a trust.  The lawyer who did Melissa’s trust donated his time as well.