Do you want to help a local K9 get a protective vest and/or first aid supplies?  This list is by no means all encompassing, but we hope it will get some ideas flowing for you.

Have onsite fundraisers.  Contact people putting on festivals, fairs or events in your town or area.  Explain what you are doing and ask if they will donate a table or booth for you to raise money.  (It works much better if there is a police K-9 there and they put on a demonstration.  Then after the demonstration is over, you could walk around the crowd with containers asking for donations).

When schools are in session, contact the school administrator and tell him or her about the charity, and how it will benefit local police dogs.  Ask if you would be allowed to hold a contest for the homerooms.  You could do something like “Spare dimes for K-9's” and collect loose change.  The homeroom that raises the most money gets a prize.  Talk to local pizza shops about supplying pizzas and sodas for the winning homeroom.  Or perhaps a local bakery could supply cupcakes, or donuts, etc.  Try to get a K-9 there when the prize is awarded.

Ask local businesses to donate, especially if it's the local K-9s that will benefit.

Talk to your local restaurants and entertainment venues and ask them if they would set aside a day to donate a percentage of their sales to the cause.  If they make participants present a flyer, make sure to share it on social media and with everyone you know.  If possible, stand outside and distribute flyers.

Similarly, if you have any Leap Frog or bouncy house type locations, ask if they will donate a percentage of sales for one day.  This could also become part of a homeroom contest for schools – whichever homeroom has the most students show up, wins.  You could also ask if you may set up a donation container the day of the event.

Contact the local media, and ask if they will run a story about the need for vests for K-9s in your area.  Describe how and where the public can donate.  If not a story, perhaps they would donate an ad asking for donations or advertising any events where you will be collecting donations.

Contact local veterinarians to see if they will donate.

Set up containers in local pet stores, veterinary offices, groomers, Wash Your Dog, etc.  If you need help creating a flyer to go with it, let us know.

Organize a car wash.

Put together a spaghetti dinner.

With permission, have a bake sale at a well-attended event.

Ask a direct sales consultant if they will donate their proceeds (or a percentage) if you host an event for them.  Think Mary Kay, thirty-one, Pampered Chef, Tastefully Simple, jewelry parties, etc.

Look into different fundraisers such as cookie dough, candy bars, etc. if they aren’t already overdone in your area.  Perhaps a local high school will let you “work the crowd” selling candy bars at a sporting event.

Yankee Candle has a great fundraising opportunity.  The products are all within $1.00 - $5.00 of what they can be purchased for at retailers.  For info, go to https://www.yankeecandlefundraising.com.

If you are working alone, try pairing up with a local group to get help.  4H Clubs, Scout Troops, athletic teams, high school service groups looking for a service project, Book Clubs, etc.

Contact local civic groups for donations.  Think Rotary Club, Optimist Club, Lions Club, Kiwanis, Grange, women’s groups.  You could also ask local VFWs, Eagles, Gun Clubs, etc.

Some pro and semi-pro teams will allow you to work concession stands to earn money for your organization or cause.

Consider flower sales.  Tulips in the spring, mums in the fall or poinsettias (or wreaths) for Christmas.

Will a local grocery store allow you to bag groceries for donations?

When considering who to ask for donations, think of people/professions that could benefit from the good publicity.  Dentists, doctors, Realtors, car dealerships, hotels, attorneys, churches, accountants, banks, credit unions, financial planning firms, insurance agents, home builders, furniture stores, hospitals, etc.