BBOP coordinates numerous fundraising opportunities throughout the year. Some activities directly benefit student accounts to help offset their band, guard or orchestra fees. Other fundraisers benefit the general fund which supports all programs for needs such as uniforms, equipment, repairs, scholarships, staff, insurance and much more.
FUNDRAISERS DIRECTLY BENEFITING STUDENT ACCOUNTS
Note that marching band fees must be paid in full before a student can go on the Rose Parade trip. The final marching band payment is due no later than October 1, 2025. The last day to cancel participation in the Rose Parade Trip for students is October 28, 2025. Students whose marching band fees are not paid by that time may not be able to participate in the Rose Parade Trip.
FUNDRAISERS THAT SELL ITEMS
Texas Roadhouse Gift Cards – December
Online sales of Texas Roadhouse gift cards plus 3 appetizer coupons. The referring student entered during purchase receives $5 per card to their CutTime account. Students and parents can share the posts from the Band’s social media account and/or send links directly to friends and family.
Mattress Sale (non-traditional sell-raiser) – April or May each year
We partner with Custom Fundraising Solutions. The sale takes place in the big room at the high school. The referring student receives $25 for each mattress sold. Students and parents can share the posts from the Band’s social media account or inform friends directly.
Crew Carwash – June
Online sales of e-Wash coupons. The referring student entered during purchase receives 50% of each ticket sold in their account. Students and parents can share the posts from the Band’s social media account or inform friends directly.
Trash Bags & Laundry Soap – August
Students sell trash bags, laundry detergent and related items to earn 20% of sales for their student accounts. Information is distributed by directors. BBOP also receives a percentage of the sales.
Cheese & Sausage Sale – November
Students sell cheese, sausage and related food items to earn 20% of sales for their student accounts. Information is distributed by directors. BBOP also receives a percentage of the sales.
Lucas Oil Stadium and Indianapolis Motor Speedway Events
Occasionally, there are opportunities to work concessions or sell programs at these venues for certain events. You can normally earn $50-$100 for your student’s account by working these shifts. These are shared as they arise from the venues.
Note: BBOP may add 2-3 other selling-based fundraisers that benefit students’ accounts. Those details will be added here and shared via the band’s eNews. Subscribe to eNews here.
FUNDRAISERS THAT DON’T SELL ITEMS
Raise Right
RaiseRight is a fundraising program that allows parents and other family members to offset their students’ band fees by purchasing gift cards for everyday expenses. Here’s how it works:
- Purchase Gift Cards: Buy gift cards at face value from a wide selection of retailers, including grocery stores, gas stations, restaurants, and more. These can be physical cards, eGift cards, or reloadable cards.
- Use Gift Cards for Purchases: Use these gift cards instead of cash or credit for your regular shopping needs.
- Earn Rebates: Each gift card purchase includes a rebate percentage, which varies by retailer and can be up to 20%, averaging around 6%. A portion of this rebate goes directly toward your student’s band fees.
By integrating RaiseRight into your routine spending, you can significantly reduce out-of-pocket costs for band-related expenses. For example, using gift cards for groceries, gas, dining out, and other everyday purchases can accumulate substantial rebates over time. At many places, you can order an eGift card as you’re checking out and use that eGift card immediately for your purchase.
To get started, you’ll need to sign up for an account with RaiseRight and link it to our band’s specific program using an enrollment code. Once enrolled, you can purchase gift cards online or through the RaiseRight mobile app, making it convenient to earn rebates anytime, anywhere.
By participating in RaiseRight, you not only support your student’s musical journey but also contribute to the overall success of our band program.
Link to instructions: https://www.brownsburgbands.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/RaiseRight-Overview-and-Instructions-2023.pdf
DIRECT DONATIONS
While students are always free to ask family members and friends for a cash gift to help them cover band and/or trip fees, BBOP will be creating a direct ask campaign template for students to ask family and friends and for direct donations to their CutTime band account and their Music Travel trip account to help cover expenses.
This guide will include sample emails and text messages for students to send to family and friends, along with a suggested calendar/timeline for reaching out to prospective donors. The goal is for those funds to be added directly to the student’s CutTime account and/or their Music Travel account. Full details are TBD.
Note that marching band fees must be covered before any additional fundraising credits in CutTime will be used for the Rose Parade trip and that marching band fees must be paid in full before a student can go on the Rose Parade trip. The final marching band payment is due no later than October 1, 2025. The last day to cancel participation in the Rose Parade Trip for students is October 28, 2025. Students whose marching band fees are not paid by that time may not be able to participate in the Rose Parade Trip.
GENERAL FUNDRAISERS
BBOP coordinates several fundraisers throughout the year to help cover the expenses of Brownsburg Band, Guard and Orchestra programs, beyond what student fees cover. This includes uniforms, staff, equipment, instruments, scholarships, transportation and insurance needs. These fundraisers support all Band, Guard and Orchestra programs during the year, but are not specifically dedicated to a trip, such as the Rose Parade trip.
Bingo Fundraiser
Typically held in February, this Bingo event charges admission (limited to 250 seats) and has other Bingo-related fundraising activities at the event. In addition to the event on February 2, 2025, we may host a 2nd Bingo Fundraiser specifically for the Rose Parade.
Silent Auction at Community Night
Held in conjunction with Community Night with The Sound of Brownsburg, the Silent Auction features more than 100 donated prizes, gifts and experiences. Attendees bid on items online through our event partner Qtego. Typically held in October.
Running of the Bulldogs 5K – Saturday, April 26, 2025
First launched in 2019, this annual community fitness and fundraising event attracts 300+ runners and walkers of all ages and skill levels T-shirts and medals are provided to each registrant. Typically held in April.
Golf Outing – Tuesday, June 3, 2025
Typically held at West Chase Golf Club, this scramble-type event generates funds via registration fees and sponsorships.
Spirit Blanket Sale
In the Fall of each year BBOP sells spirit blankets with general Brownsburg Bulldog themes to help appear to a broader Brownsburg area audience.
Marching Band Show Theme Ornaments
Handmade by a former band parent, BBOP offers marching band show logos and ornaments for sale each year. Offered in November each year.
Cheese/Sausage Sale
Students sell trash bags, laundry detergent and related items to earn a percentage for their student accounts. (See above – Fundraisers benefiting student accounts.) BBOP also receives a percentage of the sales. Information on this fundraiser is distributed by directors.
Trash Bag/Laundry Sale
Students sell cheese, sausage and related food items to earn a percentage for their student accounts. (See above – Fundraisers benefiting student accounts.) BBOP also receives a percentage of the sales. Information on this fundraiser is distributed by directors.
Texas Roadhouse Gift Cards
Sold online and distributed after the sale closes. BBOP earns a percentage in addition to the referring student receiving $5 per card sold. (See above – Fundraisers benefiting student accounts.)
Marching Band Day (March 4th) Donations
For International Marching Band Day – March 4th – BBOP posts on the band’s social media pages and website to solicit donations for general fundraising.
Giving Tuesday Donations
As part of Giving Tuesday, BBOP posts on the band’s social media pages and website to solicit donations for general fundraising.
Brownsburg Invitational Marching Band Contest
Held in September each year, this event attracts 25-30 local high school bands and thousands of attendees. BBOP generates funds via ticket sales, concessions and other vendors who attend the event.
Winter Guard Contest at BHS
Similar to the Brownsburg Invitational, this Winter Guard event generates revenue via ticket sales, concessions and other vendors who attend the event. Typically held in February or March.
Winter Percussion Contest at BHS
Similar to the Brownsburg Invitational, this Winter Percussion event generates revenue via ticket sales, concessions and other vendors who attend the event. Typically held in February or March.
50/50 Raffle Tickets
BBOP volunteers and band, guard and orchestra students sell raffle tickets for half pot drawing where the winner takes 50% and BBOP receives 50%. Ticket sales run for several months before the drawing. The winning ticket is posted online within 30 days for the winner to claim the prize.
Corporate Sponsorships
BBOP has created sponsorship levels to recognize companies who donate cash, or in-kind donations that reduce expenses. Sponsors are per school year. More information at www.brownsburbands.com/sponsors
Concession Sales
BBOP sells concessions at home football games and other sporting events. All band, guard and orchestra families must complete two concession shifts per school year. We split the revenue with BHS Athletics. This is one of our largest overall fundraisers.
Dine to Donates
BBOP partners with local restaurants who offer a percentage of sales for a scheduled day/time that will be donated to support all band, guard and orchestra programs.
Guard Silk & Uniform Sale
Brownsburg Color Guard occasionally sells previously used uniforms and equipment to other programs or individuals.
Kroger Rewards
Link your Kroger Rewards account to Brownsburg Band and Orchestra Parents and Kroger will donate annually to BBOP. More information here: https://www.kroger.com/i/community/community-rewards
Raise Right (5%)
See section above for Raise Right. In addition to the percentages that go to student accounts, BBOP receives 5% of the transaction for our general fundraising efforts.
General Donations
At times, companies or individuals may choose to make a general donation to BBOP to support the band, guard and orchestra programs.
TRIP-SPECIFIC GENERAL FUNDRAISER
BBOP will be launching an online campaign – similar to a GoFundMe page – tentatively called “Buy a Mile” where donors can purchase/sponsor part of our 2065 mile trip to Pasadena. Initially, these funds will be use to help cover expenses not covered by student trip fees, such as truck transportation, fuel, hotel rooms for divers and related expenses. Some of these funds raised by trip-specific fundraisers could be used to help reduce the per student fees for marching band, or for the Rose Parade trip, depending on the total of all additional expenses and how much money is raised. More information coming early in 2025.
