Fundraising Your Way to ICDC 

Qualifying for the Collegiate DECA International Career Development Conference is exciting, but getting there comes at a cost.

Expenses like travel, registration, hotels, meals and more can add up quickly. Fundraising can make ICDC more accessible while bringing your chapter together. The end of the fall semester is the perfect time to start planning and executing your fundraising initiatives!

Start early, set a clear fundraising goal and choose fundraisers that make sense for your chapter and community. Not every fundraiser will be a huge success or bring in a large amount of money, but every dollar counts!

Start With a Goal

Take these steps to begin your planning process:

• Estimate how much your chapter needs to raise for ICDC.
• Break the total into a smaller goal per member.
• Consider what expenses your school or chapter already covers versus what members need to fundraise.
• Create a fundraising timeline leading up to ICDC.
• Assign responsibilities so the work doesn’t fall on one person.
• Celebrate smaller milestones along the way.

Fundraising Ideas 💡

My Favorite (and Easiest!) Fundraiser: Restaurant Percentage Nights

There are two ways to do this. First, you can reach out to small or local restaurants and coffee shops to see if they are interested in a partnership in which your chapter brings in members, family, and friends, and the business donates a percentage of qualifying sales during a designated period back to your chapter. Another way is to simply look up fast-food restaurants near your campus and see if they offer a percentage night option.

I’ve linked the percentage night websites for a few restaurants I’ve worked with before and seen success with below. One potential drawback is that some restaurants request tax or nonprofit forms, so be sure to read the requirements carefully and ask your advisor if you have the required forms if you’re unsure!

Restaurants to consider:

• Culver's
• Chipotle  
• Panda Express
• Mod Pizza
• Raising Cane's  

Percentage nights are my favorite because they have:

• Minimal upfront costs.
• Relatively easy organization.
• Opportunities for members to invite friends, family, classmates, teachers, and community members.
• A benefit for supporters - they get something they already want, a meal, while supporting your chapter.
• A great opportunity to promote DECA within your community.

Tips for making the night successful:

• Choose a popular and convenient restaurant.
• Schedule the event early enough to promote it.
• Share information on your chapter and personal social media accounts.
• Encourage every member to personally invite people.
• Check the restaurant’s rules for how purchases qualify before promoting the event.

One percentage night may not pay for the entire trip, ut several throughout the year can add up with relatively little effort.

Selling Energy Drinks on Campus

Many chapters have done a customizable version of this, where students can add different syrup flavors to a Red Bull or something similar. You could also do a dirty soda bar if energy drinks aren’t your thing!

Specialty Events

Charging an entrance fee for a fun event like line dancing or trivia night is a great opportunity to host a chapter social, potentially draw in new members, and fundraise all at once! Just make sure the event is something worth charging for.

DECA Merch Sales

Create some fun, custom merch for your chapter and sell it to members! It’s also fun for members to represent your chapter in custom merch at ICDC. Just make sure to follow DECA branding guidelines.

Raffle/Basket Drawing

Ask local businesses to donate items and create themed baskets. Check school and local rules first.

“Pie a DECA Officer” Fundraiser

Students can donate or vote for which officer gets pied. You can also try to get professors and faculty to agree to get pied!

LinkedIn Headshot Day

Partner with a student photographer and offer affordable professional headshots.

“Sponsor a DECA Member” Campaign

Reach out to family, alumni, faculty, businesses and community members to contribute directly toward the chapter’s ICDC goal.

Crowdfunding Campaign

Create a page explaining who qualified, why you’re attending ICDC, and exactly which donations will be used for. GoFundMe is one popular option.

Look Beyond Your School: Get the Community Involved

• Reach out to local businesses for sponsorships or donations.
• Create a simple sponsorship letter explaining:
  
  1. Who your chapter is
  2. What ICDC is
  3. What members accomplished to qualify
  4. How the funds will be used

• Consider offering appropriate recognition to sponsors.
• Leverage members’ existing connections with local businesses, alumni, families, and community organizations.
• Make the ask personal—people may be more willing to support students when they understand what the opportunity means.

Promote, Promote, Promote

A great fundraiser won’t work if no one knows about it! Promote your fundraiser through:

• Instagram and other social platforms
• School announcements
• Flyers or QR codes
• Parent and alumni networks
• Personal outreach from members

Give supporters a reason to care by sharing your chapter’s ICDC goal and story rather than simply asking for money. Be sure to post reminders as the fundraiser gets closer!

Every Dollar Gets You Closer

ICDC is an investment, but fundraising can make the experience more attainable. Chapters don’t need one massive fundraiser; multiple simple, well-executed efforts can make a big difference. Every fundraiser, sponsor, and percentage night can bring your chapter one step—and one dollar—closer to ICDC.

This article is primarily focused on chapters working together to raise funds, but individuals can fundraise, too. Please reach out to me if you have any questions about personal fundraising.