Garage Sale or Rummage Sale

It may sound like an old fashioned idea but a garage sale or a rummage sale are great fundraiser ideas.

How It Works

There are several key factors to success: a large area (a school or church parking lot with good visibility is a great start); advanced publicity and signage, volunteers and of course…good stuff to sell.

Have classmates, teachers, and neighbors gather items from their unwanted items. The old saying, “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure” applies here. You can price each item separately or you can group items similar in nature (tools, toys, furniture, clothing) and get what you can for each piece (remember…it’s all donated so everything is profit.)

Part of the fun of a garage sale is the thrill of the hunt and negotiation. Make sure that there are people in each area (area captains) who have the authority (and good judgment) to be fair to your customers but also get a good price for your organization.

Other Ideas

Remember, you can sale other things as well to maximize your fundraising potential that day. Have a bake sale, sell items with your school logo, scratch cards, entertainment books, etc. Don’t miss an opportunity for cross promotion and selling!

At the end of your event, remember to have a plan for your left over items. A few ideas are to have a “grab bag” time at the very end of the event where everything is $1 (or another price you determine); set up an area in the school for “grab bag” leftover sale for a few days after the event. Or, donate everything is a local Goodwill, Salvation Army, homeless shelter, etc.

In Summary

Remember to have fun with your fundraiser ideas – they are for a great cause. A little planning and some great promotion will give your fundraiser the edge!