Week in Washington

Appalachian Voices will have a limited number of scholarships for participants. Below is a list of fundraising ideas to help you raise the necessary funds to get to Washington and be a delegate from your district to help pass the Clean Water Protection Act (HR 2719) and stop mountaintop removal coal mining. Please send us your ideas, too!

Fundraising Ideas

Host a living room presentation of Appalachian Treasures in your community and ask for donations to travel to Washington. If you don’t already have a kit, contact us and we will be happy to mail you one right away.

Go for a hike! Have your friends and family sponsor each mile of your hike.

Host an “End Mountaintop Removal Coal Mining” house party. Invite community members and generate letters to your representatives and money for travel to DC.

Have a garage sale! Gather the things gathering dust in your garage, attic, and basement. Ask your friends to also donate to your garage sale.

Have a bake sale! Cook for the mountains and ask your friends to do the same. You can hold your bake sale at a local school, church, and at your garage sale.

Collect loose change. Label old yogurt cups or jars and pass them out to your friends and family, asking them to return a full cup for a good cause.

Set out your own loose change jar. Keep it in visible place where houseguests will see it, or on your desk at work.

Create an office fundraising challenge. Ask your colleagues to challenge each other to raise the highest amount. Give the winner a prize.

Ask your local bartender to donate a portion of one day’s tips. Create a sign for the bartender stating “All tips collected tonight will go directly to ending mountaintop removal coal mining.”

Host a used book sale. Gather your old books, ask your friends, family and neighbors to donate whatever they’ve got and set up a weekend book sale. Put up some signs so people will know where the money is going. Once they know that they may even give you more money.

Contact local clubs and organizations. Send a solicitation letter to your local Knights of Columbus, Lions Club, Rotary Club, Kiwanis, etc. They support the causes of individuals in their communities.

Host a Game Night. Invite your friends over for a night of competition. Charge them at the door and include some door prizes for the winners.

Investigate how others fundraise. Google “creative fundraising ideas” and discover many more ideas.