This is a guest post by Gabrielle Green of TipsOnHowToSaveMoney.

With busy schedules between work and home life, the very idea of organizing a fundraiser makes most people come down with an instant headache, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Whether your child’s elementary school needs a new playground or you want to support the March of Dimes, fundraising for a good cause doesn’t have to be complicated.

Below are some popular fundraising ideas and suggestions to get you started.

Popular Fundraising Ideas

• Fundraising wristbands are by far one of the easiest and most popular fundraisers. The silicone bracelets can be customized for any charity or fundraiser by stamping them with a tagline, school motto, or company slogan. They are available in nearly any color you can imagine to match your cause, school colors, and everything in between.
• Smoothie stands are a healthy new twist on the tried and true lemonade stand. While you can go the lemonade stand route and serve the smoothies yourself, you can also partner with a smoothie shop and arrange for a percentage of sales to be donated by hosting a Spirit Night or something similar.
• Car washes can be fun and are fairly easy to organize. The most difficult part might be finding a high traffic location and getting permission to be there–but it’s for a good cause.
• Advertise as you walk. This will only work in some instances, but if you are doing the Autism Awareness Walk for instance, ask a local company to sponsor you, and in return, you can put their logo or name on the t-shirt you will be wearing to the event.
• Bake sales never get old. Everyone loves goodies! Cupcakes, brownies, cookies–all of it and more! Offer some low carb items as well so that you can expand your potential customer base who are willing to buy and eat goodies for a greater good.

Fundraising Letters

Here’s the truth: donors are commonly put off by being asked for a donation without offering anything in return. It’s the ugly truth of charity, even though it’s not always said. The Humane Society is a great example. While it may seem like much, they always send out a small token of appreciation when they ask for donations that you can keep whether you make a donation or not. I can honestly say I’ve always kept and enjoyed the cute little address stickers they send and I have made a donation more than not.

The only way to attract the attention of your potential donors is by tapping into their emotions so that you can stand out above the rest. Whether you tap into fear, love, guilt, gratitude — whatever the case may be in your particular situation, you need to grab their attention, which will in turn hopefully make them make a donation.

When approaching businesses, tax breaks are a benefit, but this will depend on the type of fundraiser. It’s worth mentioning.

Lastly, and most importantly, you need to make your objective crystal clear. What is the donation for? Why are you fundraising? The donor needs to understand how important that new playground is or that Alzheimer’s robbed you of more time with your grandfather. Pull on their heartstrings a little, but not too much. And, take that extra minute afterward to send a thank you. A personal touch goes a long way and chances are you will be fundraising again in the future, so make it a remarkable memory for them and for you.