Student Council Fundraising Projects
Haunted House
Student leaders at George Carter MS in Clio, MI, organized a haunted house for Halloween consisting of a series of rooms winding around the middle of the school's media center and ending with a chase from a "madman." Admission to the haunted house was $3 and groups of 10 people went in at a time.
Homecoming Auction
Football players and cheerleaders who are willing to participate in a fundraiser at North Newton HS in Lake Village, IN, fill out information cards about themselves and agree to dance at the Homecoming Dance with the highest bidder in an auction. An auctioneer auctions each one off during a rally before the Homecoming game.
Movie Night
After basketball games on Friday nights, the student council at Warren Township HS in Gurnee, IL, sponsors movie nights. Students are invited to stay after the game to watch a movie shown in their Black Box Theater. The group charges a $3 fee at the door and provides popcorn and soda during the movie.
Test Drives Benefit Student Council
The student council at Stephenville (TX) HS benefited from the generosity of a local car dealership and representatives from Dodge Motors through a program that paid $5 to the student council for every test drive performed on a designated day.
The event took place in the west parking lot of the school with cars and liability insurance provided by the local dealership. Approximately 200 test drives were done during the three-hour event.
All-Night Volleyball Tournament
The student council of Seneca Valley HS in Harmony, PA, sponsored an all-night volleyball tournament as a fundraiser for Shriners Hospital, which was selected by the Pennsylvania Association of Student Councils as the state project. The group raised about $1,000 by charging teams a minimum $40 donation to play. More than 200 students participated.
The tournament started on a Friday night at 11 p.m. and ended about 6:00 the following morning. Teams played in a league format for several hours before a double-elimination tournament began. Teams were co-ed and were required to have at least two boys or two girls on the floor at all times. A faculty team also joined in the fun. Between volleyball games, participants could eat, watch movies, or play other games. Once students arrived at the tournament they were not permitted to leave until the end.
Gumbo Dinner
The student council St. Joan of Arc in La Place, LA, sponsored a gumbo dinner in the cafeteria on a Sunday afternoon. For $4, diners were able to eat there or take out dinners. Drinks and sweets were also sold.
Parking Lot Sales
At the beginning of each school year, the student council at Eastern Hancock HS sells the parking spaces in the student parking lot. Spaces in the two rows closest to the building sell for $10 each, with the rest of the spaces going for $5. Seniors get first draw for spaces by putting their names in a hat. Names are drawn and students pick and pay for their spot. Once paid for they are allowed to paint their spot to personalize it. At Robbinsdale Cooper HS, student council raffles the much-coveted--especially during winter in Minnesota--first four parking spots in the student lot. Raffle tickets sell for one dollar each and they usually sell close to 250 tickets. The winners receive special parking passes and keep the spots for the semester.
Cardboard Boat Regatta
A unique fundraiser at Portage (IN) HS involves both students and faculty members in a cardboard boat regatta. Teams of two pay an entry fee of $15 and submit a registration form with parent signatures to enter a boat made only of cardboard and duct tape. Teams race across two laps of the pool, paddling with homemade oars made of anything--wood, frying pans, etc. A racing lane is two swimming lanes wide, so organizers run heats of three boats at a time. To keep the atmosphere lively, an emcee plays music during the race and keeps the crowd entertained between heats with raffles of donated movie tickets and gift certificates. Spectators pay $4 to attend the event.
Participants try to place for Fastest Boat and Most Creative Boat. The Most Creative Boat is judged on theme, boat shape, enthusiasm, costumes, and originality. Boats can only be constructed with duct tape and cardboard, but can be decorated with flags, stuffed animals, and other items. The first place teams in both categories receive trophies, and second and third place teams for Fastest Boat receive medals. Each participant receives a complimentary regatta T-shirt with sponsor logos on the back.
"This is a unique event that raised a lot of money, and everyone, spectators and participants, all enjoyed it greatly," said Ron Hancock, student council adviser at Portage HS. "Some boats sink, some flip over, and some boats are made so well that they can go 50 laps if needed. It is exciting to see which boats make it and which don't. It is definitely a project well worth the time," he said.
MHS Idol
Manchester (CT) HS sponsored an event based on the popular TV show American Idol that showcased the vocal abilities of its students. Approximately 30 students signed up to audition for 10 spots in the MHS Idol program. Each student sang a song of their choice for the audition either with background music or a cappela. Two advisers and three student representatives adjudicated the auditions on vocal ability and performance. The scores were tallied and the top 10 scores advanced to the performances.
This was a two-night competition. The first evening was held in the cafeteria and was coupled with an ice cream social. Students decorated the cafeteria like a nightclub with round tables, tablecloths, and white lights hung around the room. Staging from the auditorium was used to build platforms at the front of the cafeteria. Two of the student judges hosted it and the third served as the stage manager.
The MHS TV News program set up cameras around the room and while the contestants were singing showed them on a 15' x 18' screen. After each of the contestants sang one song of their choice, the audience voted for their top three. Attendees paid either $8 for a two-day pass including ice cream the first evening or paid $5 per night.
The second evening was held in the auditorium. The program opened with an ensemble presentation of Dancin' in the Streets and then the top five contestants were announced. Each of the top five contestants sang two songs of their choice. The MHS TV News crew members were important in the program as they prepared professional interviews that appeared prior to the top five performances.
A panel of three judges critiqued a particular piece on vocal performance, stage presence, and style to determine the top two. The top two then sang a pre-determined song, I Will Survive by Gloria Gaynor. The judges again critiqued the two performances and determined the MHS Idol. The Idol received a Karaoke machine, a $100 gift certificate to a music store, and a gift certificate for a haircut and style at a local salon. The runner-up received a $50 gift certificate to a local music store. The MHS Idol will be featured at the annual Mr. MHS contest later in the spring.
Kids Night Out
Combining service with fundraising, the National Honor Society at Chagrin Falls (OH) HS organizes a Kids Night Out each November in which NHS members oversee an evening of activities for children from pre-K through fifth grade. Activities include such things as dodgeball, soccer, kickball, floor hockey, musical chairs, gymnastics, bobbing for apples, face painting, hair braiding, arts and crafts, basketball, and movies. The activities are divided into age groups to allow younger and older children to enjoy them separately. In addition to the activities, cookies, Kool-Aid, and pizza are served.
Registration forms are sent home with elementary school students three weeks before the event and it is also publicized in the local newspaper. The registration fee is $10 per child. On the day of the event, children are dropped off at 6:00 p.m. with emergency contact forms filled out and are picked up at 10:00 p.m. "With 38 members, the NHS was able to handle 240 youngsters who had boundless energy, from a school district that totals just 1,300," said Brian McKenna, NHS adviser. "With minimal costs to put on the event, we made more than $1,500 in profits."
Bagging Groceries
National Honor Society members at Barnum (MN) HS devised a no-risk fundraiser that also built goodwill in the community. They contacted a local supermarket and arranged for chapter members to serve as grocery baggers during the busy holiday season. They placed tip jars at each register and asked for contributions. "The majority of people contributed," said Alea Redetzke, senior. "Many people are happy to have their groceries bagged, and with five or six people we made an average of $100 per hour."
Date Auction
To raise money for the Cystic Fibrosis Fund, the student council at Waukegan (IL) HS organizes a date auction in which students bid to take out one of 10 girls or 10 boys on a date. The date locations are donated in gift certificate form by local businesses and vary from the local bowling alley to the Olive Garden restaurant. The 20 people who have volunteered to be auctioned off fill out a short personality survey, including answers to such questions as "What is your idea of the perfect date?" Their answers are read to the audience the night of the date auction. Bids start at $10. Once a person has been auctioned off, the bidder draws from a hat to determine the location of the date from the donations received.
Dream Date
As part of their spring spirit week, Lancaster (NY) HS student council members recruit seven senior boys and seven senior girls to agree to be dream dates in a fundraising venture. Council members create a poster with photos of the seniors and publicize a drawing for a dream date with one of them. Students buy tickets to try to win a date with the person of their choice. Once winners are determined, on a designated day a limousine picks up all the winners and their dates to bring them to school. The dates receive flowers and special treatment such as being walked to class.
Carnation Drive
During the first week of February, student council members at The Cathedral School in Ward, AR, take orders for carnations to be delivered on Valentine's Day. Purchasers fill out a slip with a message to the recipient, then student council members deliver the flowers to classrooms.
Frightful Photos
The National Honor Society at Dominican HS in Detroit, MI, created a Halloween backdrop and offered students an opportunity to have their photos taken with friends for a fee. Money raised from the photos was donated to a battered women and children's shelter.
Bleacher Painting
The student council at the American School in Tokyo, Japan devised a colorful way to combine fundraising with spirit. For about $2 students were allowed to purchase a spot on the bleachers and paint it on a designated Saturday. The entire bleacher board could be purchased by clubs, departments, or teams. Student council members raised additional funds by grilling hot dogs and selling food while the painting was going on.
"The students and teachers took great pride in making their spot attractive as well as representing who they were. It was a schoolwide activity that built up our community spirit," said Julie Rogers, student council adviser.
Tailgate Party
The student council at Cactus HS in Glendale, AZ, organizes a tailgate party before one of the fall football games as a fundraiser. They sell barbecued hamburgers, chips, and soft drinks and feature a live band that appeals to both students and parents. To attract people who might not be interested otherwise, they also featured a Nintendo tournament with a football-themed game. They set up televisions and Playstations outside using long extension cords. "This brought so many more people that normally wouldn't come. They came just because they like Nintendo," said John Kesler, student council member.
Spaghetti Dinner and Auction
In an effort to raise money for the Leukemia/Lymphoma Society and a young boy in their community afflicted with leukemia, the student council at Metropolitan Christian HS in Dallas, TX, organized a spaghetti dinner and auction of donated items. Council members contacted local businesses asking for items that could be auctioned off and received donations such as basketball tickets, gift certificates, and restaurant coupons. All items were auctioned at the spaghetti dinner and the proceeds from the evening were $1,300.
Parking Lot Sale
Accommodating both bargain hunters and those who want to get rid of old household items, members of NHS at Metropolitan Christian HS in Dallas, TX, hosted a giant "garage" sale in the parking lot of their school. Members divided the parking lot into spaces and charged people a fee to set up their items for sale. After paying the fee, any proceeds the seller made were his or hers to keep. NHS raised additional funds by selling refreshments and holding a car wash during the sale.
Rummage Sale
The Charity Challenge at Cudahy (WI) HS made more than $3,000 last year by collecting items from parents and community members from September through April and holding a huge rummage sale in the spring. Leftovers were donated to the Salvation Army, the local library, a senior citizen center, a local food pantry, and groups that make rugs for charity from old jeans.
The Dating Game
The National Honor Society at Seminole HS in Sanford, FL, organizes a Dating Game based on the concept of the television show, with three bachelors and three bachelorettes asking unseen contestants a series of questions. The questions are written by the NHS officers, who also choose the contestants. The show is unrehearsed, which adds to the comic value. After the bachelors/bachelorettes ask their questions, the audience votes by applause to indicate who should be selected from the unseen contestants to form the new couple. After the six couples have been decided, the audience also votes for which couple should be named best couple, most likely to break up, most likely to stay together, and cutest couple. Musical entertainment is provided while the votes are counted and certificates are presented at the end of the show. Audience members pay $3 per ticket to attend this annual event, which allows for a fun and easy fundraiser as it draws big crowds each year.
KC Jam
Karaoke and Coffee (KC) Jam is a fundraiser sponsored by the Mankato (MN) West HS National Honor Society chapter in partnership with a local coffeehouse. The coffeehouse sponsors the event and donates a percentage of the revenue made on refreshments purchased. A karaoke machine is set up for entertainment.
Coffeehouse
The NHS at Woodbury (MN) HS takes the coffeehouse idea a step farther by creating their own coffeehouse in the school's cafeteria. Members create a stage with a black background and twinkle lights and bring in couches to create more comfortable seating. Students serve as emcees for a series of student-perfomed acts--musical, poetic, dance, and so forth. A $3 admission is charged and concessions are sold.
Sing-o-Grams
Future Educators of America members at Highland HS in Higley, Ariz., sponsored a creative fundraising effort with a Sing-o-gram project. FEA club members worked in shifts, sitting outside the cafeteria, selling sing-o-grams for one dollar. Purchasers could designate recipients and suggest lyrics. FEA club members then sang a message from the purchaser to the recipient, who was often a complete stranger.
Walk for Warmth
To raise money for the local fuel bank that provides heat for homes in need, the National Honor Society at Windham (CT) Tech HS organizes a Walk for Warmth. Hundreds of students, teachers, parents, and community members obtain pledges from sponsors for the four-mile walk. Groups compete to raise the most money, with the winning group getting a donated DJ for its next dance.
Senior Trunk Raffle
A unique raffle at Medway (MA) HS has student council members soliciting donations of necessities for college dorm life. They fill a trunk with the products and sell raffle tickets to seniors and their parents. One lucky winner gets the trunk when his or her name is called at the senior banquet.
Kidnap the Teacher
The student council of Ada (OK) HS organizes a campaign to kidnap a teacher each spring as a fundraiser. Members collect money from every teacher's classes every period for a week, keeping track of the total collected for each class. At the end of the week, student council officers bring a substitute teacher into the class of the teacher whose students raised the most money. They take the teacher away in a wheelchair for an hour off and the class gets a party.
Turkey Teacher
During the week before Thanksgiving, the student council at Braxton County HS in Sutton, WV, sponsors a turkey teacher contest. Council members post a picture of a turkey outside each classroom and sell "feathers" to be added to the turkey for 10 cents. For 25 cents a person can take a feather off a turkey. Student council members sell the feathers, keep track of the number sold (in case of stolen or inappropriately added feathers), and glue the feathers on daily. On the Friday before Thanksgiving they announce the name of the teacher with the most feathers--the turkey teacher--who is presented with a stuffed turkey to sit on his or her desk.
Bowling for Wishes
Breaking away from their normal tradition of having a spring service project that focused on campus or community beautification, the NHS chapter at Crestwood HS in Dearborn Heights, Mich., planned a fundraising project to help the Michigan Association of Honor Societies (MAHS) charity of the year, the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Members planned a bowling outing for all 115 chapter members. Each member who wanted to attend was asked to raise at least $10 in pledges and pay a fee to go bowling. If they raised $25 or more, members could attend the outing and not pay for bowling. The night of the event, 60 members attended the bowling outing and the chapter raised $1974.
Reserved Parking
The student council at Bastrop (Tex.) HS came up with a fundraising project that capitalizes on the desire every student who drives to school has to be able to find a parking space close to the building. Since regular parking permits at Bastrop cost $20 and do not guarantee a space, student council reserves 50 parking spaces that they sell by number for $35. These spaces are reserved until noon. " It's good income with little hassle," reports adviser Terry Hamm. "After we bought signs and painted the numbers, there is about a $50 overhead per year for decals."
Lip Sync
Each spring the student council of Londonderry (NH) HS offers the student body and faculty members the opportunity to display their performing abilities in a lip sync contest. Interested persons sign up to perform a practiced act in front of the entire student body. "People really let loose and put a lot of effort into it. This results in a great turnout as well as a successful fundraiser," says senior Melissa Kopacz. "Best of all, this activity is something any person from any group can participate in."
Almost Anything Goes
During spirit week at Coventry (RI) HS the Almost Anything Goes activity is the most competitive portion of the week. Students pay a $3 admission fee to see classes compete in Jello wrestling, ice cream musical chairs, water balloon toss, obstacle courses, and other events. Winners of each event earn points that go towards the spirit week point totals.
Friday Fun Night
The student council and the town parks department in Middleboro, MA, team up to host an evening of fun and games on the high school football field in the spring. They rent jumpy houses and inflatable slides, create assorted obstacle courses, and hire a live band and disc jockey to perform. For a $10 admission fee, participants get three to four hours of unlimited access to the fun. At 8:00 they show a movie on a big screen in the field. The movie selection is voted on from a pre-selected list by the student council the week before the event.
Kiss the Seniors Goodbye
As a farewell to members of the senior class, student council members at Livonia (MI) Franklin HS sell cards for seniors for their friends to write farewell messages. The cards are delivered with four Hershey's kisses during the last week of school.
Tennis Tournament
To publicize their doubles tennis tournament to raise money for the American Red Cross, student council members at Wethersfield (CT) HS advertised at all the tennis courts at schools and tennis centers in nearby towns. A $10 entry fee was charged for each double entering the tournament. Registrations in advance were preferred but they also accepted competitors the day of the event.
Kiss for Make-A-Wish
Boys and girls at Pahrump Valley (NV) HS pay $1 to kiss a card in a unique fundraiser organized by the student council. The cards are put on display and students pay 25 cents to vote on the best kiss. The boy and girl who get the most votes are crowned Mr. and Ms. Irresistible at the Valentine's dance. All proceeds go to the Make-A-Wish foundation.
Have a Heart
During the week before Valentine's Day, student council members at Memphis (TN) Central HS sell red paper hearts for $1. Students choose what name they want written on the heart. On Valentine's Day they are passed out to the students and they wear them all day. At the end of the day a name is called and whoever has that heart wins a prize. All proceeds go to the Memphis Interfaith Association.