Want to buy some popcorn? How about some cookie dough or wrapping paper? What about the chance to own a new car? School and charity fundraisers have morphed considerably over the years, but at no time is this more apparent than during the holidays. Fundraisers now include everything from high-fashion purses to flowers, from pizza kits to Krispy Kreme doughnuts. As the season of giving draws closer, worthy organizations gear up to capture those precious, charitable dollars that keep their missions on track.

Whatever the size or district’s location, schools can offer a dizzying array of options for would-be buyers. Greeting cards, candles, nuts, candy, mugs, and clothing–just about anything that can be bought or sold is fair game.

Harbor Springs Public Schools Superintendent Mark Tompkins explains that various school groups look for ways to improve their bottom lines. The athletic teams, music department and elementary schools all have their own needs and their own specific ways to reach out to those connected with their cause.

"One of the biggest is the orange and grapefruit sale for the music program," he says.

For many schools, the fundraising enterprises center on PTOs, athletic teams, music programs and other extra-curricular activities. These sales and events help pay for additional trips, competitions and club activities.

At Traverse City Christian School, Director of Mission Advancement Christopher Cox says their fundraising runs the gamut from professional philanthropy work to more grassroots efforts.

"My office has to raise $800,000 a year, so we have donor relations support," says Cox, who solicits donations directly from individual supporters.

At the other end of the charitable giving spectrum, TC Christian students sell popular key cards, credit card lookalikes that offer discounts from various local retailers, restaurants and other companies. "It’s one of the best deals out there. I’ve used mine twice and it’s already paid for," Cox says.

In between these two fundraising poles, the school hosts an auction that Cox says generates between $60,000 and $80,000 a year. "It’s a fun social event and allows someone to contribute who can’t give $100,000."

Locally, this style of school fundraising event was pioneered by the Grand Traverse Area Catholic Schools whose annual Gladhander brings together an entire community.

First held in 1983, the evening-long gala includes a social hour, dinner, raffle and auction (both live and silent), dancing and even a midnight breakfast buffet. Since its inaugural year, the annual event has raised an astounding $9.9 million.

Each year’s Gladhander is defined by a creative theme. Past events have centered around Victorian Splendor, Jewel of the Nile, Russian Rhapsody, Music of Motown, Seuss on the Loose and Mardi Gras. This year’s event, held Oct. 25, was an homage to classic literature.

Wayne Mueller, GTACS executive director of development & foundation, says the event is so successful because of the cadre of dedicated volunteers who make it happen and the fact that it involves much of the community beyond those directly connected to the school.

"The core of Gladhander is an incredible volunteer base," he says. "This year we had over 500 volunteers." The volunteers do everything from settling on the theme and creating the decor to cooking and serving food and washing dishes. It’s a mix between an elaborate wedding reception and a retail store.

"This year we had about 700 items you could bid on," says Mueller.

These included artwork, clothing, gift items, cash and vehicles, but this all comes with a not insignificant price tag; individual tickets are $150 each and there are also corporate tables and sponsors. Raffle tickets are $125 each or two for $200.

Of course, schools aren’t the only ones with an imperative to raise funds. Public radio and television stations host regular onair events, often with their biggest pushes at year-end, and, beyond that, other non-profits routinely hold events to raise money, such as Mt. Holiday’s recent comedy fundraiser for maintenance equipment.

Social media plays a role too. For example, on Pinterest there are hundreds of pins related to fundraisers; these can get quite creative–and bizarre. One example involves selling pieces of tape for $1 each. The collective pieces are then used to tape a teacher to a wall.

Googling school fundraisers brings up thousands of results. Apparently, there’s enough money in this enterprise to interest even the big boys. Numerous corporate entities offer options for school fundraisers: Coca Cola, Pizza Hut, Schwan’s Frozen Foods, Little Caesar’s and Krispy Kreme doughnuts. The companies offer discounted items to school groups, which are then sold to the public at a profit to benefit the institution.

Another dollar-raising effort involving well-known retail items is Box Tops for Education. Box tops from specially-marked boxes of General Mills cereals, Betty Crocker mixes, Ziploc bags, Scott paper products, even clothing from Hanes, can be gathered and returned to participating schools for rebates from the corporations at 10 cents per box top–and it works. Over 90,000 K-8 schools participate nationwide and they have earned over $600 million.