20 fresh fundraising ideas

Now is the time to prepare an end of year fundraising drive to kickstart your Kitchen Garden Program or boost funds to grow your existing program in the new year. Not only can fundraising help with start-up expenses, but it can also give you a chance to engage with your local community and raise awareness about the program’s benefits.  

Here are some quick tips for running a successful fundraiser: 

Schedule ahead

The end of year holiday season inspires many to share generously and coincides with other special school year events such as graduations and parties. Think about other opportunities to tie fundraising in, such as celebrating the change in seasons or awareness days like Earth Day.

Create a wish list

Consider what you need most – are equipment and tools the priority or do you need services as well? Consider if you need any helpers to run the fundraiser and spread the word. 

Estimate your target

Work out the cost of each item or service on your wish list, down to the last dollar. Be specific and let the community know what target you’re trying to hit.

Communicate

Tell everyone in your network. Reach out to local papers, radio, school newsletters and the wider community. Share your story and remember to use visuals. Get them excited about what you’re planning to do with the money raised.

Act

Leading up to the event, allocate tasks and check-in regularly with volunteers. Read our news story from earlier in the year to see some of our member fundraisers in action. 

 
Fresh fundraising ideas

Get started with these easy and delicious kitchen garden-themed activities: 

1. Guess the number of seeds in a jar: Replace jelly beans with colourful dried beans or large sunflower seeds. Ask for a gold coin to take a guess. The closest guess wins a donated prize.

2. Herb oils: Sell herb oils made with olive oil and infused with herbs or flowers. 

3. Local produce gift box: Connect with local producers and ask for donations, then raffle or auction off the packs.

4. Posies: Take cuttings from plants or make up bunches of fresh flowers or herbs to sell. 

5. Community cookbook: Gather easy, nutritious recipes from parents, staff and young people to create your very own cookbook. Handwritten recipes can be photocopied and spiral bound. 

6. Frozen yoghurt pops: Swap out sugary icy poles with frozen yoghurt pops, frozen whole bananas, or frozen pineapple rings.

7. Fruit kebabs: Cut a variety of seasonal fruit and create delicious kebabs to sell.

8. Garden sausage sizzle: A classic BBQ fundraiser but with a variety of fresh top-ups, including slaw, salad and BBQ veggies served alongside homemade pickles, chutneys and sauces. Bottle up your super sauces and relishes for the community to purchase!

9. Super soups: Schedule a mini soup-making activity. Sell a cup of soup and a piece of bread after school or at the next sporting event.

10. Second-hand cookbook sale: Ask for donations of cookbooks from the community for a special book sale.

11. Snack packs: Popcorn packs, dried fruit, protein balls or roasted chickpeas. All these low-cost items can be purchased from bulk dry food stores for the best value. Their long shelf life is another added bonus.

12. Themed food days: Help celebrate the cultural diversity of your region by selling international food options.

13. Plant sale: Sell potted succulent cuttings to sell at the counter or reception.

14. Smoothie bikes: Sell smoothies that children blend themselves by pedalling on the bike. Smoothie bikes can often be hired from your local council.

15. Seed packs: Sell seed packs at fundraisers or fairs. Have students design the packets.

16. Sushi day: Order sushi to sell or have children and young people make nori rolls to sell through the canteen.

17. Seasonal fruit or vegetable drive: For example, a summer mango fundraiser or winter soup veggie pack.

18. Rent out your space: If you have an established kitchen or garden space, you could rent them out for functions. Your space could be the perfect, unique location for meetings, workshops, classes or markets. Just make sure you’re across any regulations at your school or service relating to venue hire and liability. 

19. Host a workshop: Consider offering a cooking or gardening workshop for a fee, using your program’s facilities. A kitchen or garden specialist may be able to run a workshop or you could ask a local expert to volunteer their time. 

20. Share your garden: Is there an open garden scheme in your area? You could try joining the scheme, to showcase your garden and raise funds from its produce. You could sell fresh vegetables, fruits and herbs, as well as preserves, seeds and seedings. You could also sell tickets to a tour of your kitchen garden, with the students as the tour guides.

We hope those ideas have given you plenty of inspo to run a fundraising drive for your Kitchen Garden Program. If you would like to learn more about other ways to raise funds for your new or existing program, including grants and sponsored memberships, feel free to reach out to our Support Team via support@kitchengardenfoundation.org.au.