5 of 24

Write now Article Tools

As a youth pastor, there are times that I need to lead the group in raising additional funds. The church where I serve provides the youth ministry with a regular yearly budget, but there are some projects that would eat more than half of the budget on one event. For instance, each year our youth group travels nationally on a mission project. For this type of ministry, we work to raise extra funds. There are the typical spaghetti suppers, car washes, bowl-a-thons, etc. but one that I have learned about this year will not only be profitable but quite fun.

"Flamingo Flocking Fundraisers" have become quite popular. To begin this event, you must first make an investment. Your group will have to purchase pink flamingo lawn ornaments. These vary in price, but one should be able to get a flamingo for under $10. Buying in bulk will also allow you to get a better deal. The key is to get a flock. Ten to fifteen flamingos should be a perfect number to get your fundraiser started. You will soon see the profitability and want to buy more.

Here's how the fund-raiser works. Announce to your organization that you will be having a flocking fund-raiser. (Make sure that you enunciate flocking.) An individual can pay a rental price ($25) to flock the individual of his or her choice. Imagine your friend Bill waking up to a front yard invaded by pink lawn flamingos! The great thing about the fund-raiser is that the money making does not stop there. Your friend Bill could pre-purchase flamingo insurance ($25) so that he will not be flocked. However, if Bill fails to purchase insurance, he will be required to pay a removal fee ($25) to have the flamingos taken back to their home base. Potentially, in the above scenario, $50 could be earned by the organization if Bill is flamingoed and Bill has to pay the removal fee. If Bill had insurance, then you still made $25 and your flamingoer can try to "flock" someone else. If enough flamingos are purchased to "flock" several households in a night, the funds made can become quite substantial. Imagine four houses per night, with about forty flamingos. A group can make two hundred dollars per night. Do this four nights in a month and you've made eight hundred dollars!

Another way for an organization to make money with the flamingos is to rent them out to other organizations after your fund-raiser is over. Set a fee or charge a percentage of the amount that the renters make. An organization could rent out the flamingos multiple times per year.

The last factor to discuss is the fun that can be had. A group of teenagers can dress up in black and function as a covert ops groups going from designated yard to designated yard planting pink birds in yards. It's an exciting fund-raiser with fun thrown in. Now that's a flocking good fund-raiser.

Learn more about this author, Bryan Ridenour.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

Add your voice

Know something about Fresh ideas for fundraising?
We want to hear your view. Write now!