Fundraising Ideas

Working with schools we've learned a thing or two about fundraising ideas for groups. The following are two of our favorites -- both have big potential, both capitalize on including community into students' education, both are easy activities to pull off in communities of any size. 

BOOKS! Students from Wilson Middle School in Albuquerque, New Mexico worked with a local Barnes & Noble Bookstore to fundraise an educational trip. Students handed out coupons that, when presented at checkout, enabled the group to receive a percentage of the sale. It was that simple! Customers bought great books and supported education and archaeology in their community. PARTICIPANTS: Barnes & Noble, Coronado Center · 6600 Menaul Blvd. NE and Wilson Middle School, 1138 Cardenas Dr. SE Albuquerque, NM

RAFFLE! The Archaeology Club at Capital High School in Santa Fe sold $5 raffle tickets (all proceeds going to the club) for an opportunity to Punt, Pass & Kick to win a new truck! The 2015 GMC Crew Cab 1500 Sierra truck was donated by Garcia Buick GMC of Santa Fe. Now THAT'S community support! PARTICIPANTS; Garcia Buick GMC, 2721 Cerrillos Road, Santa Fe, NM and Capital High School, 4851 Paseo del Sol, Santa Fe, NM

​Here are some more ideas from the Enrollment Manager at an experiential education center - she has seen great success with these fundraising activities!​ ​   * Host a school dance; these could be themed-Sock Hop, 1980’s, Disco, etc and charge entrance fee. You'll want to get a band or DJ to donate their time and effort for a good cause! * Sponsor and run the concession stand at some of your school's games, rallies, etc. You can provide just one item (like nachos) or the whole shebang. * Host a car wash. Easy, clean, fun! * Restaurant Match. This can be a terrific fund raiser. Work with a local restaurant; on a certain date anyone who goes into the restaurant and identifies that they are with your school will ensure that a certain portion of their meal purchase goes towards your fundraiser. * Glow Bowling. This is similar to the Restaurant Match. Work with a local bowling alley. On a particular day a percentage of proceeds from entry fees will go towards your school's fundraising efforts.

____Lynn Thompson Baca