Choosing an unusual fundraiser will make your fundraising event more fun — and profitable. Using unusual fundraising ideas can instantly gain your group publicity, more participation and more funds raised. The more wacky and weird the fundraising idea is, the more fun and profitable it can be.

Here are two truly unusual fundraising ideas, submitted by eFundraising, that raised money — and people’s eyebrows!

1.”Sending the Principal to the Roof”

A school needed to motivate the kids to sell a lot of candy for their school fundraiser. Prize programs are all well and good, but the best motivation is for something to happen that money can’t buy. So the principal said, if all the kids sell 2 boxes each, he would camp on the school roof for the weekend. And this strategy worked, each kid sold an average of 3 boxes each. That Friday after school, no one went home right away, parents showed up to collect the kids - but all eyes were on the school roof. There stood the principal looking down, with a small yellow tent perched on top of the roof. All the parents and kids cheered. Yes the parents had bought a lot of the candy, just to see him keep his part of the bargain.

How to raise money with this unusual fundraising idea: This type of incentive would work with just about any sales fundraiser, and for a variety of organizations, not just schools. Choose a product, such as scratchcards, candy or brochure sales that will sell best to your supporters. Then set your fundraising goals — the date you would like the sales done by, and the amount of sales needed. Find the perfect person to “send to the roof” for a one night campout.

2. “Cow Bingo”

During the off season - a large football league needed to raise a lot of funds. They had found no luck with pizza, car washes, etc. so they thought of a really unusual fundraiser. They decided to arrange a “cow bet.” This basically involved painting a grid onto the field, with each grid having a number. People bought grids, sat back and waited. Waited for what I hear you ask…..well, a local farmer supplied a cow, very full of food. The winner was chosen by the cow, if you get my meaning, and took half the money.

How to raise more with this unusual fundraising idea: It would be easy to add additional fundraising programs to this type of fundraiser. How about hold multiple raffles, and announce winners every few minutes. If this is for a school sports team, sell spirit items or t-shirts.

Publicize Your Unusual Fundraiser Event

Both of these unusual fundraisers would be great opportunities for publicity for your organization. Be sure to send press releases, and place calls to your local newspaper and television stations. These are the kind of unusual human interest stories that the local TV stations love!

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