Ideas for Fundraising for HS Baseball Going to Disney Spring Training

[nicki.momof3]

A program at our school did an old gold drive. They were VERY successful.

You join forces with a jewelry store that buys gold. They come to your location on a set advertised day and everyone brings in their old gold. The jeweler gives the people $ for their gold and you get a %.

Some parents just gave the club the old gold and said give all the profits to the club. Double money for the program.

It is a everyone wins situation.

 

[littlebit0863]

Everyone thinks I'm crazy, but when I was in school the most successful fundraiser I did was a reverse lottery ticket. It was a scratch off that had about 20 circles. You scratched a circle and would owe anything from 5 cents to $3. I think each card was worth a certain amount and we owed the money or the unscratched card back. Those things were impossible to resist scratching. I personally made over $300 just on those cards, which incidentally went to my high school choir disney trip.

 

[littlezar]

My son's soccer team (U-16) did a car wash at one of the local auto stores and made $500 in just over 4 hours. My husband said a lot of people gave $20 to have their car washed and there were plenty of people that just gave them a buck or two without wanting their car washed.

 

[si-am]

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.

Totally agree with this. The kids earn a little "sweat equity" and sense of accomplishment. And the trip is the reward for hard work!

I am much more likely to donate if it looks like the kids are doing the work (not the moms). And I won't donate at all when it's just kids standing in a parking lot with a bucket, begging for money. I really hate that!

I would love it if I could pay a kid to pick up branches in our yard, for example. Probably no more than 30 minutes of work or so, but their knees and backs are far younger and more resilient than mine!

 

[kaytieeldr]

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

I LOVE this. I know someone earlier suggested approaching neighborhoods of elderly people and charging $25 or $50 for chores - but that same targeted group is regularly warned against potential scams and scammers.

 

[bcarson]

My son is going on a big scout trip next summer. We have to earn money for that as well. I am thinking of finding a place to sponsor my own garage sale/flea market/craft show. I do a lot of shows because I make hairbows. So I would have a pool of people to pull from.

I am also going to buy candy bars and let him sell them at school or where ever. Subscribing for more ideas. thanks.

 

[nicki.momof3]

My son is going on a big scout trip next summer. We have to earn money for that as well. I am thinking of finding a place to sponsor my own garage sale/flea market/craft show. I do a lot of shows because I make hairbows. So I would have a pool of people to pull from.

I am also going to buy candy bars and let him sell them at school or where ever. Subscribing for more ideas. thanks.

Before you spend the $ on candy you may want to call the school. I work in a high school and candy sales are a huge part of every groups fundraising programs. Our school has a strict policy that only school sponsored things can be sold in school. As a teacher if I see a kid selling candy for any outside group I have to take it and send it to the office to hold for a parent to pick up.

 

[koopa]

is the school a non profit?

Kroger neighborhood reward program. Gift card program. When the soccer club parents and friends purchased $5,000 in groceries, Kroger would mail a 4% rebate check.

 

[mrstomrice]

I have a home business for a nation wide company that does at home food sampling. I offer fundraisers in which I set up a catalog party online and those who want to order place their orders. The items ship directly to the buyer and 20% of the sales goes to the organization. It is a safe and easy way to raise funds for an individual or an entire team. PM me if you'd like more info

 

[Mas17]

We just returned from Disney. My sons' hs wrestling team are back to back champions!!!! 2011/2012.
Our team pays 750. to go...for abt 35 kids/8 coaches. Basically 2 teams. Included in the fees are bus transportation, bus drivers accomodations, lodging, entry fees, aau cards, nightly washing of uniforms/clothes, also our boys get a singlet, long sleeve, short sleeve dry-fit shirts, shorts and a bag and more.

Anyway, I have done several fundraisors throughout the years. Here are just a few.
1. I don't know where you live, but if you have a professional or semi-pro sports team....try getting in to sell concessions... long hours/hard work but pays off. (they are always looking for groups to sell).
2. Mikes' car wash coupons....sell for $8.00 you get $4.00, easy sell.
3. Restaurant nights....most chains and locals will offer from 10-20 percent of sales for your selected night. Do this at least once a month.
4. Garage sale - have families/neighbors anyone, give donations of anything and everything. Set up on a Saturday at a home or in school parking lot and sell away. We made $600.00 in one day. You could also add a bake sale to this, drinks/hotdogs.
5. Sponsor letters - this has always worked for me. Send letters to everyone your know, every business you know. Offer to put their names on the back of a "team" tshirt for their contributions. I also send a pic of my son with it. Then when you get back - be sure to send a thank you with team pic or something similar. Stating why you're going, what the goals are, etc. (I have 4 boys and went years without paying for trips by doing this!)
6. Worlds' Finest Chocolates are a great sell.
7. Trash bags - can be done a couple times a year.

We have done so many things over the years. Make sure you do something fun with the team if you can. Not all baseball. Be it going to the beach one day, or into a park/water park one day. Doesn't even have to be Disney.

ALso make sure all the boys know how much money to bring and possibly have a parent keep some of it. I don't know how old your boys are....$ will be lost or stolen - even with kids you think you know. We always have a couple kids who run out of money before they get home. Plan for peanut butter/jelly sandwiches/water/fruit/snacks.....

 

[HHSTigerFan]

Since its high school baseball and its several months away... whats wrong with having each of these 16 and 17 year old buys get a job and simply pay their own way?

 

[Mas17]

While in theory it sounds good for the 16-17 year old boys to get jobs and pay their own way....not sure it would work. They may play other sports during the year or be involved in other activities. I know my son, who is 17 and a senior this year, works mostly on Sundays during school. He also plays football and wrestles. Grades are most important at this time...needs to have time to do homework and study.
After being at school by 630-7 each day & not leaving til abt 530-6 after school/practices, there is not a lot of time to work. And a lot of 16 year olds are having hard times finding jobs with the economy the way it is...job that used to be held by teenagers are being held by adults needing to support their families.
MY boys hs wrestling team has been going to Disney for 7 years...there are plenty of ways to raise $$. And my boys have been on it all 7 years, sometimes 2 at a time. We have only outright paid for the trip ourselves once in all those years. I also went down to watch 6 out of 7 of those years. Sadly, this was my last year as ds graduates in May from hs.
For those who say it can't be done, you just have to be creative.... like I said, I've done it, I've/we've raised the money and yes, ds's were involved in working to raise the money.

 

[eksb327]

How about SCRIPS? http://www.glscrip.com/ It's a gift card program for which each sale generates a portion of the purchase price back to the organization. For example, the purchase of a $100 grocery card may receive 5% back. You can sell the cards in person at the school but individuals can also order online, so people out of your direct area can purchase as well.

This would likely be a supplement to a bigger fundraiser, but it's generated a lot of income for our elementary school and offers a product that people can actually use.

Good luck.

 

[js]

Thank you all SO much for all your help.
Keep the idea coming for me and eveyone else that seems to be interested.

Also, just so we are all aware, we are all paying the for Spring Training but anything the kids make will offset the costs.

Also, even though the kids are in HS, all are not 16-17. My ds will be 14 when we go next March.

I think we may do the iPad (I will most certainly look into the laws, thanks to those that recommended it), the car wash and I like the dine out restaurant idea. Thank you too for the poster that IM'd me about the BINGO!

Thanks to all.