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Youth Fundraising

Youth groups are important to the social development of young people. These groups can be found in churches and as part of the community recreation department. Many young adults say that youth groups helped to keep them off the streets and out of trouble. This reason alone makes youth fundraising an important activity that the entire community should gladly accept.

Funding is often needed in these groups to help pay for outings to museums or musical events, supplies for arts and crafts, uniforms and many other items that the group might need. Raising these funds is part of being in the youth group and also helps the members learn many other skills in the process.

The sheer number of youth fundraising ideas available makes it hard to decide on which one to use. One way to decide is to make a list of pros and cons of each one and then compare them before deciding. Here are a few ideas and the pros and cons of each, this list can be added to before presenting to the group for discussion.

  • Coupon Book Sales-the Pros: The profit on coupon books is high, sometimes as much as $10 per book. People love discounts and freebies, both of which are included in the coupon book.

    Coupon Book Sales-the Cons: Coupons expire and many people forget to use them or don't have them with them when they go out. By the time they remember them they are void. Coupon books are direct sale fundraisers which means they are paid for up front. These books are easy to lose or be stolen. If this happens the group loses the money or the person has to replace it, either way it is not a good thing.

  • Chocolate Bar Sales - the Pros: Practically everyone loves chocolate bars and the candy is usually cheap enough that it sells easily and on the spot. The profit margin is high on chocolate bars, making this youth fundraising project very profitable.

    Chocolate Bar Sales-the Cons: Chocolate melts and is unusable when it does. It also has to be carried around until it is sold making it a hassle for the people of the team who are selling it. As with coupon books it can be stolen or lost and then the cost has to be replaced.

  • Car Wash- Pros: Very low investment, simply soap, water and sponges. It is fun for youth to participate in which helps with recruiting volunteers. Money raised is pure profit.

    Car Wash-Cons: Requires a great deal of publicity in order to get the community involved. Can be a hit or miss fundraiser - success is not a guarantee. Funds can vary, as most carwash fundraisers are donation based not set priced.

  • Catalog Sales - Pros: Customers don't feel pressured; they can take the catalog and browse at their leisure. Youth fundraising volunteers don't have to carry products around, they simply circulate the catalog.

    Catalog Sales – Cons: Product selection determines success of the project-must be chosen carefully. Payment from customers is needed before their products are shipped, some people don't like this aspect.

Youth fundraising, like other fundraisers, can be a huge success or a dismal failure, it all depends on what type of fundraiser the group chooses to use. Every type of fundraiser has its pros and its cons and they must both be weighed before making a final decision on which fundraiser will be used.

Once the pros and cons have been weighed and a fundraising project chosen it is important that the group keep the pros and cons in mind and work toward overcoming the cons or at least being aware of them so they can work around them.