Teenager Fund Raising Idea's

I agree ... teenager should get a job. I'm assuming if the child is old enough to go away, he/she is old enough to work. I started working when I was 15 and that's how I paid for extras.

It's a tough sell doing a fundraiser with a teen. People are more likely to buy things from younger kids and when there's a formal group sponsoring the fundraiser.

Teenager should get a job.

From your previous posts, your teen is 15 or 16. Old enough to figure out how to earn some money. Babysitting, mowing lawns, washing cars, bagging groceries, flipping burgers at McD's, whatever. It's time to get a job, and the Summer is the perfect time for it.

How old is your teen? Old enough to mow lawns, walk dogs, etc? If they can mow the lawn, at $20/lawn, that's 110 lawns over the rest of the summer. If they're old enough to have a summer job, they can earn the money that way. Spread the word on your social media that your kid is looking to EARN the trip, ask for suggestions and opportunities. Who knows what good might come of it?

I've never heard of teens raising funds for a personal trip. You might as well just put your hand out and ask for donations.

If my child were to go on a trip and it is a good educational experience, then I would make arrangements and pay for the trip for my child. Of course your child can do extra things to help you fund by getting a part time job, babysitting, chores, etc.

I would never allow my child to go door to door soliciting funds for personal use.

That said..... MOST schools who have trips for students available have fundraisers through the school programs (booster clubs, etc) which is guided by a 501c3 program and the people who do donate for silent auctions, advertising, $$$ donations, etc are then able to receive a tax deduction for their donation. Also, if any group is soliciting for donations, be prepared to show your W9 form per the IRS as well.

We did fundraise for school programs through the school booster programs to raise money for the athletic clubs at the school through golf tournaments, advertising for the football program, t-shirts for selected football games, silent auctions, etc. All students participated in the group activities . At no time was any student allowed to specifically fundraise for him or herself... that was a huge NO NO within the IRS rules.

If it is a school trip... then what club/group, is it for????
The school, typically has a fundraiser for these things. As a group.
When it is school, sponsored.

There is no way, a person would just buy a candy bar, from your son, as an individual. I mean, anyone can do that. Its like begging on a street.
And he would be doing it, by himself?????? With NO school approval for it and not being a part of the school?

At my kids' school and the middle and high schools, school trips like this are not free. There may be group discounts for the flight and accommodations etc., THEN, each family is responsible for their cost too.
BUT if a family cannot afford it, then you can't go.
$2200 is a lot of money.
Your Teenager wants to go. Well, simply selling something is not going to make $2200.
Many people don't even make that much in a month working a normal 9-5 office job.
Put things in perspective.
Selling candy bars is not, going to make that much.

Tell your Teenager, to get a job or do side jobs for people, clean yards, pet walking, things that are legal "employment" for a Teenager that age.

Or try: www.gofundme.com

I would tell him to get creative. Since it is summer, he should see if he can get odd jobs around the neighborhood. It is easy to say that he is old enough to get a job but jobs are not easy to get. My niece has been looking since last summer when she turned 16. Once teen in my neighborhood made small business cards and passed them out to his neighbors and people he knew and those at the grocery store. It had his name and phone number as well as a small line about doing odd jobs and errands. On the back it had a list including pet cleanup, mowing the lawn, dog walking, store trips, and a couple other things.

If it's a school trip, I would suggest your teen get together with some friends that also want to go and they can fundraise together. A car wash, babysitting service mowing lawns, etc.

World's Finest Chocolate is usually a good fundraiser as well.

Selling candy bars is labor intensive for little money. You charge, what, $1 a bar for something you pay 50 cents for? So it's 20 bars to make $10? That's a lot of door knocking. He's going to have to cover 4400 homes of people who actually purchase a candy bar (not counting those who aren't home or who say "no") to make $2200. Is that worth it? Is that practical? And you definitely need some kind of paperwork that shows he's raising money for something legitimate - school trip - because people get their doorbells rung for this stuff all the time.

People will pay more for a real benefit. That means mowing lawns, doing yard care and plant watering for people at work on on vacation, pet care (same thing - people away), dog walking, weeding, washing cars, and so on. My son had a 10 year career from age 8 to age 18, doing all that stuff. That means he was considered trustworthy and he had keys to about a dozen houses in the neighborhood - he had some regular jobs (lawns) and a lot of occasional jobs (vacation coverage) that included everything from bring in mail and packages and putting out trash every week to emptying water from dehumidifiers (maybe not a big problem in NM where you are!), to watering plants while people were away. He had to be flexible and to grab every job whenever it came up. He fed lizards and guinea pigs, cleaned fish tanks, walked dogs, fed cats, picked up poop, and gave lonely animals some need socialization.

The great part was that he learned to schedule jobs, to estimate, and to invoice people who weren't home when he did the work. So he learned some basic accounting. All of this went on his "activity resume" that went with college applications, and he had some great references from people he had worked for over a period of years.

It means your kid has to get up early and be ready to work too. He can also get a part time job bagging groceries or re-stocking grocery shelves. I'm not sure how old he is - you have to be a certain age to run the deli counter equipment, but other jobs are available for 15 and 16 year olds.

These jobs require effort but no cash outlay, and it shows more resourcefulness and requires more skill than selling candy bars.

Your son can also work at a farm stand, an ice cream shop, a fast food place, and so on. Not glamourous. But he will learn the value of a dollar, and he will learn that working for what he wants is the way the world operates.

I don't see why he can't have a part time job through the year. Calculate how many hours he spends doing stuff that isn't productive - most kids are in front of a screen or just hanging around a good portion of the time.

Do some basic math with him - if he earned $8 an hour, how many hours does he have to work to make $2200? How many hours a week is that? And open a bank account for him - most banks have no-fee student accounts. But he has to be willing to stockpile that money and not get all excited about a balance building up, and decide to spend it on an iPhone.

I think $2200 is a high-priced trip and you should find out how many fundraisers the school is planning and how that money is allocated to different students (is it to the entire program, or is it based on the hours a kid puts in on the fundraiser?).

I am not trying to be discouraging, but the candy bar idea is not a good one. I cannot stand when people come to my door trying to sell me a Snickers or Kit Kat for a $1-2 when I can get it cheaper at the grocery store. I don't care what the cause is. And, like someone already mentioned, it's not like this is for a non-profit organization or something. It's for your son's personal trip. So instead of basically soliciting donations, have him WORK for it. He is old enough to mow lawns, clean windows, do house or yard work, wash cars, organize someone's iTouch....

Online sites like Kickstarter let you set up an account explaining what the trip is for, why your child wants to go, how much it will cost, etc., and then ask for online donations (PayPal or credit card). Usually, the person receiving the donations promises to send e-mails or blog posts to supporters during or after the trip, so they can see how the money was used.

If your child is a high school senior, you could put the word out that anyone considering a graduation gift might want to contribute to the trip instead.

I agree with TF Plano's ideas.

Another option would be that you could ask your church or other affliliated group if you could use their facilities for a spaghetti dinner or pancake breakfast. Then you and your teen could start planning what you will have, when you will have it, and how much to charge. Sell tickets in advance and maybe at the door too. Advertise with your church and other groups, family, friends, and strangers (via flyers and signs being posted and distributed via friends and family). I would also suggest that a group of them do it together so it equals more help, more business but it also means splitting the profit. Should the "help" not bring much to the table (business wise or help wise) it is sometimes hard to willingly split the profits so that is something to consider.

Teen should get a job or do odd jobs to at least help with the cost (save birthday and Christmas money at the very least).

Around here - it is a namburger/brat (or hot dog) fry. The set up a grill (parents are involoved of course) and sell brats, burgers and sodas-maybe over the course of a weekend. One of the local gas stations has a stand that parents/committees can use as does a local grocery store.

Pink flamingos. We did this as a band fundraiser. Google it. You can raise a lot of money. One thing, it can be very time consuming and the kids need to be involved.

Honestly, we get so many solicitations at home that I just say "NO" to everything. Good luck!! I think it is great that you are having your child earn the funds. They will appreciate it more!!

Babysitting, lawn mowing...
If you belong to a church, all your student has to do is make an announcement that they are trying to raise funds for a trip and is willing to do odd jobs.

Is there a Farmers Market she can try to get a job at one day a week or
on the weekends?
Have her put up signs in the neighborhood for lawn mowing, edging.
If you have an elderly neighbor, maybe she could do their grocery
shopping for a small amount charged for pick up & delivery.
She could put up a sign to walk dogs.
If you have a communal mailbox, put up a sign for dog walking.
Have her have a garage sale at your house.
Bake a few things that are low cost & have her sell them at your local park during a softball game (make sure an adult is nearby).
w/lemonade & someone with her.
Make cheap (so better profit) but cute bracelets & sell on ebay.
Offer to do the grocery shopping for an elderly neighbor.
Newspaper route
Babysitting

He might not be able to get a traditional job, but he can do odd jobs for people in the neighborhood - mow lawns, wash cars, walk dogs, water plans, house sit, clean out/organize garages, run errands (if stores are in walking/biking distance from your home). He can babysit - some families with young boys might like a male babysitter who would be active with the boy and play sports with him, take him outside to run around, etc. Sometimes a male babysitter can be a great thing for a boy.

When I was in high school, I wanted to go on a trip to Spain. I think it cost around $1800. My parents helped me write a letter explaining how the trip would be educational and why I wanted to go. I mailed the letter off to about 100 major corporations with offices in my area, as well as to a few prominent doctors, lawyers, etc. I ended up raising about $500-600 this way and financed a good chunk of the trip.

Hold a family garage sale and put the money toward the trip. See if can tutor young students. Now that it's summer, he might be able to help little kids keep up their skills until school starts again.

What special talents does your teen have? Is he/she great with a computer, or downloading pictures or making a slide show or setting up a I-phone? You could offer these services to people you knew at church, school or civic groups. One local soccer team sold flats of plants (took orders in advance) and purchased them at a local wholesaler where they got a special price and then offered to plant them for $5-$7 a flat. They made quite a bit of money and got a lot of tips too! They did it in the spring and then again in the fall and they got a lot of repeat business. However, they did have to clean up after them-selves. Hope they raise enough money to go!

That is alot of candy bars at 1 buck a piece. How old is he/she?? He/she could get a part time job...a summer job at that.

Our son put on his own music concert/comedy show to earn money for his 5th grade Science Camp. He made enough for camp and donated the rest to the scholarship program to help other kids get to camp. He held it at his elementary school. He packed the house!!! It was just him and his private drum instructor. He was on drums while his instructor was on guitar and vocals. He then did a handful of Bill Cosby and Brian Regan comedy skits. It was awesome. He and his instructor collaborated the entire show together.

Fast forward, now that same son is heading into 8th grade. He was selected for a Japanese Exchange program. It will be approximately $2,000. We have the money to pay for all these programs outright...and our kids know it. But they have great work ethic...and like the challenge of making money. They never assume we will pay...they get crackin' on making their own money. But...we always help in the process. Also, after they come up with their game plan then we tell them it sounds great and we will chip in half the dough.

Sooo, our son didn't even ask us for money. He immediately started making his own plans to make the money. He is going to put on another music concert/comedy show...but even bigger this time. He has all kinds of ideas.

He is also doing extra chores around the house above his already set chores. He is asking neighbors if he can mow their lawns. He wants to do a pancake stand...like a lemonade stand. Hmmmm....not sure how great that will go down...but the awesome part is he came up with the idea on his own.

Ask your teenager how he/she plans to make the money...don't throw ideas at him. I find that kids nowadays wait to be told how and what to do..instead of brainstorming their own ideas. This is a crucial skill in becoming successful in life.

Good luck..hope your teenager makes his/her goal.