input on fundraising ideas??

In Jan 2007 I joined Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team in Training for the Lake Tahoe ride. This is my 1st fundraising. I have been reading thru some posts here for fundraising ideas. I have a few ideas I am considering. I am looking for some opinions.
First I have organized a rummage sale. I have advertised, some, for public donations. I am not sure how much stuff to expect. My thought is to charge a price per bag(grocery store size) for clothing. How much should I charge?? Is $4 too much?? Probably will lower the price on the second day, even thought of lowering at a certain times each day. Last couple hours cheap!! Should I mark other items?
Any ideas or tips?
Second idea is to buy a few prizes and sell raffle tickets for the items outside of a local department store on a saturday. Do you think people will buy tickets? I read in a post about setting up a bike on a trainer. I would feel a little silly but it will be a big training day. I guess it would get peoples attention. What do ya think?
Third idea is a ride between a few of the local pubs/bars. Any fun ideas on how to raise money while at each establishment??
My goal of $5000 seems intimidating. I am getting worried about making it.

Thanks! Sparky

http://www.active.com/donate/tntin/JWhitebike

I did Team In Training for El Tour de Tucson last November. What an amazing experience. Welcome to The TEAM!

I raised $4700, so let me tell you it is very doable!

Honestly, and this might be a little strange, my best fundraiser was selling cookies. Yes, it took some work, but I raised over $2000 doing it! Bag two or three freshly made medium sized cookies in little clear bags. I just bought the dough in the store and baked them at home so they tasted warm and melty. Put the TNT logo on the bag somewhere with some ribbon, and sell them for $5 each! Explain it's going towards charity, yadda, yadda. People will eat it up! (punpun)

I actually sold these at football games while people were tailgating. Worked wonderfully. I see no reason why you couldn't adapt this for your sales or bar hopping... whatever.

Got luck! Hit me back if you have any questions.

I think you are beeing too scared with your rummage sale idea. We used to have rummage sales to raise funds for the skating club I was in (as did most other clubs in town). Items were priced individually, even clothing. I also did a rummage sale in Urbana when I was moving to get rid of a few things. I sold my book cases for around $10, individual books for $1. Later in the day I was more open to haggling. Try selling clothing for $2/piece and other items priced between $5 and $10. People will haggle if they think it's too much, but will haggle less if they know it's for charity. If you still have lots left the second day, lower prices further.

As for cookie sales, I've tried that too now that I'm raising funds for the AidsRide. I've been bringing in little bags of home made cookies to work and selling them for $2/piece. I've made $200 so far and people keep asking me to bring more in. I have also gotten a few extra donations this way. Probably another $200 so far. It's a good way to advertise what you are doing.

Good luck!

Thanks, "Switch", for the tnt welcome. I am excited about joining & am enjoying it. The fundraising is out of my normal comfort zone but my tag line is "Push Yourself Every Day." That is what I have been trying to do. I like the cookie idea! Just have to find my market and figure out how to NOT eat all the product.

"Elephant" You are right I am...too scared... about the rummage sale. I have helped with annual sales at our church. The church gets mountains of stuff. I think my staff is rather small. The sale is Mar 9th & 10th. I'll see how it goes soon.

Take care & have a great day!

A friend of mine has done a lot of fundraising for HERA which is a women's gyn cancer charity. She has had some really great fundraisers in the past, including: charity auctions held online (she auctioned off a famous climber who she met through the charity), bar events where she got a friend who had a band to play a benefit and the bar agreed to donate a percent of the cover charge to her and they had raffles and such.

I think the cookie sale is a good idea too, since people generally like to feel like they're supporting something like that (and they get to eat sweets!). You could also try a flower sale or something like that, since spring is coming up!