Ideas for Fundraising for HS Baseball Going to Disney Spring Training

[js]

Hi all!

My ds's HS baseball team is going to Disney in March for their Spring Break and doing Disney's Spring Training. I am the team mom so I am the one overseeing/booking, etc.

We have been given the OK to fundraise from the school so I'm looking for ideas. I do remember reading on here a while ago about someone that raffled an iPad. We think this is a good idea. Will purchase the iPad and the 12-14 boys will have a mandatory raffle to sell 15 or so tickets at $10-$15 a piece.

We have a parent on the team that can get shirts made at little cost for us so we will see who wants one and perhaps pay double for them.

I don't think having something to do with the school may work since it is a small private independent school, where the freshman class is about 30 so it will be up to the players/families to make the money outside of school with other family members/friends.

Can anyone PLEASE give me some ideas so I can start working on them.

THANKS SO MUCH!

 

[dawnn12]

My dd is on a travel softball team we did some "coin tosses" at local business(walmart,sams club, other supermarkets) we always had the girls there in shifts and one girl always had a pail with candy(for little kids and some big kids) we also did a bingo night ...each ticket was $25 each girl had to sell 10 we sold out that night that was the biggest money maker for the girls. our girls go to championships in myrtle beach for a week. i would find out how much its going to cost each kid then let them know(our girls knew it was this amount of money so if they didnt do the fundraising they had to pay that amount anyway) if one of the girls didnt do a fundraiser they didnt get a cut of what was brought in. hope that made sense

 

[4mykidz127]

If you have sonic restaurants in your area they donate coupon cards that you can resell for $5 each. They are free so you get to keep the entire amount. We have done this several times for our baseball/soccer teams and they sell really easy. Also, call some local businesses in your area, some will donate money to support their local high school team. We have also had good luck doing that. Car washes also work well and the boys usually have a good time doing that. My last idea is a huge team garage sale, have it at the high school if they allow that and include a bake sale too.

 

[MickeyManiac]

We throw a big banquet every year. Each player donates items for either a live auction (big ticket items like sporting event tix or autographed items) or a basket for a silent auction or both. It always amazes me how creative people are. We also hire an auctioneer, a good one can really get the bidding up.

We sell tickets for $10 which includes dinner. We work with local restaurants and get most of the food donated. One year it was BBQ, another Lasagna, Enchilada's, etc. We can usually piece a nice dinner with donations.

This has been really successful for us. We usually raise several thousand dollars in one night. It's a lot of work but sooo worth it.

 

[momto28weeker+1]

subbing

Our cubscouts have a dinner with a cake auction. Each family that goes, makes a cake and it is auctioned off. Kids hold the paddles. A few cakes went for $200, a lot of $90 cakes and no cake went for under $40. The families get really creative.

 

[tar heel]

You might want to try something specific to the baseball team, such as a day camp or Saturday workshop on baseball skills for young children. Include a T-shirt and you can charge a little more. If the first one is a success, you can do it again. This would have the added advantage of being a good leadership opportunity for the boys.

 

[brymolmom]

This might not be what you want to hear but...I believe fundraising should be for charities only. Not for kids to get a nice vacation. That said, I am OK and will contribute to sports teams/dance teams/etc. as long as the kids are EARNING their $$ and not because it is a handout. For example, the hockey teams that sell the 'lottery' chances for $5 (you get specific numbers and if they come up you win $50 or so on that day of the month) - they are not earning anything nor doing any actual work (except for the one mom who sets it all up and prints the cards). Honestly I think if your child plays a sport that the parents should agree to pay for all tournaments, trainings, etc and not be asking others to fund your kids sports.

So, my suggestion would be to have the boys go door to door in an more-elderly neighborhood near you and offer to weed gardens, rake leaves and mow lawns. They could get $25 - $50 per house I am betting...A few weekends of that could get you very far. And they are learning to earn for yourself to get the 'finer' things in life. A great lesson that a TON of teenagers today could really use.

 

[js]

My dd is on a travel softball team we did some "coin tosses" at local business(walmart,sams club, other supermarkets) we always had the girls there in shifts and one girl always had a pail with candy(for little kids and some big kids) we also did a bingo night ...each ticket was $25 each girl had to sell 10 we sold out that night that was the biggest money maker for the girls. our girls go to championships in myrtle beach for a week. i would find out how much its going to cost each kid then let them know(our girls knew it was this amount of money so if they didnt do the fundraising they had to pay that amount anyway) if one of the girls didnt do a fundraiser they didnt get a cut of what was brought in. hope that made sense

Thanks so much! My dd use to do the Myrtle Beach tournament each Easter in HS. Can you tell me more about the BINGO. Where did you have the game? How many, what were the prize amounts, etc. Maybe you can PM me. Thanks.

If you have sonic restaurants in your area they donate coupon cards that you can resell for $5 each. They are free so you get to keep the entire amount. We have done this several times for our baseball/soccer teams and they sell really easy. Also, call some local businesses in your area, some will donate money to support their local high school team. We have also had good luck doing that. Car washes also work well and the boys usually have a good time doing that. My last idea is a huge team garage sale, have it at the high school if they allow that and include a bake sale too.

Thanks. One of the things I did write down was a car wash in September (we live in the North East so September-October would be the latest) since figured that we hopefully can give out flyers in school about the wash once the year starts.

We throw a big banquet every year. Each player donates items for either a live auction (big ticket items like sporting event tix or autographed items) or a basket for a silent auction or both. It always amazes me how creative people are. We also hire an auctioneer, a good one can really get the bidding up.

We sell tickets for $10 which includes dinner. We work with local restaurants and get most of the food donated. One year it was BBQ, another Lasagna, Enchilada's, etc. We can usually piece a nice dinner with donations.

This has been really successful for us. We usually raise several thousand dollars in one night. It's a lot of work but sooo worth it.

Thank you. Our school has a big auction each year and wonder if they would allow also us to do this. The auction is very big in our school.

subbing

Our cubscouts have a dinner with a cake auction. Each family that goes, makes a cake and it is auctioned off. Kids hold the paddles. A few cakes went for $200, a lot of $90 cakes and no cake went for under $40. The families get really creative.

Thanks but where and when do you auction it off? Is it just for the team?

You might want to try something specific to the baseball team, such as a day camp or Saturday workshop on baseball skills for young children. Include a T-shirt and you can charge a little more. If the first one is a success, you can do it again. This would have the added advantage of being a good leadership opportunity for the boys.

Thanks. I like this idea and have written it down when I see the coach tonight since our kids have a game.

This might not be what you want to hear but...I believe fundraising should be for charities only. Not for kids to get a nice vacation. That said, I am OK and will contribute to sports teams/dance teams/etc. as long as the kids are EARNING their $$ and not because it is a handout. For example, the hockey teams that sell the 'lottery' chances for $5 (you get specific numbers and if they come up you win $50 or so on that day of the month) - they are not earning anything nor doing any actual work (except for the one mom who sets it all up and prints the cards). Honestly I think if your child plays a sport that the parents should agree to pay for all tournaments, trainings, etc and not be asking others to fund your kids sports.

So, my suggestion would be to have the boys go door to door in an more-elderly neighborhood near you and offer to weed gardens, rake leaves and mow lawns. They could get $25 - $50 per house I am betting...A few weekends of that could get you very far. And they are learning to earn for yourself to get the 'finer' things in life. A great lesson that a TON of teenagers today could really use.

Thanks for your opinion.

 

[js]

Please keep the ideas coming! I so greatly apprecaite it!

 

[luvmarypoppins]

I know our local Wendys and maybe Friendlys restaurants donate part of the earning for schools on designated nights.

Agree with the car wash, tag/garage sale ideas

Also as another said - leaf raking etc, like Hire A Player etc.

If someone sells a product like Avon, Scentsy etc, would they be willing to donate the profits to the team. We had a Scentsy lady do this.

Our kids went to a private school too, the earnings were pooled, but they also had individual earning records and if someone wasnt puling their fair share, like the Hire A Student thing, then that family would have to donate cash to make up for it too.

If one of your local towns is having a fair etc, maybe you could set up some kind of fundraising booth there?

Best of luck to you

 

[Starbrite]

So, my suggestion would be to have the boys go door to door in an more-elderly neighborhood near you and offer to weed gardens, rake leaves and mow lawns. They could get $25 - $50 per house I am betting...A few weekends of that could get you very far. And they are learning to earn for yourself to get the 'finer' things in life. A great lesson that a TON of teenagers today could really use.

I just recently bought a raffle ticket from the Boy Scouts. It was called Chocolates & Chores. I believe it was $5 or $10 for the raffle ticket & a package of M&Ms. I don't have the ticket handy to read it off but it was something like...

1st Place: 20 Hours (5 Boy Scouts/4 Hours Each)
2nd Place: 8 Hours (2 Boy Scouts/4 Hrs Each)
3rd Place: 4 Hours (1 Boy Scout/4 Hrs)

They would come to your home & do whatever chores you needed. All jobs would be reviewed & approved 1st by the scoutmaster. Landscaping, painting, deck staining, minor repairs, etc.

I bought 2 tickets in hopes that I dont have to stain my own deck this year

 

[js]

I know our local Wendys and maybe Friendlys restaurants donate part of the earning for schools on designated nights.

Agree with the car wash, tag/garage sale ideas

Also as another said - leaf raking etc, like Hire A Player etc.

If someone sells a product like Avon, Scentsy etc, would they be willing to donate the profits to the team. We had a Scentsy lady do this.

Our kids went to a private school too, the earnings were pooled, but they also had individual earning records and if someone wasnt puling their fair share, like the Hire A Student thing, then that family would have to donate cash to make up for it too.

If one of your local towns is having a fair etc, maybe you could set up some kind of fundraising booth there?

Best of luck to you

Thank you. I have down on my list about a restaurant night for a few times during the year. I have to look more into how this works.
I'm worried about individual players just trying to make money since I'm sure some won't pull their fair share while others may bring in more. I am the one keeping track of the money/books for the trip and I don't really want that headache. I would like to maybe do the bagging at a local grocery store but am worried that once people see where the kids go to school would think they have enough already and won't want to donate since that is the reputation it has but we are all looking to lower the cost since this trip is expensive.

I just recently bought a raffle ticket from the Boy Scouts. It was called Chocolates & Chores. I believe it was $5 or $10 for the raffle ticket & a package of M&Ms. I don't have the ticket handy to read it off but it was something like...

1st Place: 20 Hours (5 Boy Scouts/4 Hours Each)
2nd Place: 8 Hours (2 Boy Scouts/4 Hrs Each)
3rd Place: 4 Hours (1 Boy Scout/4 Hrs)

They would come to your home & do whatever chores you needed. All jobs would be reviewed & approved 1st by the scoutmaster. Landscaping, painting, deck staining, minor repairs, etc.

I bought 2 tickets in hopes that I dont have to stain my own deck this year

Thanks so much for giving me all the details. The only thing that worries me is if someone sold to someone they really don't know, someone other than a friend or family member. I would not feel good sending a child (some just entering 9th grade) to a strangers home but do really like the idea. With after-school activities, I am not sure it would work but I do really like the idea.
Did you have to stain your deck yourself??? That was a GREAT idea for you. I would have purchased all the tickets LOL

 

[McKelly]

This might not be what you want to hear but...I believe fundraising should be for charities only. Not for kids to get a nice vacation. That said, I am OK and will contribute to sports teams/dance teams/etc. as long as the kids are EARNING their $$ and not because it is a handout. For example, the hockey teams that sell the 'lottery' chances for $5 (you get specific numbers and if they come up you win $50 or so on that day of the month) - they are not earning anything nor doing any actual work (except for the one mom who sets it all up and prints the cards). Honestly I think if your child plays a sport that the parents should agree to pay for all tournaments, trainings, etc and not be asking others to fund your kids sports.

So, my suggestion would be to have the boys go door to door in an more-elderly neighborhood near you and offer to weed gardens, rake leaves and mow lawns. They could get $25 - $50 per house I am betting...A few weekends of that could get you very far. And they are learning to earn for yourself to get the 'finer' things in life. A great lesson that a TON of teenagers today could really use.

Our local high school wrestling team did this. They put an ad in the local paper donating their time for chores/handyman type things. I don't know how much money they made, but I thought it was a good idea. And it was something the KIDS had to do, not the parents doing it for them.

I will admit, I NEVER turn down chocolate from any child that knocks on my door!! Candy's good, and most high school kids can probably make a killing just selling to their friends!

 

[Soulsearching]

Car Wash- soap, water, rags and a parking lot is all that is needed, maybe the school will allow you to do this in their lot. Seniors have cars too.

Bake Sales- during Lunches at school if they allow it

50/50 Raffels- when people know they are getting something back they always buy

 

[scrapbookmomma74]

LOVE THIS IDEA!!! Our Girl Scout troop is trying to earn their way to a Disney cruise. They earned about half of it by selling cookies this year, and we need some more ideas. I'll have to run this by the local council to verify it would be "Girl Scout Approved". Many of the fundraising opps are not approved.
Thanks for posting!

I just recently bought a raffle ticket from the Boy Scouts. It was called Chocolates & Chores. I believe it was $5 or $10 for the raffle ticket & a package of M&Ms. I don't have the ticket handy to read it off but it was something like...

1st Place: 20 Hours (5 Boy Scouts/4 Hours Each)
2nd Place: 8 Hours (2 Boy Scouts/4 Hrs Each)
3rd Place: 4 Hours (1 Boy Scout/4 Hrs)

They would come to your home & do whatever chores you needed. All jobs would be reviewed & approved 1st by the scoutmaster. Landscaping, painting, deck staining, minor repairs, etc.

I bought 2 tickets in hopes that I dont have to stain my own deck this year

 

[Starbrite]

LOVE THIS IDEA!!! Our Girl Scout troop is trying to earn their way to a Disney cruise. They earned about half of it by selling cookies this year, and we need some more ideas. I'll have to run this by the local council to verify it would be "Girl Scout Approved". Many of the fundraising opps are not approved.
Thanks for posting!

Thanks so much for giving me all the details. The only thing that worries me is if someone sold to someone they really don't know, someone other than a friend or family member. I would not feel good sending a child (some just entering 9th grade) to a strangers home but do really like the idea. With after-school activities, I am not sure it would work but I do really like the idea.
Did you have to stain your deck yourself??? That was a GREAT idea for you. I would have purchased all the tickets LOL

It said right on the ticket that the jobs would first be reviewed & approved and that an adult would be present at all times during the work. So it seemed like they had all the safety issues covered.


I didn't win & had to stain my own deck...but at least the $$$ went to a good cause. And I didn't go away empty handed..I had 2 packs of M&Ms!

 

[cornflake]

The thread you're referencing with the ipad raffle "fundraiser" was beyond sketch.

However, as many, including me, told that poster - check into the LAW regarding raffles / 50-50s, etc., in your area. In many places, you cannot legally run a raffle like that without specific codas (it must be for a nonprofit, the paperwork has to be filed with etc.) in some places you can't run them at all.

If you're thinking it's a team fundraiser who'd care - someone will care, count on it. Someone doesn't win, thinks it's suspicious that the person who did win won (even if it's totally aboveboard), will call the town, etc. You can get in a mess for that. Check the legality of running a raffle involving money before you do it.

I'm NOT suggesting your situation is sketchy, just saying that thread was and that poster blew off the numerous people advising her of the law and seemed to ignore a lot of legalities.

I'm with the other poster, personally, though. I don't think this is something to 'fundraise' for. It's a vacation.

 

[ShortStuff]

I'm not sure where you live, but when I was a cheerleading coach, we had a spaghetti feed, which the girls were the servers and helped prepare, cook and clean up also. We paired it with an auction, and sold raffle tickets for a month prior. We made around $2,000.

We also had a 'cheer camp' in the school gym, on a Saturday, for kids 5-10. We had t-shirts made the week before, when we knew how many kids were coming and ordered 20 extra for last minute signups. We sold water, candy and soda at the cheer camp and had box lunches available. The 'camp' ran from 11 am until 4 pm. At the end, the kids in the camp 'performed for their parents. This was loads of fun and the profit was above $3K.

Our easiest fundraiser was Chuck E Cheese night. You don't presell anything, but make people aware of the date/hours. When people go in and order, a certain percentage goes to the team, if the person states they are there as part of the fundraiser for the team/school/club. We upped the odds, as we had our girls in uniform, at the door doing cheers and in near where people ordered. We netter $1500 or so from that.

This was a junior high team, with a mom for a coach and they were motivated enough to only miss going to Nationals by 3 points!! Fun but busy year!

 

[fostrmom2mny]

My son played on a traveling baseball team, and we really did several great fundraisers. We live near a small theme park who have summer concerts. Our parents would volunteer to run the beer stand. We also ran a beer stand at our local event center. This is not a way that the young ones can contribute, but depending on the event, we could earn $700 to $1000 in one night. We would sign up for covering the stand at least once a month. PS. Tips were ours 100%.

 

[IMALOVNDISNEY]

We throw a big banquet every year. Each player donates items for either a live auction (big ticket items like sporting event tix or autographed items) or a basket for a silent auction or both. It always amazes me how creative people are. We also hire an auctioneer, a good one can really get the bidding up.

We sell tickets for $10 which includes dinner. We work with local restaurants and get most of the food donated. One year it was BBQ, another Lasagna, Enchilada's, etc. We can usually piece a nice dinner with donations.

This has been really successful for us. We usually raise several thousand dollars in one night. It's a lot of work but sooo worth it.

I agree with this. You want to maximize your money in as few fundraisers as possible.
Auctions are the best way to do that. I have chaired many years of auctions. They are a lot of work, but, well worth it. We have done these every year throughout my DD's school years and we have raised from $10,000 - $25,000.....Yes, $25,00.
We have done these several different ways. One school (the one that made the larger amount) would include a dinner and allowed you to purchase alcohol. These events were $25.00 per person. The other school she went to we got donated foods from local restaurants and parents, and BYOB for $10 per person. Both auctions had professional auctioneers that donated their time. But, doesn't have to be a pro although it will get you more money.
This one fundraiser has the potential to raise all the money you will need. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me through PM. Good luck.