So you need to earn some money. Whether you’re saving up for science camp or raising money to donate to a charity, you can find some fun fund-raising ideas here. Some are fast and easy, some more complicated, but look through this list and you’re sure to find something that’s right for you.

Flamingos

A flamingo fundraiser is fun and easy to do, with very little cost to get you going. It doesn’t matter how large or small your group is - any size group can do it. You need to buy ten to twenty fake pink flamingos to start. After that initial investment, there’s no more cost to you, but you will have some legwork to do. Advertise with flyers or by word-of-mouth that anyone can pay $20 to have a friend’s yard flamingoed. When someone pays, they must specify whose yard is going to get the flamingos.

Then you and your friends go and stick flamingos all around in that person’s front yard. Leave them there with a sign that says, "You’ve just been FLAMINGOED!" Be sure to sign your names and ask them to leave the flamingoes up for a few days. After a designated time, such as three days, go back and take the flamingoes away to be use in another yard. A fun option is to also offer a $25 insurance policy that anyone can buy, insuring against their own yard being flamingoed.

Tablescapes

This is a dinner party fund raiser, best for a large group. Set up a room with several tables. Ask for volunteers to decorate each table with a tablescape, which is just a fancy name for a table decorated to the hilt with a theme. For example, someone could do a golf theme, including golf clubs as a centerpiece, grassy place mats and golf shirts over the backs of the chairs, and tees and balls at each place setting. Or someone could do a wedding theme using white flowers, lace, fine china and good silver.

A beach theme might include a beach umbrella, plastic cups and plates, and beach towels draped over each chair. Get the idea? So you get your room full of fancy tables (all donated), then charge admission for the dinner party. You can either seat people at specific tables or let them wander around and choose where to sit. Serve simple food such as chicken salad and green salad, and if you want, you can include a speaker or a program. Be sure to give people plenty of time to wander around admiring the tables!