Got amazing science project ideas but hard up on cash? Looking for easy but fun ways to get that money? Below are a few simple fundraising ideas to fund your STEM project.
1. T-shirt Sale
There are plenty of online businesses that make shirts with slogans or graphics that you can order in bulk to support your school. For example, a group of students made shirts that said “Sith happens.” Hilarious, I know! Students also received extra credit if they wore the shirts on exam days. Sure, it might seem a tad unethical to essentially trade academic credit for money, but anything’s better than being forced to sell wrapping paper or magazines or whatever godawful fundraiser schools usually force the kids (and by proxy their parents) to do. Plus, wearing student-made shirts can provide a feeling of camaraderie and teamwork that every class needs.
2. Traditional Bake Sale
Yes, we’ve all heard of the bake sale in which parents and students bake cookies and cupcakes. Bake sales are popular because they work! Brownies are easy to make and cookie dough comes prepackaged to make them simple to bake. Bake sales also give baking enthusiasts a chance to strut their stuff. Additionally, making cookies, cupcakes, and brownies is like a chemistry experiment; the old adage goes, “Baking is science, cooking is art.” Therefore, it’s a great way to practice STEM.
3. Community Yard Sale
Everybody’s got junk they want to get rid of – but that junk is another person’s treasure! You can either hold the yard sale at school or have separate yard sales throughout the neighborhood on the same day. Not only are yard sales exciting opportunities to find hidden treasures, but you can also make quite a bit of money for the school.
4. Karaoke Night
Karaoke nights can be a lot of fun, and all you really need is a simple karaoke machine and a venue, like the school gym or other student gathering spot. You can charge $10 or more per person to participate in the karaoke night. You could also sell snacks, food, or drinks to make some extra money.
5. Used Book Sale
Most people have extra books laying around, so having a used book sale makes a lot of sense and money. You can hold a schoolwide book sale in which students, teachers, and parents donate used books for the sale.
6. Fundraising Walk
Many organizations hold 5K fundraising walks or runs because they’re tried and true methods to raise decent money for various causes. You can hold your own fundraising walk/run either once or twice a year, or on/around holidays such as St. Patrick’s Day or Thanksgiving. These events are also a great opportunity to sell t-shirts and snacks. The possibilities are endless!
Written by Ambrea Johnson
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