basket ideas

It’s fundraising time in our neck of the woods. Both the preschool and the elementary schools have spring fundraisers that involve making gift baskets. I’ve done a few of these in the past and have found I really enjoy coming up with ideas. No matter what type of basket you’re putting together, remember these basic principles:

• Think about what you would buy.
• Have a variety of price points. Make some baskets that are worth $20 and some that are worth several hundred dollars (more if your target audience expects it). This way a larger mix of your audience can feel they’re contributing. 
• Don’t forget your biggest and most often overlooked resource – YOUR COMMUNITY BUSINESSES. Many businesses have a donation policy and are just waiting to contribute to local schools and non-profits. It’s a great way to get their name into the community and a tax-deductible way to market themselves. Make sure to offer putting their brochure or logo at your event. Ask for the moon or ask if they have a set donation policy. If you are fundraising for a school, there’s a good chance your parent population consists of professional photographers, landscapers, general contractors, lawyers, organizers, interior decorators, bakers, and more! Tap into that resource! 
• Don’t forget presentation is key… frame gift certificates for more expensive packages like birthday parties or week-long camps. For smaller gift cards, buy tangible items to make a larger gift basket. No gift cards? Package tangible items in a fun basket or fun container.

Now on to the fun stuff – the basket ideas. They are listed in the order I thought of them…

1.  Afternoon tea: Ask an area hotel or Tea Room if they’ll donate a tea party for up to 10 children, or tea for two. Package as a birthday party or a mother/daughter date or a girls afternoon out, depending on the donation.
2.  Laser Tag: Ask for a birthday party up to 10 children. Package with light sabers or nerf guns in a gift basket arrangement.
3.  Golf Package: Ask a local course to donate a round of golf. Call a few area sports or golf pro shops for gift certificates to add to the package. If one donates a gift certificate, you can ask another to donate a some golf balls and driving glove. Use a golf ball basket and green Easter grass for presentation.
4. Bowling package: Call a local bowling alley for a certain number of free games or a birthday party package for up to 10 kids. If they give the free games, see if they’ll throw in a certain number of tokens for the arcade games. 
5. Farm Market basket: Call a local CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) or Farm Market co-op and ask for a family membership for the upcoming season. 
6. Landscaping: Call area landscaping companies soliciting for free services. Some ideas are free spring fertilization and aeration; one, two or three free cuttings, free leaf removal in the fall up to a certain size lot. (Landscapers are typically more busy in the spring so fall cleanup might be your best bet. 
7. Contact local artists to see if they’ll donate a piece. They can always set a reserve if it makes them more comfortable. 
8. Photography: Ask a local photographer to donate a free sitting and a certain number of prints (or the rights to the proofs). Contact boutique framing stores to add in a free frame up to a certain size (say 11x14 or 16x20). 
9. Professional Organizing: Contact a local professional organizer to donate a free assessment and plan (up to 6 hours). Contact big chain organizational stores (we used The Container Store) for gift certificates. Package in a pretty storage bin with a  label maker. 
10. Camps!  Contact any and all area camps, the more the better. For example, sports camps, horseback riding camps, academic/science camps… anything your area offers. Parents and kids love camps!  Package with products pertaining to the camp or gift certificates from specialty suppliers. One year we were able to secure a week of horse camp, a free lesson, and a gift certificate for a saddlery. 
11. Adventures and excursions: Contact area adventure spots for white-water rafting, kayaking, race car driving, ATV courses, skiing, paintball,  etc. I try to get a package for two, if not four, so it can be a social thing.  If the adventure is more than 45 minutes away, call a hotel in their area and ask for 1 free night. We were able to get one night from a Comfort Inn to add to a white-water rafting package for two.  We also were able to secure a $25 gift certificate to a restaurant in the same town. We marketed it as a couple’s retreat.
12. Museum memberships: Call your local museums and zoos. Ask for an annual family membership. The least they might give you is free admittance for a family of four. But try first for the membership! 
13. Spa package: Call local spas for pampering services. I ask upfront for a massage and facial. Sometimes you get one, or both, or just a gift certificate. We were able to get a basket of spa products from a major upscale chain spa to add to the gift certificate for services. 
14. Estate Planning: Contact local estate lawyers to see if they’ll donate free will, power of attorney and estate counseling. 
15. Themed-food baskets: The sky is the limit on this one… contact local bakers, grocery stores, and specialty food shops and ask them to donate a basket of dry goods. You can have themes like English Tea, Wine Tasting, Italian Feast, Homemade Pizza (pizza stone, sauce, pizza cutter, pre-made crust or dry mix) etc. Get creative. People love good food. 
16. Dinner and a Movie: Contact the local theaters and ask for free tickets. Ideally it would be two or more. Throw in a gift certificate to a nearby restaurant. 
17. Summer Fun: Make up a big Rubbermaid with fun summer toys for kids: slip and slide, scooter(s), sidewalk chalk, fun sprinkler, bubbles and specialty wands, frisbee, beach ball, youth swim goggles, badminton, sunscreen, bug spray, and anything else you can think of that makes summer fun. 
18.  Sports package: Call your local professional and college sports teams. See if they’ll donate two tickets to a game and/or any team gear. 
19.  Gardening basket: If you have a local botanical gardens, call to see if they’ll donate a free membership. If it’s over an hour away, see if they’ll donate a free admittance. OR do a Gardening Lovers basket complete with gardening gloves, rose clippers, spade, potting soil, seeds/bulbs, flower pot and kneeling pad. Contact a local garden shop to see if they’ll donate any of the accessories or a gift certificate. 
20. Art Classes: contact your local art center and ask them to donate a gift certificate towards a free art class.  You could package with drawing pencils and sketchpad. 
21. Ice Cream Sundae: Fill a large bin with an ice-cream maker; ice cream scoop; fudge, strawberry, and caramel sauces; cherries, coupons and gift cards to local ice cream shops, and ice cream bowls. 
22. Chocolate Lovers: anything and everything chocolate. 
23. Around town: Gift Certificate for Edible Arrangements or Local Florist 
24. Call your local cultural foundation. See if they’ll donate two tickets to the theater or ballet. Add in a limo ride and restaurant gift certificate.  
25. Baker’s Delight: basket of baking supplies. Contact kitchen supply store for donations for cake pans, cupcake liners, sprinkles, icings, specialty cookie cutters, and a fun baking cookbook.
26. Free birthday cake: Ask a local cake decorator to donate a custom birthday cake.
27.  Party Planning: Contact a local events planner to see if they’ll donate party planning for up to a certain number of guests. 
28. Catering: Some classes have pulled together and donated catering for a specialty dinner up to 8 or 10. For example: Mexican fiesta, Italian Family-Style dinner, Indian buffet, or good down-home cooking. Parents from the school do the cooking. 
29. Family Game Night: Group together some family board games. Add in a gift certificate to a local pizza place. 
30. Breakfast Basket: Waffle Maker, Bed tray, maple syrup, granola, coffee, black tea, pancake mix, canned berries, English muffins or croissants and preserves.
31. Kid’s Craft Basket: Construction paper, stickers, card stock, markers, glue, sequins/buttons, pom-poms, large and small sticker eyes, craft sticks, pipe cleaners, feathers, beads, drawing paper, and a craft book. 
32. Knitting basket: knitting pattern book, pretty yarns, knitting needles bundled in a pretty organic basket. 
33. Grilling Basket: Grill utensils, apron, cedar board, veggie/fish basket, spices/marinades, and silicon mitt.