When organizing a fundraiser start with a plan. This is very important. You need to know how much money you need and when you need it before you can develop any specific fundraising plans. Next, if you are uncertain of what exactly you want to sell, then have a look around and find something that will make a larger profit or something you think will sell well. If you already have an idea of what you are selling, begin to check into prices and quantity. After completing these steps, you will realize how easy it is to develop your fundraiser and even estimate the profits you will make!

It's important for your fundraising committee to document all your expenses and income so that you can better evaluate what is working. Record-keeping is essential to computing actual profits and serves as an important resource for the next fundraising committee.

• Gourmet Lollipops
  You won't believe how fast they will sell. You can sell them at hockey games or around school during lunch hour.

• Bake Sales
  Bake sales are great ways to make money but in order to make a substantial amount of money you need to have them often (maybe once every two weeks). One idea is to assign 4 or 5 girls to each sale, so that not everyone has to be there for every sale. You should also try to get the cookies and other sweets donated. This will reduce your cost.

• Cookbook
  This is also a great idea at a low cost. Have members of your team/group to contribute their favorite recipes and combine into a book. The only major cost would be of paper and maybe ribbon, but with a few good volunteers they could be great.

• Bottle Drive
  Bottle drives are always fun and a nice way to spend a day out with your team. All you have to do is collect bottles from family and friends, and you can even go door to door. Then bring the bottles in to your local bottle depot and collect your money!

• Dance
  This has the potential to be a very good fundraiser but you would need to locate a venue or the co-operation of your school. If you attend a junior or high school and are able to have access to a gym you could make a large profit off all tickets sold. In the case of renting a venue, the profits can still be great but there will be a lot more work needed to advertise and try to sell that many more tickets.

• Walk-a-thon
  This is a way to get some money quick. The best thing to do is make sure your team has at least two weeks to get sponsors. Make sure to give them a goal of how much they should get. Then once they have collected their donations, your team walks the pre-determined distance. You can make this fun by doing parts of the walk backwards, or skipping or dancing. You can also do a Wake-a-thons.

• Sub Sale
  There are 2 ways that you can do this:

  First pick a date that you will distribute the subs. The first day you go to TRA and pick up food to make your subs. You will need mustard, mayo, plastic wrap, bags, and plastic knife. Then go to the grocery store or wholesaler to get some meat. The night before you distribute the subs, get together with your team to make them. It is easier if you make an assembly line. You can make a good dollar off that.

  The second way you can contact Chilly Willy's in Mount Pearl. They make the subs and only charge you $2.70 per sub. Then you buy some drinks to go with it and sell the package for $5 each. You end up making $2.20 per sub. Sell 50 subs, $100. Not bad.

  Local Subway stores also offer a similar fundraiser. Contact Subway for details.

• Silent Auction
  This is a little harder to explain. Each member of the team will have to get a few items donated, by businesses or family members. Then on the night of the auction there are set-ups of items that people can bid on. You have a minimum bid required and without knowing anyone else's bid, a guest writes a bid down. The person with the highest bid gets the item at the cost he/she had written down. At this event it is nice to serve cookies and tea if available. You will also need you teacher advisor there and permission from the school. You will also have to book a place unless you can book your school gym the night.

• Baskets
  Selling tickets on a basket is another easy way to make money easily. Fill a basket with donations from your team and community (items can include gift certificates, toys, food, etc). It is nice to have a theme to go with the basket too, such as a Christmas Basket. Price your tickets depending on the value of the basket and you make all the profit!