Have you ever wanted to lock your teacher, coach, boss, youth pastor or other authority figure up in jail? A jail and bail fundraiser may be your chance to do just that while raising money for your group at the same time.
This is a great way to raise money for most any type of organization. Some department stores have even done a version of this event to raise money for a local charity. There is very little investment, and all you need is one person who is willing to be locked up for the cause.
The person selected to be placed in jail must remain locked up until a certain amount of money is raised. Some groups have worked with the local sheriff’s office and had their representative locked up in an actual jail cell (safely away from other inmates), but you don’t have to go that far to have an effective event.
One local store manager climbed onto the roof of his store. He wasn’t allowed to come down until $10,000 had been collected for a local charity. Other groups construct a jail cell out of plywood. They set the “jail” in a spot where there will be many people passing by that they can talk to about their cause.
While this event works for most any group, it’s especially effective when the group has a popular leader. There is something memorable about seeing your beloved coach or favorite teacher locked up. It not only helps raise more money, but it also makes for a more memorable event. Pretty girls do well as jailbirds also. Some guys just can’t resist a damsel in distress.
Another way to build excitement is to have a girl in one makeshift jail cell and a guy in another one nearby and have a contest to see who can raise the most money by a certain time. The winner gets released early.
Because of the playful and unique nature of this event, it makes a great local news story. While some fundraisers lend themselves to stories done before the event, this particular event is best covered as it happens. If you’re trying to get some press coverage to get the name and cause of your group out there, this is a good option.
What you’ll need:
- A willing “inmate”. Someone who is willing to sit in “jail” for a day or until the set amount of money is raised.
- A location. You’ll need someplace to set up your jail. A high traffic area is best, so that your inmate can appeal to those walking by to donate.
Once you hold a jail and bail fundraiser it’s sure to be an event that your group will want to do again and again. This is a great way to raise money, especially if your group has lost excitement over traditional events such as candy fundraisers.