Fundraising is so tough because you've got a bunch of companies really marking up everyday items. As someone who comparison shops everything, I'd rather just write a check and skip buying the crap.

I've got this on the brain because the kids' school has really changed up fundraising in the last year. I'm impressed because a new cadre came into the PTA and basically said "we're tired of the old way". They dropped 95% of the wrapping paper/candy/etc. They found that another way to make an old stand-by fundraiser more profitable (by ~$3000) just by dropping one part of it. Then they brought it new items that require less footwork and are more interesting, yet bring in more money.

This year they're raffling off a new car at their carnival and a week at an oceanfront beach house.

The other issue is that a long time ago, the scouts or whoever would actually sell the crap themselves. Now, the office is a minefield of people with kids who have their hands out for overpriced shit you really don't want.

At least with Girl Scout cookies you can get away with spending $3.50. And they really do emphasize having the girls do the selling, even if paranoia has put the kibosh on door to door selling.

But yeah, I think for most groups just asking for money would work better--I know that's how it worked when I was a kid with our baseball and football teams. Give me $5 and I'll leave you alone!

My wife is Executive Director of our local Arts Council and one of their most successful fundraisers was a bull drop--basically, they laid out a grid over a parking lot and people bought squares for $50, and if the bull dropped its load on your square you won $1000 or something like that. I thought it was kind of tacky for an arts fundraiser, but I was obviously wrong. They had a band there and it turned out to be pretty fun.

When I was in boy scouts we sold brownies, until my scoutmaster got arrested for kidnapping and soliciting a minor.

then what didja sell?

His story

When I was just searching for the thread where PtK challenged FTN to a fight, I found it all went down on July 22nd. It was like the Phillies' downward spiral was a river of slime and we all went for a swim.

And then we spent the night in jail together and bonded and the Phillies became the best team in the major leagues.

The best fundraiser, IMO, is the "community card"-where you sell a card for $5 that has a number of discounts for area businesses. I bought one from one of my chuch kids who was doing it for the High School Marching Band, and I use it at least once/week. Free dessert at Damon's last Friday. 10% off my lunch at Subway yesterday.

hate when these janitors be all up in my business

Rev_Beezer wrote:The best fundraiser, IMO, is the "community card"-where you sell a card for $5 that has a number of discounts for area businesses. I bought one from one of my chuch kids who was doing it for the High School Marching Band, and I use it at least once/week. Free dessert at Damon's last Friday. 10% off my lunch at Subway yesterday.

yes. these are awesome. the ones around here used to have chick fil a on them. they were magical. a few years ago chick fil a bailed on them. i stopped buying the card.

Why do people just accept "the way it is" ?

Philly the Kid wrote:Why do people just accept "the way it is" ?

Some things will never change

BigEd76 wrote:

Philly the Kid wrote:Why do people just accept "the way it is" ?

Some things will never change

A Lion can't become a Tiger.

aaaaaaaaa SWINGANDAMISS

I was in Boy Scouts once. Once. Hated it, just hated it. Absolutely some of the most boring shit ever.

I think my expected nap time (with snooze pushing/groggy alarm resets) is something like initial time alloted*1.5 + 30 minutes for if it's dark when the alarm goes off.

Holy crap, giant chunks of hail in Brooklyn right now. This might be armageddon.

BigEd76 wrote:

Philly the Kid wrote:Why do people just accept "the way it is" ?

Some things will never change

Oh, but don't you believe it. (piano solo)

So, Gap came out with a new logo and, well, FAIL:

Didn't I? wrote:Holy crap, giant chunks of hail in Brooklyn right now. This might be armageddon.

Naw, that's just Ollie Perez balls re-entering the atmosphere.

Fusilli Jerry wrote:So, Gap came out with a new logo and, well, FAIL:

yeah, that's the old news. the new news is that they're completely dumping it and going back to the old one just because of the internet reaction. it's kind of awesome but also sort of embarrassing for them.