American Red Cross - Wood County District Office

Raising Money for the Red Cross

Third-Party Fundraising Guidelines

Thanks for your interest in raising money on behalf of the American Red Cross. Prior to initiating any fund-drives, please contact our local office or chapter headquarters in Toledo for guidelines on Third-Party Fundraising. We can support your efforts and educate your constituents on the programs and services of the American Red Cross.

Contact Information

Erin Hachtel, Wood County District Office Director
419-352-4575
ebhachtel@wcnet.org

Jan Motter, Development Officer
419-329-2543
motterj@usa.redcross.org

Quick and Easy Fundraising Ideas

Below are a list of fun fundraising ideas!
• Conduct a raffle
• Hold a “dress-down” day at the office or school and have each dressed-down employee or student donate
• Sell sack lunches, pasta dinners or pancake breakfasts
• Sell t-shirts. Make it a design contest among students or employees
• Firefighters, police or EMS personnel can hold boot drives
• Hold a bake sale at high school sporting events
• Ask members of your civic group to donate
• Retail outlets, banks, and restaurants can ask customers to purchase Red Cross squares that are displayed in the business. The employee who sells the most squares wins a gift certificate
• Ask vendors, neighbors, friends, family and associates to support your efforts
• Hold a car wash
• Hold a silent or live auction
• Hold a dinner/dance
• Partner with a bar or nightclub and charge door admission with a percentage of the proceeds or the proceeds for a signature drink going to the Red Cross
• Mail or email your friends for donations
• Sheriff or Police can hold a traffic stop to raise funds
• Ask patrons to donate change at the register or hold a coin drive at your school
• Auto dealerships can donate to the Red Cross each time someone takes a car for a test-drive
• Hold a run, walk, bike ride, rocking chair, or dance marathon
• Hold a garage sale
• Make blank greeting cards for purchase
• Hold a pie/hot dog/pudding-eating contest at an assembly or team meeting
• Host a battle of the bands and charge admission with proceeds benefiting the Red Cross
• Hold Tag or Canning days one weekend at local stores and intersections
• Hold a craft and/or art fair
• Hold an all-school or all-company talent show. Charge admission and donate the proceeds to the Red Cross. Sell video tapes of the event to raise even more funds!
• Sell roses or valentines during Valentine's Day
• Sell red ribbons for HIV/AIDS awareness day Dec. 1
• Sell personal message banners to hang in the school cafeteria or lunchroom
• Hold a potato-sack race or obstacle course
• Hold a carnival with portions of the ride proceeds benefiting the Red Cross
• Put your favorite teacher or executive in a dunk-tank and charge for chances
• Mow lawns or walk dogs to support the chapter