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Are you looking for ways to raise money for smaller projects at your nursing home? Then check out these fun methods for collecting pennies and other coins. You’ll be surprised by how much money you can collect through these simple strategies!
- At the beginning of the year, pass out empty water bottles to staff and volunteers. Ask them to drop in their spare change at the end of each day and return the bottle to you when it’s full.
- Ask if you can put coin canisters in area businesses. Post a sign letting customers know about the project the money will go toward. This works best if it’s a business where people often pay with cash (such as a coffee shop). Unfortunately, you do need to be concerned about the possible theft of your canisters. Be sure to secure them to the counter and have a specific person designated to empty them frequently.
- Lots of people have small amounts of foreign currency sitting around their homes when they return from a vacation to a foreign country. Advertise that you’re collecting foreign money for a specific project, and encourage people to drop it off at your nursing home. Be sure you make arrangements with a bank in advance to exchange your foreign currency for dollars.
- If your facility is hosting a large event, borrow an ornamental fountain from a garden center. Set it up at the event, then encourage attendees to toss in a quarter and make a wish.
- Set up empty coffee cans labeled with the names of managers at your nursing home. Ask each manager to come up with something silly they’ll do if their coffee can collects the most money. For example, they might shave their head, wear a superhero costume at work all day, or take a pie in the face at the next staff meeting.
- Designate one week when everyone (staff, volunteers, vendors, family members, etc.) brings in any loose change they can find. Remind them to check their pockets, handbags, cars, junk drawers, and under couch cushions.
- Set up a container filled with pennies and invite people to pay $1 to guess the number of coins. Whoever has the closest guess wins all the pennies.
- Promote friendly competition between departments by hosting a penny war. Each department receives a container to collect pennies. However, departments can also sabotage each other by placing other coins in a competitor’s container. For example, if someone puts a dime in the dietary department’s container, this will cancel out ten of their pennies and the dime doesn’t count toward the total amount collected. Offer a treat to members of the department that raises the most money.
Check out this list for even more fundraising ideas. What fundraisers do you use at your nursing home? Please share them in the comments.
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