Fundraising Ideas for Maryland 4-H International Trips
Applicants for International Trips through Maryland 4-H should recognize that the overall fundraising for their travels will be their responsibility. The Maryland 4-H Foundation has the expectation that the trip be paid in full prior to travel, but will set up manageable payment plans for the remaining balance upon return. Please be mindful of these financial commitments prior to making your trip plans.
Fundraising for trips can seem overwhelming, but putting together a plan with your State Coordinator and reviewing this sheet should spark your creativity and drive. Your State Coordinator will provide you with a template letter to send to friends, family, local organizations and businesses, etc. for you to send out, but keep in mind that this effort might not raise the full amount for your trip. Using that individual ask approach coupled with a variety of those listed below will help you reach the largest variety of people. Get your 4-H Club and others involved! Remember to be creative and have fun!!
Basic Fundraising Ideas
Direct Ask: This is the most common way to fundraise through directly soliciting donations.
Send a letter
Send a personalized version of our template letter from the Maryland 4-H Foundation (or write your own) to family, friends, and community members asking for their financial contribution to this project. You can make it personal by listing reasons why this trip is important to you, other fundraising you are doing (i.e. Let me know if you want to order fresh cookies!), setting out your fundraising goal, or including a picture.
Get on your phone
Before you send a letter, you may want to call specific people to explain why you want to be part of this project and ask them if they can help. It’s a nice personal touch.
Give a special presentation at any group you belong to
Whether it’s at your local 4-H Club, County 4-H events, local religious or community organizations, etc. spend some time speaking with the leaders of those groups explaining this trip and ask if you can make a special announcement or a short presentation. You could show a short video from the Maryland 4-H International Trips webpage or a photo presentation so people can visually see why you are passionate about this trip.
Tech-based Ideas
Start an electronic media campaign
This is about connecting with as many people as you can. This includes email, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google+, Tumblr, Blogspot, Wordpress etc. You can post pictures, give updates on getting ready for the trip, updates on your fundraising efforts, and also sharing photos and videos of your destination. While you cannot solicit individual donations for your trip using the Maryland 4-H Foundation website, donors can use to the webpage to learn more about Maryland 4-H, and where they can send their donation: http://www.mymaryland4hfoundation.com/. While it might be difficult to connect with your online blog/social media while you are traveling, you can keep a journal and when you return you can update your blog with fun stories, pictures, details of the trip, as well as if you have any post-trip presentations set up!
Tech Support
Are you computer savvy? You can advertise your abilities help problem solve or set up systems at local community centers. Someone may hire you in return for a donation!
Artistic Ideas
Create a Visual Goal
Sometimes having a visual aid can help members of your Clubs that you have a goal you are trying to reach. You could create a thermometer and color in increments with every donation received. Or you could make a board with a map on it with markers pinned between your home and your host site. Have a little plane ‘fly’ across the board in increments to show your progress. Remember to keep a letter explaining why you would like to participate in this trip and how they can help.
Create a Photobook
If you really like to take pictures and have a digital camera you can easily create a photobook online. Take preliminary orders before you leave to raise money. Take pictures of locals you meet, all the sites, the kids you sing with, the trees you plant, and the people and places that gave you great memories. When you return, upload your photos and create it online using any variety of photobook generators: we recommend Snapfish, Mixbook, Blurb or Walgreens. Book styles and sizes may vary, but the books look very pretty and professional for $11-$20. Sell them for $25 or $30 and you’ve made a profit!
Yummy Ideas
Host a Cultural Dinner
Give donors a chance to get a taste of the culture you will soon visit. Hold a fundraising dinner at a local community center or in your backyard. If your short term trip is to Japan, research doable menu items and host a dinner complete with decorations! Proceeds from the dinner go toward your trip costs, local businesses may be able to donate products, and have a basket there for additional donations.
Make money at someone else’s restaurant
The idea of cooking a meal yourself doesn’t appeal to you? You can make money by asking people to eat at a restaurant on a particular day. For more information on restaurant fundraisers visit this webpage with advice on how to set it up and the different chain restaurants that support it! http://www.scholasticatravel.com/2012/08/06/20-chain-restaurants-with-fundraising-opportunities-for-school-trips/ . It’s free to you- you just have to get people there for dinner! Check in with local restaurants too!
Host a bake sale
This is a common fundraiser that can make you profits. Bake yourself and/or ask others to donate baked goods, and then sell them at an event like a sport or community event- just make sure you have permission first!
Cook
Make casseroles, enchiladas, or even banana bread and sell the pans to families. Advertise a menu that donors can choose from or a specific item you how to make and is delicious. Ask for orders at least 3-5 days in advance, cook, and deliver. Many families are too busy to prepare and eat a sit down dinner. They will appreciate a home-cooked meal, especially one that helps a good cause! Price out your supplies for the meal and be sure to have a suggested donation of more than that.
Cake Walk
It’s like musical chairs, but the winner gets a cake! Be sure to host this event with plenty of open space like a gym, and try to get the cakes donated. Check out this website to see all the steps to set up and conduct a cake walk: http://www.ehow.com/how_2073391_organize-cake-walk.html
Earth Friendly Ideas
Recycle
Collect cans, bottles, and/or newspapers to raise money while you care for the environment and encourage others to do the same. Check with local agencies for places to deposit your collection. Place recycling bins at your school, with the teams/clubs you are involved with, your parent’s workplace, community centers, etc. Maryland does not have bottle deposit incentives like other states do.
Working For It Ideas
Hire yourself out
There are all types of work out there from yard-care, cleaning, garage clean-outs, window washing, painting, weeding, babysitting, pet-walking or house-sitting. A note of explanation can set minimum hourly rates at $5-$10 per hour, with the invitation to contribute an additional donation for this trip. Get the word out through social media, posters, word of mouth, ads, etc.
Host a car wash
The key to making this fundraiser work is location, publicity, and timing. Some have found that accepting donations for a ‘free’ car wash actually yields a higher total than a set rate- but a high quality job should be done regardless. You might look into contracting a local car wash to donate to your cause with a set percentage of their work during a set period of time. All you do it recruit cars to show up to be washed.
Sharing Your Skills Ideas
Tutor
Is there a subject that you’re great at? Chances are there’s someone struggling that you can help. Tutoring usually involves meeting up with the student and going over homework and assignments, explaining concepts they don’t understand, and being there when they have questions. You can set an hourly fee or ask for donations.
Teach something
Do you know how to do something that others would like to do? Teach! If you know how to knit, play an instrument, bake bread, play a sport, speak another language, create art or websites, do some advertising and raise money by giving lessons.
Selling Ideas
Pre-sell souvenirs
Offer to bring back a small souvenir for every donor of $25, $50, $100, etc. These could be handcrafted keychains you’ll buy there or other small trinkets. Remember, it’s got to fit in your luggage!
Sell your old stuff
Maybe you host a yard sale or put it on craigslist, you could raise a lot of money by selling the things you no longer want. Whatever is sitting around your room not being used, you could sell it and make money. Remember: Make sure you ask your parents first and that they be part of this process!! Never arrange to meet someone from the internet or give your name, phone number, or address.
Sell items for organizations
Many companies have fundraising programs. You can look online for opportunities. You can sell cookie dough, magazines, popcorn, flower bulbs, etc. and in return they give you a percentage of what you sell. Maryland 4-H has partnered with the Frederick, MD, company Catoctin Popcorn. Contact your State Coordinator for company fundraising approval.
Raffles
Lots of Maryland 4-H Clubs organize raffles of donated items with quite a bit of success. Gather donated items and sell tickets or set up at silent auction of the items. Remember to settle up payments before everyone goes home!
Simple Saving Idea
Collect spare change
Emptying out your pockets of those dimes, nickels, and pennies? Find a basket or a jar and put all your change in the container. It might not seem like much, but if you can get your whole family to contribute, you might be surprised by how much you make. Even if it’s just $20, remember, with trips like this, every dollar counts!
Quarter Auction
You don’t have to have a lot of money to participate in this auction- so it’s perfect for everyone! For more information on how to set up and do the auction, visit this website: http://www.ehow.com/how_8068443_do-quarter-auction-fundraiser.html
For 101 MORE fundraising ideas: http://www.globalexpeditions.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/101_Fundraising_Ideas.pdf
(Adapted from Maranatha: Volunteers International)