Fundraiser for special needs kids?! ideas?!?

Pool your resources. See which friends (friends of friends, family, etc...) has connections in either the music industry, food industry, etc... to either lower costs of buying food (hot dogs, hamburgers, cotton candy, and other fun foods for events) as well as music. Could either be a few student bands who want exposure who don't mind doing softer music that kids and parents can enjoy. Get in contact with one of the schools (or even all known schools! Have one large fundraising event and bring all the kids together for a day of fun in the sun (or in one of the buildings if some of the children get nervous with being outdoors.) and let them know who you are and that you wanted to organize something fun for the kids and that could benefit the establishment. I'm sure the pareents of the children would be able to help, if they have connections to companies who can donate prizes for a fun raffle. Have picture drawing contests with a cool prize. If this idea gets off the ground and a school/s is/are interested in this and think it's plausible, the next step would be to set a date (and a raindate just in case) and a location, and start searching! You'd need sponsors, gifts to raffle, and funds to buy items or rent equipment. Fathers could handle the BBQ, need to get BBQs to the location. Picnic benches (if outdoors). Go to malls and other stores and tell them you're holding a fundraiser for children with special needs for X school/s and ask if they'd like to be a sponsor and donate something. They'd be included in the special thanks, can have a table set up for advertisement or handing out of their goods, or create a special program book and include their card. I've worked with a high school theatre group, and each year our biggest fundraiser is the program book! We ask kids to go around to stores and ask if they want to place an ad in the book to support the theatre, and for 25$, they get their card put in. Activities could be sports, like soccer, baseball. Face painting, blow up toys, coloring, blocks, dolls (bring usual activities out.) Arts and crafts, t-shirt making (which could be very special and a great keepsake.)

You need to decide who benefits from the fundraiser. The special needs school near you is the best choice. You get to see where the money goes and who benefits. You need that schools written permission to raise funds in their name. You need to check with your municipality if a special permit is needed.