Many people enjoy collecting and displaying their collection of treasures. A collectible
can be anything from high end antiques to something rather simple like Pez dispensers. Sometimes people even focus on a specific brand like Coca-Cola merchandise.

I know from personal experience that many of these collections begin rather by accident. Years ago a former supervisor at work gave me a Curious George tin as a birthday gift. I displayed it in my office and soon my collection began to grow. Several ’secret santas’ and office mates contributed and finally friends and family too as by then everyone knew about my collection.

Here are two ways that your group can take advantage of the popularity of collectibles when you’re fundraising:

First, if your school or other group would like to do a catalog sale fundraiser, choose one that features collectibles. The Home & Gift Collection by Reader’s Digest is a 47 page gift and general merchandise catalog used for fundraising. It has quite a few items that are popular as collectibles including:

• Thomas Kinkade - wall plaque, coasters, placemats
• Angels and other ornaments
• High School Musical - popular with pre-teens and teens
• Kitchen gadgets and cookbooks

By offering a gift catalog that includes collectible items, you’re increasing the chances that people will find something they would like to add to their collection or to give as a gift.

Another way to offer collectibles as a fundraiser is to create something unique, only available from your group. There are a variety of companies that specialize in creating one of a kind collectibles and corporate / promotional gifts. A unique item that would be a great collectible is the custom suncatcher / ornament available from Wullbrandt Studio.

You can use these as a direct sales fundraiser and sell them for $20 each, or give them away as thank you gifts for people who make direct donations. If at all possible I would recommend using them as thank you gifts for donations. This way you can set the giving level higher, perhaps $50-$100 depending on your audience. When you call it a “thank you gift” it becomes a much more special item. You’re not selling them, you are giving them so it’s a totally different mindset.