HOW TO MAKE OVERFLOW AFFORDABLE

  • When promoting fundraisers, share the vision and purpose behind OVERFLOW.

  • Once people grasp the vision, they will see the importance of helping your group.

  • You can share the vision by using the promo video and testimonies from previous years.

  • Promote your fundraisers well in advance, not only to ensure maximum impact, but also to prepare the sponsors and the youth group.

  • It is important to let the youth feel like they own these projects.

  • There are two ways to raise funds. One is to provide a service and the other is to ask for donations.

  • Make sure to get youth involved as much as possible to encourage them to take ownership of the fundraiser.

  • Talk about it with Parents and leaders in September

  • Make it an annual event so parents can plan for it

  • Have a monthly payment plan

  • Make it a Christmas gift for the student

  • Make it a birthday gift for the student

  • Have fundraisers that target adults without kids

  • Challenge grandparents

  • Share a bus with another youth group

  • Do fewer events that cost money in the months leading up to Overflow

  • Spread out your youth weekend trips evenly throughout the year

  • Have your personal youth group retreat in-house to keep costs down

Some Effective Fundraisers:

  1. Cafe – At youth nights, sell chips, pop, wings, and other good stuff.

  2. Live or Silent Auctions – Auctions can be live or silent, and both can be successful, but live auctions add more actions. The possibilities are endless: you can auction off donated items, pies, and other desserts. Be creative.

  3. Spaghetti/Pasta Fest - This is a low-cost fundraiser that is sure to be lots of fun for those attending and participating. Sell tickets for an evening of pasta and fun. Have your youth wait on tables and provide the entertainment.

Fundraisers With a Service Focus:

  • Candy Grams to students

  • Sunday sundaes

  • Service projects

  • Fundraising dinners

  • Garage sales

  • Hair cuts

  • Frozen pizzas, entertainment books

  • Go after the change in the car’s cupholders

  • Dinner and dessert auctions

  • Silent auction that auctions off people's time services, not products (piano lessons, haircuts)

  • Students will work for Overflow (babysitting, snow shovelling, etc.) 

Fundraisers With a Donation Focus:

  • Offerings

  • Bottle drives

  • Items for garage sales

  • Ticket entrance to a church function (i.e play, musical etc.)

  • Support letter.

    Or check out the web for other fundraising ideas.  Here are a few sites to try:

www.easy-fundraising-ideas.com
www.efundraising.com/Canadian-Fundraisers.aspx
www.fundraising.com/Canadian-Fundraising.aspx
 

*Overflow does not claim to support or endorse any of these sites.