When it comes to fund-raising, competition is fierce for kids these days. Schools are always running fund-raising competitions, and cash-strapped parents are finding it hard to support every cause, so, if your child wants to run a successful fund raiser this term, they’ll have to get creative. Here’s a few ideas to help them get their charity brainstorming session off the ground:
1. Fun Run: Why not arrange a fun run with a twist? Instead of just making a fun run a shorter version of an adult run, why not put the “fun” back into it by doing a fancy dress fun run, or a backwards run, a one legged fun-hop, or something else a little out of the ordinary?
2. Art sale: Get your child to draw some simple pictures, and get them printed on note cards, tote bags, coasters, and other items. There are lots of online stores that will print on demand, so if the art doesn’t sell, the school is not out of pocket. This idea has the potential to raise more money than the average sponsored event, since the web address of the online store can be emailed out to all parents.
3. Candle sale: Candles are easy to make, consumable items that are always popular. This idea has a lot of potential for older students.
4. A car wash: During the summer, make arrangements with a local garage or car wash business, and get a group of kids together to spend the weekend washing cars. Other kids can design signs to promote the event in the local area.
5. Sponsored silence: What parent wouldn’t want their kids to be quiet for a day or two? A class-wide sponsored silence, with prizes for those who stay quiet the longest, will most likely be a big hit!
The above are just a few ideas for charity events that are suitable for kids. Sponsored events, such as a sponsored fun run, silence, or fancy dress, are nice activities for kids to get involved in, and are a more interesting idea than the 50p non-uniform days that many schools are running as quick and easy fund-raisers.
However, if you want to do something that will be popular with the parents, and that will make people feel like they’re buying something for their money, then selling a product or a service for charity is a better way to go. For families that have more than one child, the constant stream of requests for money for charity can be a big drain on the family budget, so letting them buy something – whether it’s coasters, chocolate, candles, or even just vouchers, will make them feel better than having them just hand over yet more cash for charity.
Before you let your kids go out knocking on doors, or passing around their sponsorship form, be sure to explain to them that some people will say no – and they’re not being mean, they may honestly not be able to afford a donation this week.
Written by Amy Fowler on behalf of The Poppy Run, organisers of 5k fun runs in aid of The Poppy Appeal.
