Fundraising without buying cookie dough or magazines for yourself!

Okay, how many of us have bought an extra magazine subscription we don't need, cookie dough for the freezer, cheese cakes, gift wrap that gets tucked away and forgotten, oh,  the list goes on!  Here are some fundraising ideas that come from things you already are buying for your home.  The school needs to set up accounts and then have collection areas.   Capri sun juice pouches- Capri sun has a great program right now- save the juice pouches and send them in in packs of 100. Each pouch is worth 2 cents and they reuse them and make backpacks, bags, binders, pencil bags.   Your school will need to set up a collection bin in the lunchroom and have someone that is in charge of counting

Project Hack: Some Thoughts on Glue Sticks

Tired of cleaning out individual glue caps with the closest available paper clip? I hear you. Here’s why glue sticks are one of my favorite classroom supplies . . . and why they always went on my new student “back to school” buy list during my classroom days.

No leaks.

Not on the desk areas, not in their backpacks, not in a box of your math manipulatives . . . nowhere. Sure, if you leave them out in the hot sun you may get some melting, but in general, these are not a messy project tool.

No clogs.

Ah, the freedom of starting a whole group art project without losing an entire free class period ahead of time cleaning out glue bottle nozzles. Just give the directions, distribute the materials and let them go for it.

Streamlined product dispensing.

Release yourself from over pouring, over squeezing, messy residue and more. Glue sticks are much easier for me to use as an adult, so I can only imagine how much easier they are for a young child still working on fine motor skills.

So take the plunge, free yourself from unnecessary glue bottle aggravation and set your students up for success.Go for the glue sticks, and imagine the power of streamlined student projects.

Photo Credit: Oskay

Fund Raising Ideas for High Schools

Let’s tell it like it is. High school professionals tend to get the short end of the stick when it comes to cool idea resources. In fact, I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve heard the complaint. So secondary teachers, this one’s for you! Read on for a list of unexpected and high income generating ideas to raise money with your high school students.

Candy Vending.

No, I’m not talking about adding another junk food dispenser to your school. (Although if your facility is already loaded with them, chances are one fancy red jar of quarter accessed gumballs isn’t going to make that much difference.) What I am talking about is having your PTA support you by approaching businesses around town to let you place candy vending machines at strategic places. Chances are they’ll be thrilled with not being hit up for cash. Again. Assign rotating responsible students to restock the candy machines and collect the cash. The reason candy vending is so profitable and popular among many regular professional vendors is because the candy is dirt cheap to buy and lasts quite a long time in the machines before needing to be restocked. Bonus? The machines are smaller and less expensive as well.

Auctions.

Already having a fund raising dinner? Work in a silent auction that same night.

Art Gallery.

Got some talented students and an oh- so- fabulous art specialist or industrial art teacher? Open up a small gallery for student produced furniture, welded scrap metal art, paintings, pottery, etc. Don’t forget to include consumable art items based on the student art work like notepads for the desk and fridge, blank greeting cards, candles, stationery and calendars. I’ve seen this done with street children at a beach gallery in Cambodia to fund their school tuition and supplies, as well as in the Monte Verde Cloud Forest of Costa Rica where all the craft and art items for sale at a particular shop were produced by children. It definitely takes someone to ensure there’s a system for providing only top notch work for the inventory, but the results as I’ve seen are well worth it!

Salvage Yard / Flea Market.

Got an extra space and some folks willing to help put up even a basic Quonset hut style structure? Consider having a regular (not just once a year) place for people to drop off left over or recycled building supplies, yard sale items, etc. Then, once a month have a Saturday where parents and students volunteer and the community can show up for a chance to get some great affordable second hand items. There was a small community in Arizona that did this only it wasn’t for a school. It was to benefit programs throughout the entire town. Retired volunteers staffed it, and they were open every morning except Sunday. Every single item in their inventory was donated. Their average annual haul? Over one point three million. What could your school do with even half that amount of money?

Event Concessions.

When I was in high school, the French club sold hot dogs and snacks every day at lunch to fellow students, as well as hot dogs and popcorn at all the basketball games. If you haven’t already thought of this, give it a whirl. If you have, consider taking it to the next level and letting the senior class each year have a stand at one or two large fairs and community events. One successful week at the state fair could bring in enough to fund most of that year’s projects. Think about it.

Coffee Shop / Bakery.

This is probably most effective if your school already has a food service program for vocational students. But if you have a place that can be set aside with tables and wireless access that is close to the school supply store, this could turn into a decent money maker. Students, teachers, parents and community members could hang out, munch and get some work done. We met a really interesting gentleman on a trip to Cambodia once who was working with a girls’ orphanage and school in Poi Pet. They had started a bakery at their school which was right next to either a bus or train station. At night after everything stopped running, this place turned into the night bazaar, which is where they sold their baked goods. It raised necessary funds for the facility’s operation and taught them a vocational skill as well. Fabulous!

That’s all for now. As always additional creative ideas are welcome below. Looking forward to hearing from you.

Flickr Photo Credit: Vagawi