I like the idea of clothing drives.
There are some real benefits to schools and the community when it comes to hosting a clothing drive or clothing sale fundraiser. Here are a few benefits:
1) Parents do not have to give cash.
2) Clothing is effectively recycled.
3) It's not an obvious fundraiser.
4) It can create a sense of community.
There are a few ways to host this type of fundaiser. Here are a few options:
1) Sell to a company that buys by the pound.
2) Get donations then have a clothing sale.
3) Get high-quality donations and host a consignment sale.
These are just a few examples of the many ways a clothing drive can be handled. You can, of course, host a clothing sale where you accept clothing for charity or have a clothing swap where families can bring in clothing early in the week and 'shop' for free later in the week without paying. These options would be designed to create good will with parents and are not fundraisers because there is no money exchanged.
These sales are especially good when seasons are changing. It's best to have a donation drive around the same time parents are about to switch clothing seasons. As I write this, here in Colorado, we're just getting into the shorts and t-shirt weather. It would be a great time for us to pick up some new shorts and shirts so I would consider any clothing sale hosted right now to be quite a service to me. I would of course, relish in the savings as well because I will be buying new clothing anyways soon.
I like clothing drives and sales because they are perhaps one of the few fundraisers that does not seem much like a fundraiser and won't really create much 'fundraising fatigue' if done properly. One tip though... don't use the word 'fundraiser' in your marketing. Call it a 'charity clothing donation drive' or a 'used clothing sale' or something.
As long as you don't let having a clothing drive or clothing sale impact your major fundraisers, I support the idea as a good way to host a 'green' fundraiser that could easily turn into a yearly community event.
It also is a rare fundraiser where contributing doesn't take the form of money and donations and the sale can be easily expanded to the community at large and is not just the parents.
Profit:
By the pound - $300-$1,500
Clothing sale - $700-$ no limit
Resources:
Storage may be needed
Volunteers may be needed
Location for sale needed
Money for advertising sale needed
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Jay Moneta is the Vice President of Believe Kids Fundraising www.BelieveKids.com and blogs here at either www.believejay.blogspot.com or www.fundraising-advice.com
