Essential Things to Sell For Fundraising: Your Complete Guide
Fundraising is an effective strategy that nonprofit organizations, schools, sports teams, and other groups use to garner funds for various needs. But one of the most common questions people usually ask when it comes to fundraising is – ‘what to sell for fundraising?’ Selling items can be a highly successful way to raise funds, if you manage to hit upon that sweet spot of high demand and low supply. Hence, to answer this pivotal question, we bring to you this complete guide that will help you understand what is the best thing to sell for a fundraiser.
1. Custom Apparel: Custom clothing like shirts, hoodies or hats with your organization’s logo or name can be a perfect choice to sell for fundraising. This way, not only do you garner funds but also enhance the visibility of your organization or cause. People love to show their support and what better way than to wear it!
2. Food and Beverages: Selling Food items such as baked goods, candy bars, popcorn, or beverages like coffee or tea, can be a great fundraising idea. This option is notably effective around holidays or local events. However, make sure to comply with local health department regulations before deciding on what to sell.
3. Discount Cards: Offering discount cards for local businesses can be another good option for fundraising. These cards offer buyers significant savings, which makes it easy to sell and a win-win for all. Collaborating with local businesses not only benefits the fundraiser but also helps supporting local business owners and fostering community relationships.
4. Branded Merchandise: Selling branded merchandise like mugs, calendars, pens, keychains, etc., can be an excellent idea for fundraising. These items often come in handy, and if you can strike a deal with wholesale suppliers, they can be very cost-efficient and raise a substantial profit margin.
5. Raffle Tickets: Having a raffle draw can generate a lot of excitement and is an easy sell. The tickets for these raffles can be sold at a competitive price and you can have donated prizes to lower the cost. The key to having a successful raffle lies in choosing a prize that is desirable and worth the price of the ticket.
6. Handcrafted Products: If your organization has a creative bunch, you could consider selling handcrafted products like jewelry, knitting, crocheted items, or artwork. These unique items have a charm of their own and people appreciate the effort and creativity that goes into making them.
7. Sponsorship Opportunities: Selling sponsorship opportunities can be considered a more refined form of fundraising and can be especially lucrative. Businesses or individuals may be willing to sponsor an event, a project, or even a part of your operations in exchange for public recognition and goodwill.
8. Event Tickets: If your organization is planning on hosting an event, selling tickets for the same can be an excellent way to raise funds. This could be a charity dinner, a music performance, a sports match, or even a workshop or seminar.
9. Services: This slightly out-of-the-box idea involves selling services instead of products. This could be landscaping, house cleaning, car washing, or any other service that your team can provide.
Understanding what is the best thing to sell for a fundraiser depends on your audience, your outreach, and the cause you’re raising funds for. Remember, interaction and engagement with potential purchasers goes a long way in boosting sales. With the right balance of value, relevancy and novelty in your product or service, your next fundraiser can be a tremendous success.
Finally, the best thing to sell for fundraising is something that embodies the spirit of your organization and its cause. It should reflect the values your organization stands for and resonate with the people you are reaching out to. Fundraisers are not just about raising money – they are about using that money to make a significant difference. When you settle on what to sell for your fundraiser, keep this in mind, and you’ll be on the path to a successful fundraising effort.