Best with a large group, a rummage sale is like a huge yard sale. It is just everybody’s junk for sale at one large location (such as a parking lot). Ask for donations of anything you can sell excluding clothes - clothes don’t sell well. Give yourself plenty of time to collect the items, several months might be necessary. Sell for one or two days, then donate whatever is left to a local charity. If it’s a hot day you might also include a lemonade stand at your event.
Silent Auction
Ask local business for donations of items to auction off, including dinners out, gift cards, nice items, services, or whatever they’d like to offer. Arrange the items on tables. Each item should have a starting price and a sheet of paper for people to write down their offers. At a certain time, the auction closes. The person with the highest written bid wins, pays, and goes home happy. There should be a cashier at the door for convenience of payment.
Nail Painting
Best for a small group, this one’s so simple that elementary students can do it. Charge $1 for plain, $2 for fancy. Girls do the painting; boys drum up the business and collect the money.
Popsicle Stand
Sell icy cold popsicles to school kids in the parking lot on a Friday afternoon. Be sure to get permission from the school ahead of time. You can make a good profit if you buy in bulk and charge about fifty cents per popsicle. If you advertise the day before you will have more takers.
Bake Sale
It’s an oldie but a goodie! Sell donated baked goods, lemonade and coffee during any social event or program. Be sure to label everything with yummy-sounding names. You’re sure to make a profit. Hint: give away a few samples to get people to gather round and look at what you’re offering.
Uniform Sale
If your school has a uniform dress code, you can earn money with this one. Just ask for donations of outgrown uniforms that are still in good shape (no holes, not faded). Stick a price on them, and there you go! This could be an ongoing project - just clear out a closet somewhere and let people shop there whenever they please.