All clubs need to do fundraising. We've had articles on fundraising before, but listed below are some of the TOP nominations of all-times for Pathfinder fundraisers!

1. Stress Relief? -- Pacific Union Pathfinder Director

PREMISE:
Everybody is busy these days. And most everybody who is busy also experiences quite a bit of stress. Now, they can all enjoy a break on you, the local Pathfinder Club. In return, if they wish to support you, you make it very easy to do so!

WHAT YOU DO:
- Place a single tea bag in an envelope
- Put in a card explaining that the reader should enjoy a stress break or stay at home vacation courtesy of the PF club. Leave instructions on how to do this (sit back, relax, forget about everything else, drink a cup of tea/iced tea, and let all that stress float away). We did it in the form of a cute poem on nice paper that had a tropical background (it was summer) and included instructions on how to make the iced tea. Be creative!
- Let the reader know that this vacation was provided in hope that they would appreciate it, and if so inclined, could respond by making a donation (we gave a suggested amount of $5, as specificity is a tonic for the indecisive who end up giving nothing because they don't know what would be appropriate and don't wish to offend)
- Include a self-addressed, stamped envelope.

It was received extremely well, and with the donations came words of appreciation and encouragement from unexpected sources.

I think it works well because, among other things:
A) people like to get personal mail with their names on it. (you can personalize it further if you like)
B) people like to receive gifts
C) the idea is novel. Some people actually attempt to take a real stress break as a result, and find that it worked!
D) It's clear that support is optional, so there are no strings attached to those who don't wish to give (you still reached out to someone).

2. Service Housepainting & Carwash -- Madera International Pathfinders Earn the Exterior Houspainting Honor, do a meaningful service project, and raise money for a worthy cause all at the same time. It should not earn you a dime for "club outings" but the impact on the community is priceless.

"We've considered doing this. We'd like to earn the Exterior Housepainting Honor. Find a poor home in your community, and let them know that you'd like to adopt their house to paint it. Contact a local painter, and we've found they're more than willing to help out. Pathfinders buys the supplies and has the Pathfinderpower, and the painter supervises. The house looked bad before, so you can't really go that wrong.

Contact your local newspapers, they love to hear the stories like this, it gives the painter good publicity they couldn't get otherwise, and it puts your Pathfinders out in the community in a major way.

Now the carwash comes in... FREE carwash... put up signs the day or two before, and hold the carwash. Let everyone that comes through know that you're doing a service for the community, and that you're accepting donations, but only to help paint a poor house in the community. Have the newspaper clipping there, and the amount of donations you receive are tremendous. People see that the Pathfinders don't want money for a fun trip, or an outing... we want money to help others, and make the community better."
Phillip Bautista - Director

3. Baked Goods Auction -- Mr Mike, Shreveport Pathfinders

Try a new twist on a old fund raiser.
Instead of just pricing the bake sale items and selling them from a table, have an auction.
Most groups have someone with a flare for talking that will make a good autioneer.
I don't know why, but people will bid and pay large sums of money for baked goods when using this format.
I have seen $15.00 paid for a bag of home made cookies and $50.00 for an apple pie.
I have also seen people bid and win an item and then put the item back into the sale for a second trip through.
We have had several successful bake sales using this format.
Mr. Mike, Shreveport Pathfinders

4. Fundraising Exemption Coupons -- Mark O'Ffill

If your constituents are getting tired of bake sales, work-a-thons, fundraising dinners, and the like, offer then a fundraising exemption coupon.

"they sold tickets for $25, $50, and $100 that guaranteed the purchaser that they would NOT be hit up for any more fundraising gimmicks or sales for a stated period ($25 - 1 qtr, $50 for 1/2 year, $100 full year). We made $2,000 off that easy fundraiser. Of course, this one only works if you've done A LOT of fundraisers recently/historically."

5. Car Wash-a-thon

Mix the standard "donations only" carwash fundraiser with each Pathfinder getting sponsors to pay them a pre-determined amount per car THEY help wash, and you have a guaranteed winner.

6. Ongoing "TLT for rent" -a-thon -- Chris Fishell

For some time our club in Glendale and many others used this idea:

Rather than a one time auction for the services of a Pathfinder we had a standing system. The church bulliten had an "ad" that you could rent help labor or help moving from the Pathfinder club. It was neve a BIG money amker as it was based primarily on one's willingness to pay but it did make money. EVENLY as important it made a good relations program between the church body and the club resulting in more indirect support for the program as a whole.

7. Needing your idea

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Help us finish this "Top 10" at the Pathfinder Forum.

Maybe you've found a link or resource for this "Top 10" topic. If so, please email us!