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Host a fundraiser

OTHER FUNDRAISING IDEAS

If you’d like to get your community and friends to learn about and support YAI, you could set up a fundraising event.   Below, we have provided some ideas that could help you get started.   If you have questions, would like to invite a YAI representative to speak at your fundraiser, or need more information, please email us at info (@) peaceforkids.org.   A dedicated YAI representative will help you through the process of setting up a successful fundraiser.

FUNDRAISING IDEAS:

 

  1. Simple Collections: A collection for the Youth Action International is the fastest, easiest, most direct way to raise funds. Organize a collection at well-attended areas, such as in the dining hall, at sports events, in dorms, or other high traffic areas on campus. Make sure that the proper authorities have given permission for the collection.
  2. Special Collection: Plan a collection around a UN observance (Day of the African Child, World AIDS Day etc) or holiday theme: Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, Valentine’s Day..

 

Concerts/Special Events/Parties

  1. Auction: Gather novelty items, which could not be bought (autographs, a professional athlete’s sneakers, etc.), or services, which can be auctioned off to the highest bidder. Date auctions have been known to bring in sizable contributions!
  2. Carnival Night: This is a fun night for everyone. Publicize within the university as well as in the local communities. Decorate the venue to suit the theme of the carnival and bring along plenty of YAI literature. Offer a diversified range of activities such as ring toss, weight-guessing etc. Sell refreshments and provide entertainment.
  3. Children’s Concert: Invite a local church or school children’s choir to perform a concert on campus and sell tickets.
  4. International Benefit Concert: Have students demonstrate their traditional music, dance, and song.
  5. International Food Dinner: This is a great way to include international students who are enthusiastic about the work of YAI. Contact campus international student associations. Have students dress in the costumes of their native country, prepare representative foods and have students demonstrate their traditional music, dance and song. Charge per food item or for admission to the event.
  6. Benefit Plays or Recitals: Ask the theater, dance and/or music departments if faculty or students would be willing to charge optional admission for performances in order to raise funds for YAI. You can also talk to other student performers.
  7. Talent Show: Get students to sign up beforehand. Then publicize and charge admission.
  8. Comedy Tonight!: Have an open mike for anyone who’s ever wanted to try their hand at stand up comedy. Charge admission. Make sure that you have enough people who are committed to performing. 27
  9. Dance Benefit: Do you ever miss those old high school dances? Why not hire a great band or DJ and do it all over again? Make it a campus wide event with admission, refreshments, and T-shirt proceeds going to YAI. Be sure to publicize well. Sell tickets ahead of time and at the door.
  10. Theme Party: Pick a theme and make it unique. (e.g. Luau, St. Patrick’s, 70s clothing).
  11. Coffeehouse: Have an art exhibit, poetry and prose readings, performances by student bands or individual musicians, and of course serve great coffee and snacks! Charge low admission, and get as much donated as you can.

 Sales

  1. Pancake Breakfasts: Pancake breakfasts are a high profit fundraiser.
  2. Baked Goods: Sell them at school or at local events.
  3. Candy and Nut: Items such as caramels, hard candy, nuts and chocolate are excellent at any time, but especially during the holiday season. A variation on this: candy grams. People can buy a “candy gram” for a low price, then write a short note to someone, which you will later deliver with a bag of candy to the specified person’s mailbox.
  4. Coffee/Doughnuts: Sell them outside classroom buildings or dorms in the mornings.
  5. Flowers: Usually best if done with carnations/roses before Valentine’s Day. Or sell them at sports events or dances. Contact your local florist.
  6. Old Books/Music Sale: Start collecting old books and records/tapes/CDs well in advance. Limit the hours of sale and try to sell out during the allowed time.
  7. Raffle: Ask local businesses and restaurants to donate gift certificates or items to be raffled off. Students must buy raffle tickets to be entered in the drawing.

 

Contests/Sports Events

  1. Novelty Races: Adding a twist to a race is easy and brings additional spectators and publicity to your cause. One example is the tricycle race. Decorated tricycles are entered in a “Mini Indy 500” race. Entrants may also be judged on tricycle decorations.
  2. Sports Tournament: Host a round-robin softball tourney. Or make it tennis, Ping-Pong, card games… you name it!
  3. Student-Faculty Benefit Match: Students can challenge faculty and staff to a basketball or volleyball tournament to help YAI. Charge admission to the game.

 

Food-Related Activities

  1. Skip-A-Meal/Snack: Conduct a fundraiser at school that generates awareness of
    world hunger. Ask people to skip one meal for a day, or one snack everyday for a week, and donate the amount they would have spent to YAI. If most students at your school are on a meal plan, ask them to donate meals. Beforehand, try to work out with Dining Services how much money should be donated per meal.
  2. Dinner Party: Invite friends, and possibly faculty members and staff to a UNICEF dinner party. Your guests may contribute the amount of money they would normally spend on dinner in a restaurant to YAI. Your contribution is the dinner. 28
  3. Dessert Party: A variation on the dinner party. Most college students would not hesitate to pay a small fee to get into a party where they are served brownies and cake.
  4. Concession Stand: Operate concession stands for parades, fairs, festivals, athletic events, plays or other school functions.