| Just because budgets are tight in business, | | | | labor intensive but fun day for school children that |
| government, and school districts it is no reason to | | | | want to raise money for their trip. Just identify and |
| cancel a class trip. Instead of cutting trips out | | | | reserve a public location with easy access to water |
| altogether, many school groups are enacting creative | | | | spigots such as a church or bank parking lot on a |
| ways to raise funds so that students can still take | | | | main thoroughfare. Have students advertise with |
| educational trips to places like Washington D.C., New | | | | signs visible to drivers. The charge is often $5-8 for |
| York City, Boston, and Chicago. A student trip is a | | | | each car wash. Some groups even offer FREE car |
| fun and educational way to learn about history, art, | | | | washes and make more money. Offer a FREE car |
| culture, science, and more. | | | | wash and then ask for donations. Often the |
| The nice thing about fundraising for student trips is | | | | donations will exceed the $5-8 mark and make the |
| that contributors need only make $5, $10, or $20 | | | | fundraiser more profitable. Try this fundraiser as a |
| contributions to make a difference. The best | | | | FREE car wash with voluntary donations and see |
| fundraising occurs when the whole community gets | | | | what happens. |
| involved. | | | | - Sell Scratch Off Cards: This new popular way to |
| Fundraising efforts can include several different | | | | raise money for student trips is a great idea. Student |
| methods executed throughout the school year. | | | | trip organizers purchase scratch off cards similar to |
| There are some tried and true methods of raising | | | | lottery cards but much different. The school name |
| funds for class trips and there are some new ideas | | | | and logo can even be placed on a lot of cards for an |
| making their way into the mainstream that have | | | | extra charge as a way of identifying the fundraiser. |
| proven to be effective as well. | | | | The purchaser is not gambling, they are merely |
| I will offer a brief overview of effective fundraising | | | | donating money towards the class trip. The student |
| techniques for student trips that students, teachers | | | | gives the card to a donor, and he or she scratches |
| and parents have shared with me over the years. | | | | one, two, or three of the hidden numbers and |
| - Chocolate Candy Bars: Seeing a child or parent with | | | | donates the amount indicated on the card to the |
| a box of candy bars is a sign that a fundraiser of | | | | fundraising campaign. Scratch off cards are worth up |
| some sort is taking place. In the workplace, or even | | | | to $100 per card and are quite profitable. The |
| at school, people are willing to satisfy that sweet | | | | recipient of the card receives discounted coupons for |
| tooth or chocolate craving in order to help school | | | | area businesses as a thank you for participation in |
| children by purchasing candy to fund a class trip. | | | | the fundraising campaign. |
| Buying a candy bar is easy and relatively inexpensive. | | | | - CD or DVD Fundraisers: This type of fundraiser can |
| The person purchasing the candy feels better about | | | | occur one of two different ways. The first is to |
| buying the candy from someone they know -- | | | | partner with a CD or DVD catalogue company that |
| instead of heading to the vending machine or leaving | | | | offers A-list Hollywood movies and/or music CDs |
| the office to visit a store. There are many vendors | | | | with the work of popular artists. Students sell these |
| available who will sell candy in bulk at wholesale prices | | | | titles and are given a portion of the profits for each |
| so students can sell them for retail value and reap | | | | sale. The second way is to actually record a high |
| the profits for their class trip. | | | | school band, ensemble or orchestra on CD and sell |
| - Citrus Fruit Sales: Another way to make money for | | | | this product to the community. Other choices include |
| class trips is to sell oranges and grapefruits. The idea | | | | recording school group events or recitals, |
| is to purchase the citrus fruits in bulk during the | | | | homecoming or prom videos, or the actual school trip |
| harvest season in areas where fruit crops are | | | | as a way to retain memories of the event and selling |
| abundant. Students take orders from family, friends, | | | | these professionally produced audios or videos at a |
| and neighbors and collect the money. When the time | | | | profitable rate. |
| arrives, boxes of fresh fruits are delivered to the | | | | With so many excellent fundraising strategies |
| purchaser, along with a thank you from the school | | | | available, there is no reason to cut back on class trips. |
| group. | | | | Just make sure to start fundraising efforts early in |
| - Selling Roses and Carnations on Valentine's Day: | | | | the school year. For maximum funds, try two or |
| Student group leaders and administrators simply | | | | three different methods throughout the school year. |
| locate a flower wholesaler in their town and arrange | | | | Your group will be pleasantly surprised at the |
| to purchase roses and/or carnations in bulk for a | | | | outcome! Community members love to help school |
| decent price. Then individual students either take | | | | children on their way to an educational trip. School |
| orders ahead of time and distribute the flowers on | | | | children will be most enthusiastic about the fundraiser |
| the holiday or volunteers set up a table at a school, | | | | when it works. Whether the class is headed to |
| dance, or other public event and sell them on | | | | Orlando, Florida or Washington D.C. the school group |
| Valentine's Day. | | | | will be even more solidified if the children work |
| - FREE Car Wash: The car wash-a-thon can be a | | | | together to raise funds beforehand. |