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Fund-Raising Ideas
In a lot
of schools, it’s hard coming up with the cash to run all of
your chapter operations. Here are a few suggestions to help
get your chapter off the ground:
Ways to Fund Your Chapter
- School
Activity Fund—School activity funds can be accessed to
provide financial assistance for your chapter activation fee
on the same basis as the InterFraternity Council (IFC) and
for your membership insignia materials on the same basis as
athletic letters.
- Community organizations—The Rotary, Urban League, or
NAACP, for example, may have an interest in financially
supporting your chapter.
- Donations—local businesses or parents may donate
tax-exempt funds for Order of Kush through the Order of Kush
Honor Society donor program (see information on the Order
of Kush activation form).
- Local
Chapter Member Dues—shall not exceed $35 per Article III of
the Order of Kush Honor Society Program Guidelines, found in
the Order
of Kush Honor Society Chapter Manual (PDF).
For Sale!
- Sell
"stock" in your project, trip, or event. When it is
finished, invite "stock-holders" to a dinner where photos,
stories, and videos are shared and celebrated.
- Sell
Christmas trees, wreaths, or poinsettias—local nurseries may
give you a discount for bulk orders.
- Sell
chili, soup, or hot chocolate at a football game.
- Hold a
bake sale—you can do holiday themes for Valentine's Day,
Halloween, or Christmas.
- Run a
car wash and charge by the car—charge more for trucks—you
can sing or play for customers while they wait for their car
to be cleaned.
- Yard
sale—ask professors and friends to donate sale items.
- Sell
used CDs at a booth at school functions (carnivals, sports
events, etc.). Ask local music stores to donate CDs or
tapes—they may have some older titles they want to
donate.
- Sell
singing Valentines or birthday wishes—ask a local florist to
donate a flower for each singing Valentine sold.
Chapters for Hire
- Coordinate a newspaper drive.
- Recycle
bottles or soda cans—some states offer refunds for
recycling.
- As a
chapter, advertise your yard work services—rake leaves, mow
grass, pull weeds.
- Shovel
walks in the winter months.
- Collect
mail and newspapers for people on vacation.
- Offer
gift wrapping services around the holidays.
Contests, Concerts, and Family
Fun
- Host a
holiday dinner for Valentine's day couples—provide a
romantic meal and musical entertainment.
- Sponsor
a contest for student films—charge for entry into the
contest and/or for admission to view the winning films at a
mini film festival.
- Your
chapter can perform a musical show with a theme and charge
admission (themes can be 1950s, Jazz, Hip Hop, R&B
Music—the sky's the limit on this one!)
- Family
Bingo Night—advertise in local newspapers and at your
school—offer book and/or musical prizes donated from local
book stores (gift certificates are popular).
- Host a
theme dance party with prizes for best costume and best
dancers—charge for admission and food/beverages.
Other Resources
OKI Financial
Aid Opportunities, Products, and Services
Beyond the
Bake Sale: The Ultimate School Fund-Raising Book by Jean C.
Joachim: this book includes step-by-step help, school year
timelines, and innovations from fund-raisers across the
country. The author helped raise over $200,000 a year during
the past six years for one of New York City’s award-winning
public schools.
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