Spring is just around the corner … and with it comes showers, flowers and many creative fundraising opportunities for your COTA community campaign. Here are a few ideas to consider as you plan springtime COTA campaign fundraising activities:
Flower and Plant Sales. Help gardeners prepare for spring by selling flower bulbs or bedding plants. Consider partnering with a local greenhouse for assistance. Supporters can enjoy the start of spring with beautiful flowers while contributing to COTA in honor of your local patient.
Golf Outing. A springtime day on the green can be an excellent fundraising opportunity for your COTA campaign. Secure a golf course, invite golf enthusiasts, add a luncheon and auction, and raise funds for transplant-related expenses.
Spring Cleaning Rummage Sale. Ask supporters to contribute items they might normally give away or sell to a spring-cleaning COTA rummage sale. Set up shop at a volunteer’s house or a well-trafficked public space. Publicize that proceeds from the sale will benefit your COTA community campaign.
Family Fun Day. Secure space at a public park and charge for admission to a fun-filled day of bounce houses, carnival games, face-painting and more kid-friendly activities. Recruit plenty of volunteers to help and be chaperones.
April Fool’s Day Pranks. Partner with local stand-up comedians or radio hosts and appeal for contributions, in which the comedians pull prank phone calls in exchange for a contribution to the COTA community campaign. Another community prank to consider is a ‘flocking’ fundraiser, where supporters can make a contribution to have a friend’s yard ‘flocked’ (covered in plastic pink flamingos).
Fashion Show. The fashion industry follows the cycle of the seasons; therefore, spring is a great time to hold a fundraiser that showcases new trends. Hold a fashion show and partner with local boutiques, recruit volunteers for models, find a local celebrity to host, and charge for entry.
Easter provides a wonderful opportunity for COTA fundraising activities, such as:
- Easter Egg Surprise. Collect plastic Easter eggs and fill each with a ‘surprise.’ While most will include candy or trinkets, fill a few with larger surprises (such as a restaurant gift certificate, event tickets … the ideas are limitless). Participants will make a contribution to select an egg to receive an Easter Egg Surprise.
- Be the Easter Bunny. For a contribution to your COTA community campaign, volunteers can hide Easter eggs in the supporter’s yard to be found on Easter Sunday. This is a great way to raise funds and engage with your community.
Please visit the For Volunteers section of COTA.org for more fundraising ideas and contact CampaignInfo@cota.org with any questions.
