Having trouble thinking of an innovative fundraiser? Consider an active fall fundraiser that reduces litter in your neighborhood while raising money for your favorite cause!

This is a great fundraiser that can be set up in a week and completed in a weekend. Many businesses have a problem with unsightly litter, and so do neighborhoods located near shopping districts or by main highways.

Spend a week getting to know your local business owners, and explain you are running a fundraiser to raise money for your project and help the environment at the same time! Let them know you will be picking up trash and litter in their area that weekend, and ask for a donation. All store owners who make a donation get special treatment - storefront window washing (with eco-friendly products of course), for example.

Check in with your neighbors, too - let them know they can help with the neighborhood cleanup by donating $10 or $20 to your cause. Most people appreciate a clean street, and will be happy to fund your project! You can offer to repaint the curbside house numbers as an added incentive. Collect as you go if possible, and keep a list of people you will be collecting from on the weekend of the event.

Ask local companies to donate things like trash bags, stencils, paint and window washing supplies. Maybe a donut or sandwich shop could provide a snack, and the hardware store will chip in for orange tape to put a bright X on workers’ shirts.

The day of the fundraiser, split off a few people to be in charge of collecting any outstanding donations. Send a team to take care of the business district, and another to polish off the residential neighborhood. Be sure to have a truck or trailer handy to haul off trash, and a valid permission for the dump. By the end of the weekend, you should all be feeling pretty good about your efforts, and have collected more than enough to cover your fundraising needs!