I am the president of a university student organization... unique fund raising ideas?

Question

PLEASE DON'T SAY:: Car wash, bake sale, or selling of candy, beef jerky, cookie dough, pizza, blah blah... I need some really unique out of the box ideas. THANKS!! Oh yeah.. its called the Third Floor Photographic Society.. so any ideas pertaining to photography would be helpful also.

Answer 1

I've always been amazed at the lengths organizations will go to in order to make a few dollars.  Bake sales and car washes never make any true money unless you have a captive purchasing audience.

Try this for a fundraiser:

Make a list of people (who have a job) that would be supportive of your group's activities.  Ask them for money.  If they are also a business, they can use the write-off.

Find the local/regional/state arts organization and ask them for money.  They probably have grants available if you have a project to fund.

Photography you say?  Host a juried competition.  Charge an entry fee.  Don't offer money as the prize, offer your very own, coveted, trophy.

On your campus somewhere is a person who has the job of raising money for the college.  This person is an expert at exactly this.  This person would probably be thrilled to be asked for advice and might even help.