10 Creative FRG Fundraising Ideas That You Can Try Today
As a military community, we are all too familiar with the sacrifices our service members and their families make to protect our country. However, many of us may not be aware of the additional sacrifices made by military families daily.
Family readiness groups (FRGs) are a vital support system for these families, providing resources and a sense of community to those who need it most. But, to continue providing these essential services, FRGs rely on fundraising to cover expenses. The good news is that there are numerous creative and impactful ways to raise money for your FRG.
From silent auctions to bake sales and talent shows to military-themed events, there are plenty of opportunities to come together and support our military families. In this article, we’ll dive into some of the most effective and unique FRG fundraising ideas and explore how we can all play a role in making a difference for those who serve our country.
Here are 10 FRG Fundraising Ideas to Try:
1. Military-themed silent auction
Collect donated items from local businesses such as restaurants, spa, and stores, and hold a silent auction at a community event. Reach out to military-related companies and organizations for donations of items such as autographed memorabilia, collectibles, and unique experiences such as tours or training sessions.
Advertise the event on social media, in local newspapers, and in flyers to attract a large crowd. You can also reach out to military-related companies and organizations for donations of items such as autographed memorabilia, collectibles, and unique experiences such as tours or training sessions.
You can also have a theme for the event, such as a Military Family night, where the families can come and enjoy the event together.
2. Car wash
Hold a car wash event at a local car dealership or community center and use the proceeds to support your FRG group. You can reach out to local car wash businesses for sponsorships or donations of supplies.
One way to make it even more impactful and unique is to partner with a local car dealership or car wash business. Not only will this help with securing a location for the event, but it can also lead to additional sponsorship opportunities or even discounts on supplies
You can also ask for volunteers to help with the event, such as military families, and make it family-friendly by providing snacks and drinks.
Another way to make the event more engaging is to have a themed event, such as a “Military Family Car Wash Day” where military families can come together and have fun while raising money for their community. You can also have a military vehicle display, and invite local veterans to come and talk about their experiences. This will attract more people and make the event more informative and engaging.
You can also make it a fun event by having games and activities such as a “Best Car Wash” competition where people can vote on the best-washed car of the day and the winner will get a prize. You can also have a raffle, where participants can win prizes such as gift cards or car care products.
3. Bake sale
Organize a bake sale at a local grocery store or community center and sell homemade baked goods to raise money for your FRG group. Reach out to local bakeries and pastry shops for baked goods or ingredient donations.
Partner with local grocery stores or community centers to hold the bake sale. Not only will this provide a convenient location for the event, but it can also lead to additional sponsorship opportunities or even discounts on supplies.
You can also make it a fun event by having games and activities such as a “Guess the Number of Cookies” competition where people can vote on the number of cookies in a jar and the winner will get a prize.
4. Raffle
Host a raffle with donated prizes from local businesses and sell tickets to raise money for your FRG group. Reach out to local businesses for donations of prizes such as gift cards, merchandise, or services.
Sell raffle tickets online and expand your reach. You can also make it a fun event by having a theme such as a Military Family Raffle Night and make it a fun night out for families.
5. Garage sale
Hold a garage sale with donated items from community members and use the proceeds to support your FRG group. Encourage military families to participate by offering to pick up items from their homes or providing a space for them to sell items.
To make it unique, you can hold the garage sale at a military base or housing area and have a military theme for the event, such as “Military Family Yard Sale” and make it a fun community event.
6. 5k run/walk
Organize a 5k run/walk event and charge a registration fee for participants to raise money for your FRG group. To make it unique, you can have a theme for the event such as “Support Our Troops Run” and invite military families and veterans to participate.
You can also have a post-race event, such as a barbecue or concert, to make it a fun day for the whole community.
7. Bingo night
Host a bingo night at a local community center or church and charge for bingo cards to raise money for your FRG group. Make it unique, you can have a theme for the event such as “Military Family Bingo Night” and invite military families to participate. You can also offer prizes such as gift cards to local businesses or military-related items.
Add an educational aspect to the event by highlighting the different branches of the military and the history behind them. For example, you can have a round of bingo dedicated to different military branches and have a brief history lesson or trivia about it. This will make the event more informative and engaging for everyone.
8. Talent show
Host a talent show featuring military families and charge admission to raise money for your FRG group.
To make the event even more impactful and unique, you can invite well-known local performers or celebrities to participate and act as judges or hosts. This will not only attract a larger crowd, but it will also make the event more exciting for participants and attendees.
Another way to make the event more unique is having different categories for the talent show, such as singing, dancing, comedy, and instrumental performances. This allows for a wider range of talents to be showcased and makes the event more engaging for attendees as they can see different types of performances.
You can also make the event more interactive by having audience participation in the judging process. For example, having a voting system where the audience can vote for their favorite performances via text or mobile app. This makes the event more engaging and provides a sense of community involvement.
9. Military ball
Host a formal ball and charge admission to raise money for your FRG group. You can also have a silent auction, live music, and a photo booth to make it a fun and memorable night for everyone.
To make the event even more impactful and unique, you can incorporate elements that add to the overall experience and create a lasting impression.
One way to do this is by incorporating a theme for the event. For example, having a “Gatsby” theme where guests are encouraged to dress in 1920s attire, and the venue decorated accordingly. This not only adds to the overall ambiance but also makes the event more engaging and memorable for attendees.
Another way to make the event more unique is having a charity component. For example, having a portion of the proceeds go to a specific charity that aligns with the mission of your FRG group. This makes the event more meaningful and creates a sense of purpose for the attendees.
10. Online Auction
Host an online auction and invite bidders to bid on items that include donated items and services. Have a mix of physical items and services such as military-related experiences or training sessions. You can also make it a fun event by having a virtual watch party where the families can watch the auction together and make it a fun night out.
Final Thoughts
Raising money for a Family readiness group (FRG) is essential for providing support and resources for military families. These events not only raise money for your FRG group but also bring the community together and create a sense of community involvement.
However, it’s important to remember that fundraising is not just about raising money; it’s about creating an impact and making a difference for those who serve our country. It’s about coming together as a community and committing to support our military families. It’s about creating memories, educating the public, and celebrating the sacrifices of our service members and their families.
