Fundraising Ideas for Student OT Associations
- Cookbooks
- T-shirts/Fleece pull-overs: a good idea is not to just do an OT t-shirt but to do a whole college of Allied Health so you reach a bigger audience.
- Totebags: nice for fieldwork visits.
- Valentine's Day Basket Raffle: donations from area vendors (spas, candy stores, CD stores, etc) and putting gift basket together; Sell tickets for $1-$2. Easily make $1,000-$2,000 if you have several baskets.
- Working at a Function: such as at a concert, race event that pays organizations for volunteers.
- Golf Tournament
- Food Sales: Breakfast items (coffee, bagels, muffins, doughnuts, etc.); Bake sale; Chili Cook-off; Pizza Kits. Make sure you set up in a heavily trafficked area.
- Raffle/Drawing: Depending on state gambling laws it can be either a raffle or "free drawing" by donation only; get donation of items from flower shops, manicures, pedicures, t-shirts, massages, etc.
- Silent Auction: have the different disciplines at the college put together baskets with themes and then money goes as profit. You can make it an event like a Halloween party with a costume contest with food and drink or baked goods.
- Entertainment/Happening Book: these are available in every state, no up front cash required.
- Poinsettia/ Flower Sale: best to do around the holidays, buy from a direct source and mark up a couple of dollars.
- Sold the Quick Klip clipboards.
- Car Wash
- Murder Mystery Dinner Theater: evening to include dinner and being creative as possible with costumes and ideas. Charge $10-15 for tickets.
- Phone Books: deliver phone books in local area.
- Finals Care Packages: send letters to parents requesting at least $25 for a care package to be sent to their son/daughter during finals week. The package can include snacks, candy, hot chocolate, note cards, university pencils, etc.
- Garage Sale: staff, faculty and students can donate items.
- Participate in Walk-A-Thons: solicit donations from local businesses explaining that part of their proceeds will go toward your class fund.
- Selling Candle kits.
- Class Calendars: photos of classmates, "in action" or posed, in the lab/classroom with monthly themes.
To submit additional fundraising ideas, please e-mail educate@aota.org