Contact the day care center's insurance carrier to determine the possibility of holding fundraisers on the center grounds. Check on potential liability issues such as someone getting injured in the day care center to assess the risk versus the benefit of the fundraiser.
Rent out space in the center to other groups and organizations after hours. Offer the space to groups for meetings or events for a set fee. Create guidelines for using and cleaning the space after the group is finished.
Offer after-hours babysitting services to day care families or to the general public. Consider weekend evenings or a Saturday around the holidays when parents might want time to handle chores without the children. Charge a set amount per child to go toward the fundraising goal.
Host game days or recreational day camps for kids one weekend per month. Charge a fee for each class or camp, taking into account the cost needed for materials.
Organize a carnival or family fun night at the day care center. Try a fall festival as a family friendly option in the community. Ask for volunteers to organize and operate the booths at the event.
Make homemade Playdough, baked goods or other items to sell. Enlist the help of day care families to make or donate the items to sell. Set up a stand in a highly visible location, such as a coffee shop or mall, to get the most business.
Hold a garage sale with old day care items you no longer use and donated items from staff and day care families. This option doesn't require any upfront money to fund the project since you're simply selling old items.
Contact local restaurants, movie theaters and businesses to ask about fundraiser activities. Some businesses offer a fundraising night where part of the profits go to your organization. This means little work for you outside of promoting the event.