Movie Night Fundraiser

Many organizations rent a movie and hold movie night fundraising events. This works especially well if you have a large room and projection/large screen TV. Make money by charging a single price for the movie and refreshments; provide the movie free but sell refreshments; or charge nothing and just ask for donations. Make sure you select a movie that will be of special interest to your group. Allow plenty of time for socialization before and after the movie. Some groups have held all-nighters where movie-goers bring their sleeping bags and blankets and have a movie marathon.

The Faribault Lions Club was able to obtain the movie Grumpy Old Men from Warner Brothers to show as a premier before it opened at the movie theaters. They sold 220 tickets at $25 each, and held a fundraising party before the movie. Hors d’oeuvres, wine and beer were included, along with viewing the movie. The screen writer, Mark Steven Johnson, was there to visit with people, and they auctioned off a script that was signed by all of the stars! It was a huge success! The tickets were sold before they were printed. Part of the movie was filmed in Faribault, so it had a special appeal to the local public, as well as being a Minnesota movie. Source: Faribault Lions Club (Faribault, Minnesota)

We have included a number of do-it-yourself fundraising ideas in this section that offer a break from traditional product sales. They were developed by groups just like yours in an attempt have a little fun with their fundraiser. Some of them are tried and true while others show a lot of creativity … and even wackiness in some cases. All of them are obviously not appropriate for every group, but sometimes, with only a little modification, your might find some fund raising ideas that are perfect for your group. If you have an idea for a do-it-yourself fund raiser you are willing to share with others, please send it to us via email. Include anything and everything you would want to know if you were hearing the idea for the first time.