Fundraising in small communities

[Whitewater_419]

HI all;

Just wondering if you folks have some ideas for fund raising in small communities. I've recently been asked to serve as both secretary and treasurer for our association and as I'm sure all of you know, things like community awareness et al, cost money.

We've got a community fair coming up, which suggests a possible venue for something or other, but I am also interested in what the rest of you do on a regular basis to bring funding in to your associations.

-Marc

[Jeff67]

Have you thought about doing a draw on a big ticket item such as a big screen tv, Quads, boat and motor, etc.
We did one last year with a big screen tv and we made almost 4000.00 extra. Our community is approx. 34,000 people and the response was very good . The winner was someone from out of town. All you would have to do is get the prize donated or pay the insurance for the prize approx. 350.00 and make the tickets your self. It is just a thought , hope it works out for you all.

[Kirk]

We do a roast beef supper in the spring, which after expenses gives us a little profit. However our big windfall has been Nevada tickets. The corner store sells those nevada tickets, the ones where you pull back the flap to reveal fruit,, 3 in a row is a free ticket, etc....Anyhow, those ticket sales generate about 10000 dollars anually to our fire department. Yes, thats 10 thousand dollars anually. Our role is to renew a liscense agreement yearly and pay nevada some fees but after all fees are paid we have pocket 10 G's for doing nothing more than some paperwork. Might be worth persuing.

Kirk

[bfrd22]

We don't do to much anymore as we are tax payer funded, Plus with so many other groups battling for the community $ we have pulled out many of our events to allow other groups in.

Now we just for have our Firemans Ball and Awards Night, and do a Casino weekend once a year (Casino brings in about $18,000 a year).

Things we did in the past, BBQ Roast Beef dinners, (alot of work, Very little return), Firemans Water Soccer Tourney, (lots of work, little return, but a lot of fun) $ generated by entry fee's but you need good prizes to draw groups in.
The Fire Truck push worked well,

500 ft long course marked off a 100 foot intervals, 6 members 1 driver and you get pledges based on the number of feet you can push the truck, Advertize the weight of the rig also helps alot,
We even turned it into a competion on year for Time and Distance and had a couple depts particpate. (they had thier own plege sheets). Worked out well for all but what a killer!

Had a rough start one year as we were pushing our brains out trying to get the truck rolling. till someone asked the driver to release the park brake. :rolleyes: We had nothing left in our legs to do a decent showing.

[Michael13]

we have raised enough money with nevada tickets in the past to pay for half of the 3 trucks we bought and half our new hall. The township loved us and supports us no matter what. sales are down now because there are 11 licenses in the township. we bring in 2 or 3 thousand a year now. we were, at one point brining in 50000 a year.

[firefighter9calt]

We raise between 20000 and 30000 a year with an annual auction. We just canvas the 5 communities in our district for anything people don't want and hold 2 auctions 2 weeks apart.

[wing85]

We do a community breakfast twice a year. So do many VFDs around us. We have it down to a science now so not that hard. Generally we have 300 and generate around $1000 profit each time for about 5 hours work.

[remya]

Golf Golf Golf. You can not lose money with golf. You only pay for those who play. But you have to have all of your members on board. Make a committee and delegate. We just had our 2nd annual, we are learning as we go and hope that next year will be our break ($$) out year.

[daveb]

I'm in a small town 14,000 this year we raffled off a quad. 6,200 for the quad 1,000. 2nd prize 500. 3rd prize. we started just before xmas 2003 and drew the prizes on Aug 1 / 04. Alot of work weekends, parades, fairs etc. payoff was good we finished with a profit of 10,000. We want to do one every 2 years.

good luck

[Pbourg]

Our Department sells a Community Birthday Calendar from Linmark Publishing in B.C. We make about $3000.00 a year on it. Once the initial setup is done the rest is easy. We also hold an annual Halloween Dance