arrive, you can distribute them among those who have already paid and raise the
price. But no matter what your chapter decides to sell, make sure that it’s
something that many people like, something that people are willing to spend their
money on. Also, a friendly price will help tremendously.
Car Wash
This is not only an opportunity for profit but also a chance for members to get to
know each other. What better way to bond than over manual labor? Sell tickets
beforehand to gauge the number of customers but also take drive-ins. Decide on
the activity area and give everyone a responsibility, from scrubbing windows to
spinning signs at the intersection.
Restaurants
Did you know that many restaurants like to give back to the community by holding
fundraisers? Places like Applebee’s BJ’s, Chili’s, Chipotle, and Souplantation give
10-50% of sales. Find restaurants in your area and contact them to set up a
fundraiser night. Your chapter has no work to do but to promote and show up to
enjoy the food. Restaurants like to have at least 2 weeks of notice so contact them
soon! Spend quality time with friends and family by stuffing your stomachs AND
raise money for your chapter. It doesn’t get much better than that.
Fundraising is no easy task. There is always the underlying risk of losing money.
Sometimes, the net profit is so minimal that the efforts seem wasted. Expecting
to earn thousands of dollars overnight is unrealistic. Instead, small and steady wins
the race. No matter what fundraiser you decide on, make sure your chapter
promotes it aggressively - fliers, posters, word of mouth, Facebook statuses, and
more. Get your entire chapter on board and have fun. Just remember, all the hard
work goes right back to you!