have you ever fundraised to send your child on a school trip

[gator75]

Ds won an award and has to travel to denver to receive it. I don't expect the school to cover expenses as he was the only one to get the award. so with that being said what do you think would be some ways for him to raise money so he can get the award? Car washes are out of the question as it is winter where we are a grage sale probly not going to happen so the options are limited.

I don't want to tell him he can't attend the awards ceremony , but its been one of those month where anything that could go wrong has gone wrong.

So can you give some of your fundraising secrets so i don't have to tell him no? I can't give you an exact amount as ther will be travel costs involved as well as food and hotel.

 

[starry_solo]

1. Is this a school award? Perhaps a sponsor can help cover the cost of the trip (but you would obviously need to cover your own).

2. If this is a school award, perhaps you can talk with the people at the school re: fundraising. I remember when we had to pay for our own trips (day trips, nowhere out of the state, all within 3 hour drives), our clubs sold candy and other sweets. If the school doesn't do this, see if it is allowed. If it is allowed, maybe you can buy bulk candy (at $0.25 each and sell for $0.50 each; or 50-cents each and sell for $1).

3. Check with local restaurants (although for the most part, I think you have to be a non-profit to do this). A lot of them offer 15% of the sales with the a specified flyer at a specific date/time. People have to go there on that date with the flyer in hand and give it to the waitress.

4. If you do have a garage sale, maybe you can also sell food and drinks (if cold enough, maybe hot chocolate or coffee for $1 per cup)?

5. Craigslist sales

6. Ask for donations

 

[Que_Sarah_Sarah]

A family friend of ours did a Gas card raffle once. Bought a gift card to a local gas station and sold raffle tickets at $5 a piece.

 

[snowy76]

I'd check with the PTA - they might have contacts in the business community that help out at the school and would be willing to front the money.

We had a student here who qualified for a national competition to be held in Orlando. The sponsor of her club contacted the local chamber of commerce and got several donors to cover her travel costs.

 

[okeydokey]

He could hire himself out to do odd jobs, pet sit, babysit, shovel snow, prep spring gardens, clean garages and attics and basements, wash windows, etc.

He could find things he is willing to part with and advertise on Craigs list.

I would never suggest asking for donations, I consider that super tacky and inappropriate.

 

[mindyd]

You can buy fundraising boxes of candy bars at Sams and GFC for Cheerleading that is how they did it. They would pay for the box of candy then we would sell it and they would put the extra in their accounts.

 

[schmcktgt]

Congratulations!

Here are a few ideas of what I have done or seen done lately:
1. Sandwich sales. When I was in scouts we made them ourselves but these days there are businesses that make them. The marching band get almost $2 for each sandwich/sub sold.
2. Rutters and Sheetz (convenience store/gas station combos) have fundraiser options - they are coupon books that you sell.
3. I know someone who is sending her daughter to Australia & New Zealand with People to People and she is doing bingo at a firehall. She's done Yankee candle bingo and a grocery bingo. Just be sure to check your local gambling laws.
Good luck.

 

[Leajess99]

Why are you making your son fundraise to receive his award?? Did you already pay for your 2 summer vacations?? Can you cancel one of those and use that money to take him to Denver??

To me taking my child to the awards ceremony would be more important than 2 summer vacations. Congrats on your child for winning the award.

 

[disneymomjcs]

We fundraised for our 5th grade class trip. We sold ponsettias, candles and plastic bowls etc. Which gave us 40 - 50% percent back towards our individual cost for the kids. I think its a great idea to fundraise to help cover the costs so he can receive the award.

 

[disneymomjcs]

Why are you making your son fundraise to receive his award?? Did you already pay for your 2 summer vacations?? Can you cancel one of those and use that money to take him to Denver??

To me taking my child to the awards ceremony would be more important than 2 summer vacations. Congrats on your child for winning the award.

Wow, I was shocked to read this I think this person might be joking! I think if it was a surprise and unexpected sure fundraise........maybe trips can't be cancelled or rescheduled or they have been planning them for years.

 

[gator75]

IT'S not that i'm making him fundraise. THis was something that i was not expecting it has nothing to do with if i go on vacation or not. Some of the things that have come up are the fact that last friday upon taking my dad to the hospital because he appered to be suffering a stroke a lady pulled out in front of me causing a accident. The van that i was driving was the one that i intended to take on this trip bnow instead i have to look into airfare that i was not counting on.

I will never ask for donations or handouts that is not what i want i just wanted to know if there is some way to raise the extra it will now take to get us there. And for your info i have cancelled one of my trips due to dh not being able to get off of work for that length of time.

 

[englishteacha]

How old is your son? How far away is Denver? (What type of travel costs-driving, flying, train, hotel, etc.) What is the award he received?

I'm only asking because sometimes my kids at school get letters saying they've been chosen for something, but it will cost an arm and a leg for the "honor." Sometimes the letter even says they've been nominated by their teacher (but we've never heard of the organization!). I just want you to make sure it's a legitimate award before you bend over backwards to get him there.

 

[nena]

Wow, I was shocked to read this I think this person might be joking! I think if it was a surprise and unexpected sure fundraise........maybe trips can't be cancelled or rescheduled or they have been planning them for years.

I was shocked to read this as well. The OP asked for help, not to be criticized.

Congratulations to your son!

A suggestion I have is to contact local resaurants to see if they can help. I know Baskin Robbins, Papa Murphy's and McDonalds have helped our school out. We organize a day when volunteers can come help and the school gets 15-20% of the sales for the day.

Good luck! I'm sure you will do everything you can to get your son to Denver!

 

[cornflake]

I will never ask for donations or handouts that is not what i want i just wanted to know if there is some way to raise the extra it will now take to get us there. And for your info i have cancelled one of my trips due to dh not being able to get off of work for that length of time.

I'm not criticizing the general premise (though I've never heard of fundraising for one kid to go on a random trip), but you are, in fact, exactly asking for donations and handouts. I'm not saying that's wrong, but it is what the "fundraising" is.

Which means you also need to look into the legalities of this. You're not raising funds for a charity and can't present it in any way like that, and stuff like raffles can be highly regulated, depending on the area.

This is asking for donations for personal use and there may be tax issues involved on your end - I dunno, just check intoit.

 

[gator75]

This award is ligit. It is the council for exceptional children award. It is for children with disabilities who have done great things for their school and or accidemics and not let their disability get in the way. In my sons case he is hearing imapired , but the teachers that nomimated him beleived in him nominated him and he won.

As for how far denver is it is about 13 hours driving from nd. I have checked into air fare the cheapest i found is 850.00 a person granted it may go down i hope.

I also wanted to teach him that by raising some of the money himself that he can do it if its what he want to do.

 

[disneymomjcs]

This award is ligit. It is the council for exceptional children award. It is for children with disabilities who have done great things for their school and or accidemics and not let their disability get in the way. In my sons case he is hearing imapired , but the teachers that nomimated him beleived in him nominated him and he won.

As for how far denver is it is about 13 hours driving from nd. I have checked into air fare the cheapest i found is 850.00 a person granted it may go down i hope.

I also wanted to teach him that by raising some of the money himself that he can do it if its what he want to do.

Congratulations Mom and to your son for a job well done! You must be so proud and he must be so excited. I think you are teaching him a wonderful lesson and he will be so proud to earn some of the money towards getting to go receive his award. Your friends and family will be supportive of his fundraising efforts too! It takes a village to raise a child and your community will be there to help and celebrate. Sounds like you need to get the local paper involved!

 

[MK2010]

I am terrible at fundraising, I must say. But check out pintrest. There are cute crafty ideas on there that you might be able to make or have him make and sell. This is a great time of year to do this since Easter, graduation, and Mother's Day is all right around the corner. The youth at our church are all making baskets with different stuff in them and selling them. they are doing some Easter baskets with little stuffed rabbits from Goodwill and other items. Find things on clearance or at a deep discount make up several baskets mark up the prices to between $10-$50 (that way there is something in every price range) and find a place that will let you sell them one day- just like you would sell Girl Scout cookies or have a bake sale. Congrats to your son!

 

[Madison'smommy]

I didnt read all the replies, but I would start putting things on ebay or sell on Craigslist. I am not sure how you can do a "fundraiser". That is sort of like just asking for donations.... I dunno. I hope you can find a way for your son to get there!

 

[love~disney]

I did a lot of fundraising when I was in high school. We bought candy when it was on sale at the grocery store and sold it for $1 at school. My mom had me carry the bag of candy with me to every class. Kids were always wanting candy. Carmel Apple suckers were also a big hit.
Village Inn has a good one for selling pie gift certificates. Companies were willing to buy a lot of these for their customers.
Hope this helps!!

 

[aprilgail2]

I'm not criticizing the general premise (though I've never heard of fundraising for one kid to go on a random trip), but you are, in fact, exactly asking for donations and handouts. I'm not saying that's wrong, but it is what the "fundraising" is.

.

that is sort of like fundraising for your child to go on a people to people trip- I have NEVER agreed with that- if you want your child to go on that trip then don't expect other poeple to pay for it.

I did a lot of fundraising when I was in high school. We bought candy when it was on sale at the grocery store and sold it for $1 at school. My mom had me carry the bag of candy with me to every class. Kids were always wanting candy. Carmel Apple suckers were also a big hit.
Village Inn has a good one for selling pie gift certificates. Companies were willing to buy a lot of these for their customers.
Hope this helps!!

That would NEVER EVER fly here- there is NO selling of candy or anything unhealthy in the schools here. In fact they encourage you not to een send it into school for your own kid!

OP sorry- but I feel that if your child won an award and they need to travel to get there then you should cover that expense yourself and not ask others to pay it.