School and Group Programs
Group Coordinator Tools
Fundraising Tips
Fundraising can be a fun and creative activity. If students engage in fundraising for some of their tuition, the experience can give them a sense of fulfillment. Schools have given their students the opportunity to raise funds to pay for their transportation to the campus and even pay the full tuition.
If performed on a wide scale, fundraising can increase the community's investment in students and schools.
Fundraising can be applied to many types of activities.
A-Thon
- Trash-a-thon: Students collect pledges of $1 per bag of trash they pick up during a supervised community, school, or street-litter pick up.
- Read-a-thon: Students collect pledges based on how many books they have read during a time period.
- Walk-a-thon: Students are sponsored for miles trekked.
Community Yard Sale
- Organize a yard sale in which students' family donates items to sell.
- Promote the event ahead of time and say what the sale will benefit.
- At the yard sale, put out a jar or basket for additional donations.
Auction
- Consider a live or silent community auction.
- Ask local businesses, artists, and artisans to contribute goods.
- Advertise or list the auction in local papers.
- Enlist service clubs for help, such Rotary, Elks, or Lions.
Banquet
- Students' families donate one dish for a potluck dinner.
- Ask community center, service club, or church to donate space.
- Include entertainment such as a local band.
- Students can talk about why the outdoor education program is important for their education.
Coupon Book
- Collect coupons from local businesses and put them together in a book made from recycled paper and cardboard.
- Charge a price for book that gives buyers a savings on purchases.
Scholarship Letter
- Teachers help students write a letter that requests financial help for their participation in the field science program
- Letter can be sent to organizations, service clubs, parents, or other persons.
Booth at a State or County Fair
- Schools have experienced success in hosting teacher dunking booths and cow poop bingo (in which people buy the chance to win a prize if the cow poops on their square first).
Other Ideas
- Make a request on DonorsChoose.org
- Bake sales
- Ice cream social
- Used book fair
- Popcorn sales
- Candy sales
- Dance marathon
- Singing valentines
- Donkey baseball
- Bingo
- Movie night
- Chess tournament
- Dog walk/pet sitting
- Battle of the bands
- Barbecue
- Lottery/raffle
- Candy apple sales
- Childcare
- Nature fact-a-thon
- Happy grams
If you have other ideas or past fundraisers that have been successful, we would love to hear about it! Call (209) 379-9511 or email yi@yni.org
