Fundraising with Gift Baskets

As a parent, do you really want to help your child fundraise for his or her school with another candy bar fundraiser this Christmas, Chanukah, or Kwanzaa? Heck no! If you’re like most parents, you probably shudder at the thought of peddling chocolate bars to your coworkers yet again.

A gift basket fundraiser is one that puts the responsibility back into the hands of the collective class or group raising money for the charity, and it can bring in large rewards for just one gift wrapped basket.

How to Collect for the Perfect Gift Basket

If you are a PTA member looking to set up this as a PTA fundraiser in your school, the planning really couldn’t be easier. Ask each classroom or homeroom to be responsible for one themed gift basket each. Have teachers send a note home to parents asking for donations for the basket. For example you could ask each student to provide one item for the basket.

Set a Theme for your Basket within the Classroom

Each classroom’s basket could be themed around a certain holiday such as Christmas, Chanukah, Kwanzaa, Easter, Halloween, Valentines Day, or Thanksgiving. Or the basket could be geared towards a certain type of person—for instance dad for Father’s day, mom for Mother’s Day, sports fans, animal lovers, chocolate lovers, or music lovers. Brainstorm themes as a group or class that a wide range of folks would be interested in. Once you settle on a theme, create a catchy name for your basket that encompasses the theme and contents—the Sports Fan, the Movie-Goer, the Chocoholic, the Spa Lover, the Music Lover, the Bookworm, the Gourmet Delight, the Coffee Addict, the Tree Hugger, or whatever else your group comes up with.

Here are some ideas for items to go in your themed basket:

Sports Fan

This basket is typically easy to put together because many school teams and local sports organizations will donate to charity for promotional purposes. Ask for donated items such as sporting goods, team memorabilia, popcorn and peanuts, jerseys, team sweaters, pennants, key chains, bumper stickers, tickets to games, or gift certificates to the batting cages or to the golf course. Your basket can even be a baseball glove, gym bag, or a helmet. Whatever you choose, be creative.

Movie Lover

This is also an easy basket to put together with gift certificates to local theaters, microwave popcorn, candy, a pillow and blanket, 3-D glasses, which can all go into a large popcorn container or pillow case.

Spa Lover

A spa-licous basket is a luxury theme that is also rather easy to put together. Assemble bath beads, a loofah, bath salts, washcloths, bubble bath, bath bombs, scented candles, a face mask, and a robe. You can even add further pampering touches such as a CD of relaxing spa music and slippers.

Gourmet Delight

This is a scrumptious basket that’s great for any food lover in your neighborhood. Choose a culinary theme, for example use a cookbook or two to determine the theme (such as Italian cooking, baking, or holiday themed cooking), add various kitchen utensils, food coloring, measuring cups, baking trays, cookie cutters, colored sugars and other sprinkles, a spice set, and oven mitts.

The Coffee Addict

Coffee lovers will be all over this basket filled with various flavors of coffee grounds, spices such as cinnamon, coco, raw sugar, and flavored coffee creamer in powder form. Then add some further creative touches such as miniature marshmallows, a coffee grinder, and a coffee mug with matching saucer and spoon.

The Chocoholic

A mouthwatering concoction of milk, white, and dark chocolate, truffles, chocolate covered nuts and fruits can be had via local chocolate bulk suppliers’ donations. Add extra yummy treats such as dessert cookbooks, hot chocolate mixes, and more!

To Sell or Auction your Gift Baskets…that is the Question!

It’s really up to you whether to sell tickets in order to hold a drawing, or auction off your gift basket to the highest bidder. Both techniques could bring you success. For instance, you could put your basket on display and host a silent auction. Or you could sell individual raffle tickets and draw for the winner. Regardless of your tactic, be sure to have a list handy of the baskets’ contents as you sell tickets, or display the baskets for auction. Regardless, your gift basket fundraiser is sure to be a success and a surprise for some lucky recipient!

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