Fun to set up and participate in, a haunted house can be a great fund raiser. Have your guests walk through it and end up in a party. Sell tickets for a profit.
Car Wash
Another oldie, car washes keep popping up everywhere because they work! A sunny day, a little elbow grease, a hose, a bucket of soap and a sponge, and you’re in business. Try setting up in a gas station parking lot for more business. Also, ask for donations rather than charging a set price. You’ll earn more that way.
Tournaments
You can set up a tournament for just about anything. Golf, chess, running, shooting hoops, scrabble, whatever you can think of. Sell tickets for participation, offer a prize for the winner (such as a trophy, ribbon or gift card), and watch the people sign up to participate.
Talent Show
Let people showcase their talents from singing and puppetry to sign language and jumping rope. Banjos and bad skits are welcome here! No audition necessary. This could also be billed as something more specific such as Battle of the Bands or A Night of Barbershop Quartets. Sell tickets for your good cause.
Photography
Bring your digital camera to any event, such as a basketball game or dance. Let people have a glimpse of the picture before asking if they’d like to buy a print. Keep scrupulous records of who ordered what! Keep in mind the cost of printing the pictures when determining your price.
The fact of the matter is that you don’t have to spend a lot of money to make a profit. If you’re raising money for a good cause, people will understand and want to help you out. It’s better to offer a service of some kind than to just ask for straight out donations, so take one of these ideas and get creative. Make your fund raising event fun for everyone.