When ROTC volunteers conduct a direct sales fundraiser, they sell the product, deliver it and receive the payment all in a single trip. Fundraiser companies provide the product---often in customized packaging---for your fundraiser. Some companies require payment for the products up front; others allow you to sell the product first and then pay for the product once you have collected the money. Treats like chocolate bars, cookie dough, popcorn, cookies and candy work well if your volunteers are selling the product door to door. If you want to be more creative you can sell military ration packages if you can get a good deal on the price. You can set up a booth in a busy commercial area to sell your fundraising merchandise instead of going door to door.
You can have your ROTC volunteers sell merchandise from a catalog provided by a fundraising company. Orders, delivery and payment take two or three trips. Catalog merchandise can include mugs, key chains, sweatshirts, t-shirts and Christmas ornaments with the ROTC logo printed on them. Or merchandise can include treats like chocolate, candy and popcorn. Volunteers can pass the catalogs out to friends, family, co-workers and fellow students.
Another way for your ROTC organization to raise money through a fundraiser is to create an ROTC website equipped with an e-store. A fundraising company can supply your e-store and donate part of its profits to ROTC. It is up to your volunteers to promote the website and e-store. This can be done through word of mouth, flyers or social networking sites. You can keep this fundraiser running year around or you can designate a time period for the e-store to be open.
A special event fundraiser involves an event where you can sell a product or a service. These types of fundraisers allow you to use a lot of creativity. Sell seats to a meal of your choice---a pizza dinner, spaghetti dinner or all-you-can-eat potato bar. Your volunteers can not only sell tickets, but also wait on the diners. You can sell tickets to a chili cooking contest, host a car wash or a bingo night. The holidays provide ample opportunities to host a special event fundraiser. Your ROTC volunteers can offer a haunted hay ride for Halloween, have a barbecue or fireworks show for Independence Day or sing Christmas carols for Christmas.