| When you are doing individual fundraising for a | | | | Karaoke routines are popular as are wild dance |
| personal cause such as breast cancer research, | | | | moves and magic tricks. It's all in good fun and you can |
| multiple sclerosis, AIDS charity, or even personal | | | | award prizes based on audience response, best |
| medical expenses, you need proven fundraising ideas. | | | | costume, worst performance, etc. |
| Here are six ideas for individual fundraisers. | | | | Charge performers a small entry fee and attendees |
| Dinner Party | | | | an admission fee. For extra profits, sell food and drinks, |
| An easy way to raise funds is to throw a dinner party. | | | | offer silent auction items, and don't forget to have a |
| You can make it a gala event, a potluck supper, or | | | | donations jar at the ticket table. |
| even a spaghetti dinner for hundreds of people. Use | | | | Themed Dance |
| your creativity and design one that you feel | | | | Dances can be great fun and great fundraisers. All |
| comfortable doing. | | | | you need is a theme, a place, and some music. |
| Line up a suitable location and publicize it well ahead of | | | | Possible themes include Roaring Twenties, Sixties, |
| time. Selling tickets in advance at a discounted price is | | | | Disco, New Wave, Pop Tarts, Dancing With The Stars, |
| a great way to ensure a sellout. Include raffles, door | | | | Dancing Under The Stars, etc. |
| prizes, and auctions for extra funds. | | | | Whatever time period or fashion disasters you choose, |
| Car Wash & Bake Sale | | | | live music will draw a bigger crowd than having a DJ |
| Why not do a one-two punch of two successful | | | | will. Book a band that can cover the hits of that |
| fundraisers in one? Car washes can easily $600 to | | | | particular era and add promote heavily. |
| $1,000 in a single Saturday and you can boost that by | | | | Add extra fundraising with silent auctions, wine tastings, |
| offering lots of home-baked goodies. | | | | whiskey tasting, catered dinner, slave auctions, and |
| Keep drawing new customers by avoiding the | | | | anything else that fits. |
| appearance of a long wait. To speed things up, wash | | | | Fashion Show |
| cars in multiple lines. Offer the baked goods to all your | | | | These make a great mother/daughter event, but you |
| customers. An easy way to do it is to have everything | | | | can also take the fun route and include the Almost |
| out on tables where drivers wait while their cars are | | | | Queen For A Day men's beauty pageant for laughs |
| washed. Sell small boxes for $10 that they can fill up | | | | during intermission. |
| with their selections. | | | | Work with area stores and designers to line up an |
| Holiday Home Tour | | | | appropriate selection of fashions that will appeal to |
| Ever want to see inside some of the latest new | | | | large audience. Include a catered lunch and silent |
| homes or tour the best houses of the local historic | | | | auctions of donated goods and services. You could |
| district? So do lots of other people and it's surprisingly | | | | also work with your business partners to put together |
| easy to make a great fundraiser out of a themed tour. | | | | a live auction of some donated designer clothing. |
| For instance, new homes displaying the latest interior | | | | Individual Fundraisers Summary |
| design fashions can be set up for fundraising. Sell | | | | There are lots of individual fundraisers that you can put |
| tickets that allow access during a select time window | | | | together fairly easily and still raise significant amounts |
| such as week or ten-day timeframe. Builders then sell | | | | of money. All it takes is a little event creativity and |
| the designer houses either furnished or just decorated | | | | you're in business. |
| with great colors, draperies, etc. | | | | Add as many additional fundraising activities to your |
| Or, you can arrange a 'candlelight' tour of the Historic | | | | event as possible. Raffles, auctions, donations, |
| District to benefit your cause. Work with the | | | | sponsorships, sales, and discounts are among the most |
| neighborhood association to find homeowners willing to | | | | popular methods. |
| open their homes for a single night. Do guided walking | | | | Draw a big crowd by publicizing your event with a |
| tours in small groups and point out significant sites | | | | press release, email campaign, newsletter, and by |
| along the way. | | | | having everyone involved work their contacts. Most of |
| 'No Talent' Show | | | | all, make it a fun individual fundraising event that |
| A twist on the standard talent show is doing one | | | | captures attention and supports a great cause. |
| where everyone can demonstrate their lack of talent. | | | | |