help please for fundraising Ideas, for a small group of children's dance club?

Depending on where you are, how about sponsership? A lot of companies regularly give either money or items to sell/raffle to raise funds if it is for a non profit community project.

Most supermarkets do this, you just write to them and explain what you do, and what you want the money for. You may need to have some structure. A Chairperson, secretary and treasurer are the usual requirements. Try all the businesses down your high st, most have something to offer, even if it's just a raffle prize. I worked for Greggs, and we used to regularly donate hundreds of doughnuts and cakes. Sometimes money. We have a business park near us, which regularly sponsers our childrens playgroup outings, and Christmas party.

Our local community centre donates money to local groups who wish to provide events and clubs for local people, so you may find something similar.

Where I live, we have a whole host of grants available, which you can apply for. Your council should be able to give you a list of grants available, but I warn you the paperwork is a nightmare!

When applying for grants or donations, include a list of costs, don't forget the little things that you have to pay for. Insurance, tea and coffee, paper cups, room hire, leaflet costs, etc.

Lastly there are a lot of fundraising books out there, where people buy things, and you get commision on them. Some are good, some not so good, it just depends on what works for you. I have used the Yellow Moon catalogues, by Baker Ross. These offer novelty items, educational items and a whole host of childrens craft items. It's definatly worth a look.

Good Luck.

How about a Christmas Show? The parents get a chance to see the children's talents and you can charge them £2 a head for entry. You can then video the performance and sell DVDs at say £5 a head - although I don't think you can officially sell the DVDs, you ask the parents to make a donation for costs.

You could try selling candy, chips, or candles. When the weather is nice have a yard sale and/or car wash. If you get snow where you live, have the whole group split into groups and go shovel snow. Or you can put containers at different stores to raise money. You could also tag at different stores like the kids sports teams do. You could also join up with another youth group in your area to raise money, then both groups on the trip together. Try them all, you can use the extra money and maybe take two trips.

An amazing book that I found at the library is "Fund Raising for Dummies." It covers all aspects of fund-raising from planning, organizing, to follow ups with donors, and legal requirements. It's a must for any organization of any size. I don't recall the author's name but he was a Chairperson for United Way.

Sponsored tap, sponsored silence, sponsored walk, sponsored anything. Cake stalls; dance displays; advertise for a company to sponsor them. Danceathon. Write to theatres or other dance groups for their suggestions. Approach local companies, McDonald's and Tesco are usually quite accommodating, for some raffle prizes. Our school did an auction once where all the parents pledged something like to give a haircut or cook an Indian meal for 2 or tickets to a show or whatever and then everyone bids and the highest one gets it.

Use krispy kreme donuts, if you tell the bakery you want to do a fundraiser they will give you a discount on the donuts. We use them for our fall festival programs for the pre-k and between 10 parents (because the other 10 usually dont participate) we have raised 1600.00 in one month and that was our profit.

A christmas fete would raise money followed by an easter fete and summer fairs. You would need to put money into it to set everything up but you would soon make a profit.

Do a car boot or a garage sale, and put a notice up saying where all the proceeds will be going.

Ask people if you can clean their cars on their drive.