Adoption financing

Here's what we're doing: We've asked both of our companies to host a "jeans" day at work. They do this off and on through the year. Employees dontate $5 for the opportunity to wear jeans to work. Depending on how many employees your company has...it can be good! And...we put a box at the door to take donations as they come in...many people give more than the $5. PROS: No money out of pocket - supplies are a decorated box and an email to coworkers or fliers up in the break room CONS: Took a while to convince hubby's company. I am having bracelets made - the silicon ones like the "LIVESTRONG" yellow ones. They will be RED and embossed with ADOPTION or BORN IN MY HEART (we haven't decided). I bought in bulk and will be selling them for $3 each. I got them in kids and adult sizes (my kids love them, but they're always too big). I'm going to ask stores in our area to let me sell outside on weekends, sell at work, to family, and at my children's school. PROS: Easy to sell, makes me feel better than just asking people for $. Trendy - these bracelets are popping up for causes everywhere. CONS: It was a chunk of money out of pocket to get going. However, I'm hoping to have enough to be able to offer them to other families as their own fundraiser for adoption, now that I've paid to have the molds set. When I started looking for these, the prices were not practical for a fundrasier, but by getting mass quantities, I made it reasonable. Hope this gives you some ideas!