Ways and Means
 

My girls are so enthusiastic and full of ideas, but we don't have nearly enough money to do a fraction of the things we have in mind. Does anyone have ideas for fundraisers that will be effective on a big University campus? I hate selling candy bars! I'm having flashbacks to elementary school chorus!

Erica (one broke Beta)

Hmmm.... I'll be thinking about it and then I'll get back to you.

If you can get space on campus you can raffle off a basket. Solicit donations from businesses (coupons, some will give samples) have each sister donate a one or two items to the basket (ramen noodles, popcorn, a nice pack of pens) things a college student likes but might be too broke to buy. For a week or two sell tickets to the basket (one for a dollar or three for two dollars) and then raffle it off. This made us a decent chunk or money (us in TBS, not us in Beta) one year. I'm sure I have an entire list of these some where. I'll see if I can't find them for you.

Emily

We just held our first annual valentine raffle. We gave the winner the choice of either dinner or flowers from wherever they wanted. We made over $100 in the clear and our winner got $60! Then there is the old trusty standby...BAKE SALE!

Beta hugs,
Bernadette

Thanks everyone! Your ideas are fantastic. I will definitely suggest raffling something to our Way&Means Chair.

I really appreciate your help. My mind has been so set on planning Rush that I was completely drained of any good ideas.

Erica

I've always found that carwashes make the most money. On a good day, especially during pollen season, you can make a few hundred dollars.

RE:f/u to the car wash / raffle postings
 

Hi Erica,

I've been involved w/several college carwashes - on a good day/wk-end $250/500; if your chapter can swing it, maybe try a weekend(Sat/Sun). This would also be an excellent way to get prospective pledges involved in something fun for a good cause, and get to know the sisters better in a non-threating way - the more hands the better:)

On 2/1/03 our chapter netted about $1800 on the NCC brunch raffle; every member brought 1-2 items for the "relaxation basket" -- pricing to consider: 3 tickets $2 and 10 tickets $5 perhaps shoot for a lovely Mother's day basket.

Just a side note, I've purchased easter baskets from other groups on campus which ranged between $3 to $10 and the hartier baskets went for $15 (candy, sml stuffed items, and for mothers - sml garden tools/ seeds or bulbs/sml-med pots for plants, etc. (purchased from the Dollar Tree store if you have one or Big Lots also has resonable prices)

I'm not sure which BSP chapter had the set of 12 cards for $12 - but if it is yours and you still have some left for sale - i'll buy a set from you (Mishellg24@juno.com). I also posted this to the BBB today.

Good luck, Michelle

Hi, Michelle!
 

Welcome to GreekChat!

I remember you! You are the one who e-mailed my chapter a few months ago, right? As I recall, you were in the process of looking for a chapter. It was so nice to hear your kind words of encouragement back then, and I thank you for your fundraising ideas now. Congratulations on finding your home in the Xi Gamma Tau chapter!

My chapter isn't the one selling the cards. Sorry. That's a nice idea though.

By the way, how do you like your online chapter? I've been thinking about joining one. I e-mailed Online Kappa for information, but I haven't heard anything back yet. Does OLAP have a website? There wasn't one listed at betajournal.com.

I hope you come back again soon. We have a wonderful group of Beta Sigma Phis and Betas-to-be here.

Erica :)

Hi Erica,

Do you have any updates on the ways & means project? Have a great weekend!

Michelle:)

Sorry...no update
 

We haven't even mentioned it again! Our chapter has been so busy Rushing and planning for a retreat in April that the money issue just hasn't come up.

I'll have passed on a few of the suggestions that were posted here to some of the sisters.

Thanks for asking...

Erica:)

p.s. I'm visiting Online Kappa tomorrow!

Since I am located on a small campus where there are less then 1,500 students, I am not sure if these ideas will work for you too. But these are some of the things that the fraternities & sororities do for fund raisers at Kettering.

One of the fraternities auctions off their members, the winners of the auction usually make the member they won clean, cook dinner, dress up in dresses for pictures, etc. I know this one goes over well for them but I don't know if it would work at a large school because you don't necessarily know the people that won the auction whereas we know pretty much everyone.

Root beer float sale. One of the sororites does this for a few days during the term right outside the cafeteria. I know they make a decent amount of money. (If from no-one else, they at least make a lot of my money ;) )

Car washes are also a great idea!!

We did a breakfast sale one term too. It didn't work out too well for us, but that's because engineers don't usually eat breakfast. We sold things like poptarts, fresh donuts, bananas (our best seller), bagels, and the like. One of the other things is, we didn't look into this because we weren't really thinking about it. But we are an organization and I know in high school, the grocery stores used to donate food items, all we had to do was write them a letter asking for what we wanted on school stationary and they would donate for it.

The raffles are also a great idea, i know that there's quite a lot of things you can raffle off. Everything from baskets to gag prizes.

Also, one thing to note: I don't know if you guys have a favorite local charity or philanthropy that you donate to, but I know for us, it always makes us work harder and people are usually more willing to give when a portion of the proceeds go to a local (or well-known) charity that you can explain the goals for to the people.

Hope these help when it comes down to crunch time and the budget's overdrawn! (I know that's really the only time that we start thinking about fundraisers) :)

Krista
Beta Sigma Phi
Phi Delta Nu

Welcome, Krista!!
 

Thanks for the input! It's great to hear from another college Beta! I have seen your chapter website, and it is nice to have a Kettering sister at GreekChat. Come back soon!

Erica