Fundraiser Project Guidelines

From the Rags to Bags Fundraising Kit

Fundraiser project guidelines are here to assist you in planning. It is said that "if you fail to plan, the result is like planning to fail". This Fundraiser Projects Guideline page is a part of the funraising kit available for immediate download. Details are at the bottom of the the Fundraising Kits page.

The “Rags to Bags” Fundraiser project concept is very simple: a group solicits donations of used clothing and other cloth items, and converts them into cloth bags, reusable and saleable. Then the group sells these bags to consumers to use as shopping bags.

The idea was conceived with middle or high school student groups or church groups in mind, but any group can do it. There are 3 major phases:

• Collection of donated clothing items – sorting into useable and not useable, laundering if needed
• Cutting and sewing the modifications needed to make bags of the items; designs follow
• Selling the finished bags

The potential benefits are comprehensive, and create a win/win/win situation:

• Donors are able to clean out their closets with the assurance that their contributions will be used
• The contributed items will continue to be useful rather than turning into landfill
• The participants will potentially learn new sewing skills, or will put to use skills already acquired
• Cloth bags for shopping are already becoming very popular – grocery stores are currently selling them for profit – fill this need in a way that will benefit community groups
• The fundraisers obtain their raw materials virtually for free
• Consumers buying the bags will have a useful product, already recycled and ready for hundreds more uses that they can feel good about, and their payments to purchase the bags are charitable contributions.
• The environment is positively impacted.

The resources needed for this fundraiser project to be successfully executed are as follows:

• Computer and printer for generating announcements, flyers, tags and labels
• Sewing machines and related equipment for sewing the bags
• Thread
• Washer/dryer to launder the donated materials, in the event that the donations are questionable as to having been pre-laundered.
• Human resources – the collectors, sewers, sellers and organizers of the project.
• Excitement and enthusiasm!

Requested types of donations:

• Woven fabric shirts and pants
• T-shirts
• Tablecloths, Curtains, Sheets, pillowcases, towels
• Large fabric pieces/unwanted yard goods (woven fabrics preferred)
• Thread for sewing

Methods of selling the finished bags:

• Order forms sent home with students or group members
• Tables at Grocery stores or other retail stores
• On a rack in the store itself, by prior arrangement
• Rummage sales or other fundraising sale events
• On-line, via this site or eBay