Healthy Fundraising Alternatives

Every time the term fundraising comes up everyone thinks of the same thing; kids going door to door selling chocolate bars. However, with the rising epidemic of American obesity is it the best or socially responsible campaign you can run? What other options do you have to raise your funds in a healthy way?


Reasons for a Healthier Fundraising Campaign


According to a recent survey, the average American eats 152 pounds of sugar a year! That fact combined with a sedimentary lifestyle for many North Americans is fuelling an obesity epidemic. Michael Jacobson, executive director of CSPI, (Center for Science in the Public Interest) said at a Washington press conference, "Sugar consumption has been going through the roof. It has increased by 28 percent since 1983, fuelling soaring obesity rates and other health problems.”


Smart Snack Fundraising


Instead of selling chocolate, what about selling healthy protein snacks? Jack Link’s beef jerky has no fat content plus there’s 15 grams of protein in a stick - a healthy alternative for your supporters. A healthy diet advises you to eat 1 gram of protein per pound of bodyweight. Literally you’ll be feeding lean muscle which in turn will snack on your fat reserves. Ok so granted you won’t become a world class athlete from eating these, but they do make a better snack health wise. Justfundraising.com offers these in 3 flavours: Original, Pepperoni and Teriyaki.


Next up for healthy fundraising alternatives are Welch’s Fruit Snacks. These little chewable fruit snacks are made with 100% fruit and real fruit juices. A bag of these fruit snacks also contains the 100% recommended dose of vitamin C and an excellent source of vitamins A and E. Each variety pack includes Concord Grape, Strawberry, Mixed Fruit, White Peach and White Grape Raspberry fruit snack flavours. For easy fundraising, they come in small carry cases containing 54 packages, with a suggested retail of $1 each.


Peanuts and trail mix give you another avenue to explore. Some varieties of these peanut snacks have healthy low fat unsalted peanuts mixed in with assorted fruit, like bananas, raisins, coconut, pineapple wedges and papaya. If that’s a little too exotic for your supporters’ tastes, then they can snack on natural pistachios, honey roasted peanuts or mixed nuts with peanuts.


Green Alternatives to Fundraising


With global warming, and environmental issues taking the headlines, green fundraising ideas are important to people. There are ways to help you raise funds for your campaign as well as offering your donor environmentally healthy fundraising alternatives.


Consider selling reusable shopping bags. Several fundraising companies offer them in a selection of fashionable designs, at very affordable prices. These bags are made from unbleached cotton, are machine washable and are light weight and durable.


Colorful flower bulbs make a great idea and will be well received by the many greenthumbs in your community. The flowers come from Holland and are available in 19 varieties.


Non Chocolate Fundraising Alternatives


There are many different options available to make your fundraising campaign successful. You can raise funds for your organization or charity and give your donors a healthy fundraising alternative.


Resources used for this article: JustFundraising.com and FundraisingIdeas.com

Jolian Grant is the owner and operator of JustFundraising.com. He has over 16 years fundraising experience assisting schools, churches, charitable groups, and youth sports teams with their fundraising efforts.