Make a big impact at your next garage or yard sale by transforming it into a community fundraising event. You get the chance to declutter your home and do something great for a favorite charity. With a bit of preparation, you can host a fun event that benefits everyone involved. Here are some of the key steps you should take to ensure your garage sale fundraiser goes off without a hitch.
Gather Your Inventory
Your inventory is the most important aspect of your garage sale fundraiser. Go through your closets, attic and basement, and ask friends and family members to do the same. If you're involved in the church, ask your local leaders if you can make an announcement during services to get more involvement from the surrounding community. Pass out flyers printed on bright colored paper to let people know when and where to drop items off for the garage sale. If the event is for a specific charity, have the charity help with getting donations, posting signs in their offices or building if they have one, and posting to their social media accounts. If you are uncomfortable having items brought to your home, consider asking a local business or the charity you are supporting if you can use its parking lot as a designated drop-off location for donations.
Prepare a Marketing Plan
Getting people interested in your event takes some planning, so be sure to put together a marketing plan to promote your fundraiser. Contact the charity you wish to donate to, and ask if it has any marketing materials you can use. Some charities may have signs, posters and flyers available for people who want to host a fundraiser. Place these materials around your neighborhood, and be sure to place a banner on the outside of the event space to draw in traffic from people passing by. Social media can also help to build interest for the fundraiser. Create an event on Facebook advertising your charity fundraiser and invite friends and family. You can also post pictures of some larger items for sale to create a sneak preview for the garage sale.
Find a Space for the Event
If you have a large yard and garage, you can consider hosting the garage sale fundraiser at your home. If space is limited, you may need to find a different location. You should be able to rent space at your local church or through your local park district. Another option may be for you to hold the sale at a local school. Be sure to get quotes on pricing for each location so you can work the cost into your budget for the event. If you can't afford to rent a space, consider offering to split the donations between your charity of choice and your local church or school. This way, your garage sale fundraiser can benefit two groups instead of just one.
Arrange for an Army of Volunteers
Having people to help on the day of the garage sale fundraiser is essential. Recruit friends, family members, other volunteers of the charity and even members of your community to help out on the big day. Consider printing hats or T-shirts with the name of your chosen charity so the volunteers are easy for shoppers to spot, otherwise you can simply print buttons or have everyone where the same colored shirt, a bright neon is usually a good choice, if you want to keep costs low. Don't forget to thank your volunteers and provide snacks, coffee and bottled water for them throughout the day.
Make Arrangements to Collect Donated Money
Once advertising is set and items are priced, it's time to gather the supplies you need for the big day. A cash box with a lock is a must for any garage or yard sale, and you should have plenty of coins and single dollar bills to make change for customers. If you have lots of volunteers, you should consider equipping them with money belts or fanny packs so they can sell items as they walk around. Have a few handheld calculators, pens and notebooks handy to help total large purchases, and you can have a few receipt books available in case any of your shoppers want documentation of their purchases for tax purposes. At the end of the event, head to your bank with a volunteer to safely make your deposit. You can then purchase a cashier's check to present to your charity.
By following these steps, you can prepare for a successful garage sale fundraiser to benefit the charity of your choice. Don't be afraid to get creative and come up with fun ways to advertise and merchandise your event.
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