Fall Yard Sale Fundraiser Prep Starts Now

This week, let's talk about Yard Sales as a school fundraiser. We need to have this discussion now because over the summer is the time when the kids and parents are home and cleaning—cleaning out closets, attics, sheds, and garages. It also means that it's the time when you want to email them and tell them to save their gently—used items for your school before they give or throw it away.

Host a fall school Yard Sale and with a little work you can easily take in a few thousand dollars. Here's a quick summary on how to do it:

First, as always, obtain school department approval to run the event and advertise through the schools.

Date & Time: A Saturday morning 9am-2pm in the Fall (or Spring)

Location: School parking lot or field

Sell Donated Items. All items you sell will be donated, gently-used items. Three to five volunteers sort and tag items at very low prices as they come in over a specified 2-week period.

Advertise. Send out flyers to parents of all students in all city-wide schools. The flyers do double duty; they both ask for donated items to be dropped at your school and advertise the date of your yard sale. Exclude clothing donations, except Halloween costumes—these sell well.

Set out a large sign in front of the school advertising the date. Advertise in the newspaper, on CraigsList.com, and, of course, on .

Sell. 15-20 volunteers set up tables on the day of the sale. This will take about 2 hours. These volunteers also work the sale and negotiate prices with customers. Have a single cash-out table. Sell drinks, breakfast and lunch items.

Disposal. Any leftover items should be disposed of or donated to a local charity.

It's fun, it's profitable, and it's “Green” fundraising! 

For more details on how to organize a yard sale fundraiser at your school, simply do a web search of “School PTO Yard Sale Fundraiser."