FUNdraising 101 - Raking It In

Looking to raise money for a cause?

Hurricane relief, after-school program, food pantry donation? Here’s an idea that is a perfect fit for the fall months and has multiple layers of benefits.

For a couple years we did a rake-a-thon to benefit our girls’ club enrichment program. The kids tried to get pledges from five people each, usually for around $10. Sisters worked together, no problem. Then one of the moms identified a handful of people that would benefit from a free lawn raking - elderly, someone who was sick or caring for someone, etc.

On a certain day in October or November when a lot of leaves had fallen, we assembled at the church where we usually had our meetings, everyone with a rake and a package of paper lawn and leaf bags. A couple families brought brothers and younger sibs too.

We divided up in groups and dispersed, heading out to the houses. We let the people know we were coming and asked them to just accept the blessing and not offer to pay the kids or give them candy or anything.

With four or five kids and a mom or two, it was quick work to rake ‘em up (we only did the front yards), jump in the mounds a couple times, stuff the bags, and then pile back in the cars for the next house. I think each group did two houses.

There were a dozen girls in the club and raising about $50 each, with sister teams working together, that brought in somewhere around $450 – plenty for our club projects, enough for a donation to the church for the space use, and a gift for the missionary family we had learned about. Wowza.

The best thing was, the money people donated went toward our kids' club AND providing a chore for someone AND to the missionary family, so it was a triple play goodie for the donors. Plus, the recipients were treated to a blessing, and the kids had fun working together.

A lot of people have lawn services now, so this idea could easily be adapted. Consider benefiting your community by doing a park or nature area clean-up instead, or maybe something different like washing the church’s hundred-and-something folding chairs! And if group efforts are not in the mix right now, a family could do this on a smaller scale.

All you need are some donors that want to multiply their gift, and someone to bless.