The cheerleading season is now in full swing and your team needs to be ready for the first football game. If your team is in need of new cheerleading uniforms, cheer shoes or just needs some funds for an additional activity fundraising may be a necessity. At some point, your team will look at doing a fundraiser this year. Not only are fundraisers a great way to earn money but they are a great way to improve your team work and to become active in your community.
Before you decide what your fundraiser will be, there are a few things you will need to do to be prepared and, most of all, to be successful:
Establish a goal.
Figure out how much money you need to raise and what date you need to raise it by. Don’t forget to also factor in any upfront costs associated with the fundraiser itself. This will help keep your team motivated and also helps in determining what fundraiser would be best for you.
You may wish to have more than one fundraiser. Direct each fundraiser toward a specific goal. You may hold a cheerleading clinic for elementary students to raise funds for new cheerleading uniforms and then have a penny drive to raise money for an upcoming competition. Just be sure to space your fundraisers out a bit.
Know what others groups are doing for fundraising in your area.
You will not be very successful if a local church is having a bake sale on the same weekend as your or if the girl scouts are taking orders the same week you are selling cookie dough.
As a team you can accomplish anything!
Remember that fundraisers are a lot of work but if you work together it will be a sure success.
There are countless ideas for fundraisers. Some may not be practical for your location, season or budget, but here are some ideas to get you started. No matter what you choose to do, show your spirit. Wear your team cheerleading uniforms or cheer warm ups. Show your school colors with hair ribbons or pins. If you show your spirit, others will too!
Sell spirit or mascot items, or any other items relative to your city, state or region. Spirit Sticks are always a hit!
Have a raffle. Sell tickets and raffle off prizes. Prize possibilities: 50% of the money you collect, community donated coupons or gift cards, gift baskets (have each team member make a themed basket such as chocolate lover’s basket, pasta dinner basket, etc…), or any services or goods you can get a community organization to donate.
Make Cheer Cans out of old coffee cans. Decorate them, including your fundraising goal, and add a hole in the top for donations. Take them around to local stores and gas stations and ask if they will display them. Attach a Pom Pet to the top of the can, you’ll be sure to catch the customer’s attention!
Recycle! Collect bottles and cans. Many local recycling centers will also buy old cell phones and ink cartridges.
Have a penny drive for each classroom for one month. The classroom that raises the most gets a pizza party.
Offer services around the holidays. Gift wrapping at Christmas, babysitting on Valentine’s Day…
Make a school calendars and sell it. Don’t forget to have game days pre-marked on the calendar!
Have a rummage sale or bake sale. Cheerleading Post-Its would make great labels for your bakes goods!
Take advantage of the holidays. Have a picnic and sell bagged lunches for 4th of July, an egg hunt for Easter, sell pumpkin pies just before Thanksgiving, a party with trick or treating for Halloween.
Make a cookbook. Gather recipes from other students, parents and teachers. Deliver them in gift bags in your school’s colors!
Hold a clinic for elementary students. Teach them a few cheers and have them perform at a game. Don’t forget poms for your students…Rooter Poms would be perfect in your school colors!
Donate your time at a local business for a day. Ask local businesses to allow your team to work for them for a day for a portion of the profits or for donations. Gas stations and drive-thrus are great places to start.
Sell flowers for spirit week or holidays. Arrange with a florist to sell the flowers ahead of time and have them delivered at a later date. Sell red roses or carnations for Valentine’s Day or Sweetest Day, carnations in a school color for homecoming, poinsettias for Christmas, etc.
Have a carnival. Set up a carnival in the school gym or football field. Have booths with different games and activities. Remember face painting for the kids or try face tattoos!
Have a car wash.
Whichever fundraiser you choose to do, be sure to keep the community informed of your goals. Let them know what you are raising the money for, how much you are trying to earn and how much you have earned thus far. Don’t forget to send a thank you to any person or organization who donates their time or good to your fundraiser too. Use cheerleading stationary for a fun touch! With team work and a lot of spirit, your fundraiser will be a success no matter what you choose!