How about putting on a fundraising event!
BBQ: Book Early! Sausage Sizzles at your local hardware store or supermarket are a popular fundraising activity. Dates need to be booked well in advance... give them a call!! Generally, they will supply the BBQ, gas and trestle tables; you’ll need to supply the sausages (negotiate for a bulk order with your local or wholesale butcher), pre-cut onions (gentler on the eyes!), sliced bread/rolls (bread shops such as Bakers Delight, Brumbies etc will often give away bread at the end of the day for free), condiments and soft drinks. The sausage sizzle usually runs from 9.00am until 4.00pm. You get to keep all of the funds raised at the Sausage Sizzle.
Movie Nights: Most cinemas hold special events such as advance screenings. If you contact the cinema requesting that you wish to hold a fundraising event at one of these advance screenings, they will donate part of the cost of the ticket to your fundraising (included in the price is a beverage). Invite everyone to come an hour before the screening and provide refreshments (again you can have this donated or cater yourself). Hold a raffle – get great prizes donated from local businesses or friends who could provide a service i.e. massage therapists or who work at companies that can provide you with products. This will add another money stream to your night’s activities. To make this worth your while you need to ensure bums on seats!!!! Click to download an example Movie Night invitation.
Get a Matched Grant from your Employer: Do you know if your company has a matching grant or workplace giving program? Check it out – you may be able to double your fundraising total!!! You’ll need to contact the Can Too office so we can provide you with the required documents to submit with your application and payment methods.
Trash and Treasure: The idea behind this is you must be single and you must bring a friend who is single and of the opposite sex. So in other words they are your (much loved) 'trash' and could be someone else's 'treasure'. Everybody pays a $25 entry fee and you can even throw in a little match making party game. On entry to the party, you give five stickers, marked F for female or M for male. The aim is to find and match these stickers with five people of the opposite sex who have the same type of sticker e.g. if you are female you will end up with five "M" stickers of your type. You need to do this to enter the prize draw. Click to download an example Trash & Treasure invitation.
Traffic Light Party: Let colour play cupid and express your singledom through the all time classic traffic light party!
RED = No-go zone. In your Dreams!
AMBER= It's complicated, but give it a try!
GREEN= Single and Ready to Mingle!
For the party to work really well, you simply request that everyone brings a single guest of the opposite sex, to help keep the boy / girl ratio even. You don't even have to be single to come along (remember we have those red badges for you!) but we’d still like you to bring along your single friends. Set up a few games and prizes throughout the evening to make sure people mingle. Charge everyone an entry fee that will go towards your target. Click to download an example Traffic Light Party invitation!!!
Rubik’s Cube Night: As the name suggests, you attend the party wearing six items of clothing representing the colours of a Rubik’s Cube. Everyone is charged an entry fee and given a colour at the start of the night. By the end of the party, you should have been able to swap your various items of clothing so you are left with just wearing your assigned colour. You then have to mingle and ask random strangers to get their gear off just so you can meet your objective. Any people who are not wearing one colour at the end of the night will be fined – more money for your fundraising target! It is a lot of fun and a great way to raise money at the same time. Click to download an example Rubik's Cube invitation.
Poker Night: Gambling for a great cause. Everyone puts in a certain amount of money and all winnings go directly to your fundraising. Texas Hold'em rules are easily learned and deceptively simple though you still need to make good decisions and a decent slice of luck. Guilt free poker! You can actually raise your fundraising goal in one night! A useful website is include http://www.blackjackknights.com.au/Game_Rules/Poker-Rules.htm
Trivia Night: Trivia nights can be good fun and are also a great way to raise money. Players form teams that go on to compete against each other in answering questions or performing numerous acts (such as best impersonation, etc.) to earn various prizes. The goal is to get the most number of points and the team that does this wins the main prize at the end of the night. For it to work well, teams should be between 4-10 people. Charge an entry fee between $10 and $30 per person, depending on other costs you may incur (e.g. room hire or catering). You can raise a lot more if you also hold a raffle or auction on the night. Click to download an example Trivia Night invitation.
Jelly Wrestling: No joke! You will look at jelly in a very different way after wrestling in the stuff! Great way to fundraise and lots of laughs – everyone pays an entry fee. Information on jelly kits on http://www.ausjellywrestling.com.au/diy.htm
Yoga or Massage: If you have these skills you can give massages or organise “Yoga in the Park” (NB: you will need to apply through the local council for a permit to hold an event in a public open space together with a copy of your organisation’s current Public Liability Insurance certificate). This is in keeping with getting fit and healthy, and a great way to raise your funds.
No Birthday Pressies – Donations Instead!: What better gift to receive than the gift of giving? Instead of asking for presents for your birthday, how about getting your family and friends to donate in lieu of present? They also receive a tax deductible receipt so it’s winners all around.
Selling Chocolates: Companies like Cadbury’s support fundraising. Visit their website for more information: http://www.fundraising.com.au. You will need to make a minimum order and pay upfront, but for those of you who work in big offices, it’s an easy way to raise money and make your colleagues put on weight so that they will want to join Can Too for the next program!
What are you good at?: If you are a bit of a Nigella Lawson in the kitchen why not bake muffins or cup cakes and have a morning tea at the office? If you are a handy hubby, do some work for others and in lieu of payment, ask for a donation! How are your negotiating skills? Next time you purchase a car (or anything!) ask the dealership or the business to donate part of the cost of your purchase towards your fundraising. Click to download an example CanCook Cooking lessons invitation. How aboutChristmas Treats from Boxx & Dice ... all for a great cause.
Garage Sales or Market Stalls: How much stuff do we accumulate over the years that sit at the back of the garage! Spread the word amongst your family and friends if they have anything to off load and are willing to donate to you. Sell it and raise money for a great cause!
Host a Tupperware or Nutrimetics Party: Many party plan companies will help you fundraise by contributing a percentage of the sales or products to raffle. Visit http://www.tupperware.com.au or http://www.nutrimetics.com.au.Theme your party for a lot more fun (wear a hat, come as a celebrity, etc.) and have a main prize for the person wearing the most theme-fitting outfit! Click to download an example Tupperware invitation.