Hi Emily and all!
In the past, Atlanta has done silent auctions and even last year did a thing where people could bid on a dance being made especially for them. The callers at our dance weekend basically made up a dance with the winners' guidance! It was great, and I think we raised like $1k. We also experimented with selling popsicles from a local distributor at our dance weekend, but 40 degree weather didn't really help out that cause...
We also have an on-going "Sponsor a Dance" program where for $150 you can sponsor one of our weekly dances. It's announced, there's cake, the caller lifts you onto their shoulder to gaze upon the dance during a square... okay maybe not that last bit... but it's great. We push it as a way to celebrate our dance, celebrate a birthday, celebrate a special occasion (someone donated $500 one night to celebrate I believe her 30th year dancing), etc. Costco cakes are huge/cheap, so it's really a great excuse for cake at a dance without costing much.
Putting my treasurer hat on, I think one good area of concern would be tax implications for various fundraising activities. The other day, I was looking at distinctions between 501(c)(3) and (c)(7), and it lead me down a bit of a rabbit hole about what constitutes tax exempt activities. Does CDSS have good vetted guidance on what 501(c)(3) organizations can do in regard to fundraising that falls under tax exempt activities? I assume most contra clubs wouldn't clear the revenue bar for actually needing to worry about it, though, but I have become curious.
Best,
Jonathan Roveto
Owner/Member
Cell: (470) 632-2523
PO Box 131