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Fundraisers

Any project sponsored and performed by more than one member of a squadron or chapter that is primarily used to raise funds for the unit.

Medium to Large Units (7+ Members)

Bowl-A-Thon
This is a really fun project. To start off, the unit gives its members a pledge form that they can have either their friends, teachers, family, etc. pledge a certain amount of money for the number of pins that they will knock down. The unit makes arrangements with the bowling alley to hold the event. Normally the bowling alley will give a discount because AAS and SW are nonprofit organizations. The unit members bowl, and the money collected are based upon the number of pins knocked down and the amount of money pledged. The only startup cost would be the cost for the bowling alley up front before the money is collected.
Clothing Sale
The unit must contact a clothing retailer and get a quote for specialty made ROTC clothing, such as baseball hats, windbreakers, jogging pants, etc. The sale is held for the whole cadet wing. The difference between the price you sell the clothing at and the original cost is the profit. The startup cost would be the price of the clothing. But if you take orders and the money ahead of time then there is no start up cost.
Concessions
You can work the concession stands at any sports game or concert. Most of the time you will receive about 10% of the profit, which can end up being a good amount of money. Plus you will get free food and free admission to the event!
Pie-In-the-Face
Your unit would need to ask the POCs and Cadre to volunteer to possibly have a pie thrown in their face, for a good cause of course. The volunteers have their names put on a folder, which is kept in the cadet headquarters. Each class competes separately. The 300, 400, and cadre who gets the most money gets a pie thrown in their face. There is a raffle held to see who gets to thrown the pie.
Pizza Sales
Your unit can buy a ton of pizzas. You can usually get a discount on them for being a nonprofit organization and buying in bulk. Then resale them to the cadets by the slice with a soda. The startup cost would be the cost of the pizza and soda.
Carnation Sales
Selling carnations during the holidays are a fun profit. You can sell Green carnations for St. Patrick’s Day, pink and red for Valentine’s Day, and yellow for Mother’s Day. Your profit will equal the difference between sale price and cost.
Casino Night
Use one of your schools buildings, which have a large open room in it, such as the student commons. Then turn it into a casino! Train volunteers to be the dealers and play different games of chance. Setting up will be the hardest part and must be done a few hours in advance. You may also need to get proper permits from the government, as a lot of money will be handled. You can expect to make around $2500.00. This fundraiser does have a large startup cost, but a huge profit.
Spaghetti Dinner
Host a spaghetti dinner during the winter season or Christmas break. Have the cadets and Cadre invite all their family. Charge by the plate, which will include their drink and dessert. Have your members be the waiters and waitresses. Play some holiday music and everyone will have a good time. The startup cost will be the cost for the food and supplies. The profit will be the price charged for the plate minus the cost.
Other
  • Baby-Sitting Services
  • Barn Dance
  • Cadet Care Packages
  • Campus fashion Show
  • Chili Cook-off
  • Concert/Stadium Clean-ups
  • Dance-A-Thon
  • Jail and Bail
  • Mr. and Ms. Legs Contest
  • Pancake Dinner
  • Plane Wash
  • Program Sales for Football Games
  • Talent Show
  • Tutoring
  • Ushering Events
  • Volleyball Marathon
  • Waitress for Fraternities/Sororities
  • Work AFA booth at Air Show

Small Units (3-7 Members)

Soda Sale
If your detachment has a cadet lounge with a refrigerator this is a great fundraiser. The unit is responsible for keeping the refrigerator stocked with sodas. The soda is then sold on the honor code to any cadet or cadre that is thirsty. The difference between sale price and cost is the profit. The startup cost is the cost of the soda. You can also turn the refrigerator into a full vending machine by adding lots of food, this will increase your startup cost and profit.
POW/MIA Bracelets
These bracelets can be bought and then re-sold to the cadet wing at a marked up price. If you take orders and the money ahead of time then you will not have a startup cost.
Penny War
Each flight in the cadet wing gets a jar. Pennies in their own jar count for them, silver coins and paper money in the jar counts against them. Come up with a special prize for the winning flight and your chapter keeps all the money as your profit.
Car Wash
A car wash can be a fun and profitable fundraiser. Having it on an AF base will really boost your unit’s profit. It gives the actives a chance to support Arnold Air Society and Silver Wings and they get their car washed in the mean time.
Can Drive
On the weekends go around to the apartments on campus and collect the beer and soda bottles from all their parties. After about three hours of collecting, your unit could wind up with a little over $100 worth of recycling. And the best part is there is no startup cost.
POC Auction
You unit can auction off some or all of the POC’s to the GMC’s for a special amount of time. This requires a large commitment by the whole cadet wing, but there is no startup cost and it is a great way to foster POC and GMC interaction.
Jacket Sales
Have a clothing store make a jacket with Air Force on the back and the cadet’s name on the front. They must orders these ahead of time with their money, so you won’t have a startup cost.
T-Shirt Sales
Design a special AFROTC T-shirt that the cadets would like to buy. “Top ten reasons to be an AF cadet” is a good T-shirt topic. Then sell the shirts at a price a little bit higher than the cost. If you design a really cool shirt you will make a good profit, be creative!
Other
  • Booths at Carnival Events
  • Button sales
  • Cadet Care Packages
  • Calendar Sales
  • Candy Sells
  • Cupcake Sales
  • Donut Sales
  • Fruitcake Sales during the Holidays
  • Garage Sale
  • Holiday Oriented Sales
  • Kiss Sales
  • Magazine Sales
  • Paper Drives
  • Parking Cars
  • Raffles
  • Scavenger Hunt
  • Selling Christmas Cards
  • Shoe Shine Sales