10 funky fundraising ideas
Healthy Kids was recently asked to provide a list of healthy, popular and profitable ideas that would enable schools to hold more fundraising days.
Obviously, we came up with the usual suspects, both food and non-food related, such as fun runs, healthy bake sales, superhero day, trash and treasure markets, car washes and sports days. These are active fundraising ideas but more on the physical side. So we thought outside the square and came up with the below list of 10 funky fundraising ideas.
If you’re time-poor but still want to run a choc-free and healthy fundraiser, check out our list of fundraising companies who can take some of the time and effort away while being profitable at the same time.
1. Bonza BBQ day
In terms of a popular and profitable idea, we recommend holding a bonza BBQ day – close to Australia Day would be perfect for this. Think homemade chicken skewers, lean turkey sausage sizzle sandwiches with hidden carrot and zucchini in the hot onion mix, and lean beef burgers with the lot (yes, beetroot and pineapple too). Warm corn on the cob is also a crowd pleaser.
2. Super snacks day
A ‘super snacks’ day involves some prep, but they’re popular with the kids and you can increase the mark-up a little for special occasions. Kids are also more receptive to trying new things on super snack day because they’re served in small sizes, and generally less expensive than their regular lunch item. Think of creating banana pops (half a banana on a stick, rolled in yoghurt, rolled in rice bubbles, frozen) or strawberry sticks (two strawberries on a stick, rolled in yoghurt, rolled in coconut, frozen). Fruit cup surprises usually sell out in minutes. These are regular fruit salads but served in smaller cups with a surprise at the bottom of each. Depending on what you choose, you may have to wrap each ‘prize’ in cling film. One school used a few wrapped marbles in some cups, and dried fruit in others.
3. Fruit & veg dress up day
With Fruit & Veg Month coming up in August, we’re suggesting that schools hold a dress up day. In the past we’ve seen a simple green grapes costume made out of green balloons pinned to a jumper – it looked fantastic but was apparently hard to move around in! Charge a gold coin donation and watch the creative outfits roll in.
4. Guess what’s in the box
Pop a fruit or vegetable kids would rarely see (an artichoke, okra, squash etc) in a box, leaving a hole big enough for a small hand. Charge 20 cents a guess, with the winner receiving the prize. You could replace the fruit or vegetable once the hidden item has been guessed and keep it running throughout the day.
5. Mystery veggie garden
This is a much longer-term fundraising idea, and they make great gifts for birthdays and Christmas. Go to your local nursery and strike a deal for assorted packets of vegetable seedlings. Ask a few different classes at school to create small paper packets out of recycled paper, decorating them as they go, and putting a handful of mixed ‘mystery’ seeds in the finished packet before sealing. These can be sold for $2 to $4 dollars each. They not only encourage kids to get involved in growing their own food, but it’s fun for the whole family when you find out what veggies were in your mystery packet.
6. Who’s in the house day
If your school has ‘house’ or ‘faction’ colours, create a day just for them. For example, you could hold a ‘green’ (Everyday) foods day with green smoothies, zucchini pasta and celery sticks with a homemade spinach dip.
7. Jolly jaffle day
Your jaffle iron will hot all day! Selling each jaffle for $4.00 may seem like a lot, but include unique fillings, such as warm apple and cinnamon or ricotta, banana and a drizzle of honey, and watch the crowds line up for their turn. You could also encourage kids to try their own combination from a set, prepped list of ingredients.
8. WII tournament day
If you can encourage a kid (or a teacher!) to part with their WII for the day, hold a WII ‘tournament’ where kids battle each other in round robins until a winner emerges. Each ‘battle’ could cost $2, and opponents are chosen randomly.
9. Pie face day
Ask three amiable teachers to volunteer for pie face day. Kids pay 20 cents to vote for the teacher they would most like to see get a cream pie in the face, with the most donations winning. Teachers can either ‘pie’ themselves in the face or ask a volunteer to do it for them.
10. Smoothie day
It’s a make your own smoothie day! Prep a range of interesting but tasty smoothie ingredients and charge kids $3.00 to make their own. We suggest using a small cup size (300ml maximum). One of the most interesting ones we’ve seen was pea, tomato and apple… not bad!
