Child care settings often look for creative fundraising ideas, and food sales are a common practice. However, fundraising with non-food items and events can be just as profitable. Choosing this approach reinforces consistent, positive physical and mental health messages while promoting a supportive nutrition environment. It also fosters inclusivity, ensuring all families feel welcome, regardless of dietary, cultural or personal preferences.
Reflect on the ways you fundraise in your child care setting. Do you fundraise in a variety of different ways? If fundraising with food, do you showcase a variety of foods in the fundraisers you choose? Have you considered fundraising through events and non-food items?
Involve parents/caregivers in brainstorming fundraising ideas. Some options are:
- Partner with a local nursery to sell seasonal plants (e.g., poinsettias, wreaths, spring bulbs, seeds, or seedlings).
- Offer local farm products such as fresh produce, citrus fruit, herbs, spices, cheese, dried beans or pasta.
- Host a book fair, family photo session, car wash, paint night, craft activity, garage sale, or parent-to-parent sale.
- Approach a local sports team and negotiate an agreement in which a percentage of the admission cost is donated back to the child care setting.
- Sell themed items such as pink shirts for awareness days, spirit wear, or branded items with the child care logo like water bottles, decals, or mini sticks.
- Provide practical products such as greeting cards, wrapping paper, stationery, gift cards, coupon booklets, mini first aid kits or themed calendars.
- Organize a raffle, silent auction, or simple donation drive (e.g., spare change collection).
