Do you have any good ideas for major fundraising?

Question

We're a high school robotics club and compete against colleges like MIT, Duke, and Cornell every year in San Diego. We are running on a tight budget and would like to do some major fundraising to reduce our cost. We are looking at three to four digits fundraising. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Also, if anyone has connections to major companies that would be interested in funding us, please help out.

Thanks.

Thank you Probslvr, but unfortunately San Diego State University is also in the competition. I really don't think they'd be happy to play against their own school.

Answer 1

Why don't you try explaining your situation and ideas to a bank nearby? Many of them are honored when given the opportunity to finance such young talents.

Answer 2

I work with a not-for-profit educational organization that holds fund raising activities almost every single weekend. I think we have hashed every idea out there to death! The one that has worked the best for us over the years (almost 40 of them) has been the raffle ticket kind. We ask one or more supportive merchants/individuals for a contribution of a single item or service of nominal value. This doesn't put to much on any one merchant or person, but gives them a bonus of advertisement at the same time. Raffle tickets can be bought in huge rolls at any party supply store. Usually tickets cost a dollar and are sold as much as possible. The sweeter the prize, the more likely the tickets will sell, as the chance to get a nice prize for a couple bucks is very inviting. In the end, everyone can come out the winner, even if they don't get a prize, having supported the local kids. We have raised into the three and four digits respectively each time without being overly pressuring or hounding anyone to sell stuff. :+) Good luck!

Answer 3

Golf tournaments are very lucrative. Put together a short video of your club and activities and see if you can get it put on your local Public Broadcasting network. I'm guessing this is for First Robotics.

I also know one one school that raises about 40K each summer holding Robotic camps for elem & middle schol kids.

Funding aside you might want to connect with San Diego State Un. They are working with a national not-for-profit org that has a awesome pre-engineering curriculum for high schools. Find out more about this at the address below.

Good luck

Answer 4

Have the local radio station advertise that you're school is going to have a scavenger hunt. Entries are $20 per contestant, and they must own a GPS tracking device. Then hide clues everywhere, enough to keep them busy for a couple of hours until they reach a jackpot that could be whatever the radio station decides they want to offer as the prize. The deal with the radio station is, that they get publicity and you get the entry fees for your fundraising.

Answer 5

Have a robot race. Get people to bet for the winners. Have a walkathon. It's a noble cause. Bake sales and car washes jsut don't generate enough revenue but if you need a little at the end then they are good.

Answer 6

I am a High School Band Director we do a candle fundraiser every year in September. We raised over $6,000 in a two week fundraiser. They offer an excellent hand poured candle. and they only offer one size so its easy to keep up with.They also offer free shipping to school organizations.

Answer 7

U could hold a draw for younger kids where they buy tickets and get a the winner gets a prize.
U could sell a couple of things.

Answer 8

send letter to all the companies in your area and ask them for donations,