Civic Club Fundraising Ideas

• A softball tournament can raise money for your civic club. Vicky Kasala Productions/Stockbyte/Getty Images

  For many civic clubs, fundraising activities are a crucial part of building a yearly budget; the money raised is used to carry out service projects, operate the group's administration, and handle facilities rentals. As you plan fundraisers for your civic club, consider ways that you can reach out to the people you serve during the year.

Service Auction

• For a fundraising event that provides members of your community with useful services and one-of-a-kind opportunities, hold a service auction. Approach people in your area and ask them to donate a service for your auction that is tailored to their profession, talent, or skill. The concertmaster of a local orchestra might offer two hours of free music at an event, a chef could offer to cook a meal in the high bidder's home, and a marketing company might donate time for a logo design. By finding services that have genuine value and appeal, you can raise interest in your event. During the event, have a master of ceremonies announce each item, and consider asking the service provider to come on stage and say a few words about their donation. The proceeds of the auction can benefit your civic group, and the participants will benefit from the publicity.

Men Who Can Cook

• Attract the interest of your community by convincing local men who are skilled in the kitchen to donate a meal to a "men who can cook" dinner event. Approach men in your community and ask them to create a dish in support of your group; the more prominent and well-known the men are, the more interest the event will draw. Consider speaking with politicians, school principals, local television personalities, athletes, or high-ranking businessmen. Ask each participant to provide a dish that serves six people, and assign categories for main dishes, appetizers, and desserts to create a varied menu. For the dinner, charge an entrance fee that covers one serving from each category or set a price per dish so that participants can choose their items a la carte.

Softball Tournament

• If your community has a decent population of active or athletically-inclined people, organize a softball tournament fundraiser. Residents can form their own teams or sign up as individuals that are assigned to teams. Charge a fee per participant; even $10 per person can add up to a significant amount with a large number of teams. Ask a local ball field to donate the space for the day, and work up a schedule in advance. Post the game schedule in advance, encourage families and friends to be spectators, and contact local media for additional publicity. You might also contact local businesses for donations of refreshments, which you can offer for sale during the games.