- Image by martindelisle31 via Flickr
School sports always need the funds so they can supply the necessary equipment for safe play, take the team on trips out of town, and provide the uniforms. None of this is cheap for schools. With budgets being dramatically slashed in many areas of education, sports doesn’t go unscathed. Many schools are depending on the fundraisers more than ever just to maintain their status. As important as school sports are, they are usually one of the first budget items to feel the sting. The secret to good fund-raising for schools is to find more imaginative ways to get the public involved.
Bake sales are a popular item but have come under attack from the health police saying they are the contributors to making kids fat. This is blatantly untrue as the fundraiser is used to fuel the healthy activities promoted by school sports. However, a school can still invoke the bake sale idea but add a new twist by catering more toward the tastes of the community. In other words, find out what the neighborhood likes in general and sell that type of product.
The car wash idea is an old one and has been used for many generations of kids. However, it no longer tends to draw in the crowds that it once did. Mainly because there are so many places available to get the car washed out. However, if a school can come up with a unique idea such as a pet wash or contracting with the local government to wash their vehicles than the car wash idea can work.
Schools should check into local ordinances before tackling a project. A fundraiser for school sports does not have to be the same old thing. The community is more likely to contribute for a new idea instead of the same tired fundraiser that they probably did in school.
