One fundraising opportunity that will is lucrative without depending on donations or purchases is the bottle drive. By collecting bottles from willing participants, you can trade bottles in at a bottle return recycling center and collect as much as ten cents per bottle, depending on where you live.  Even though hosting a bottle drive is a simple way to raise cash fast, there is a simple checklist you should keep in mind to help you get the most from your efforts.

1. Select a Location - Location is key when you are organizing a bottle drive. You could always host a drive at your house if you have enough space, but making use of a public arena could be much more ideal, as it will ensure that people who wish to donate can find you easily. Hosting the event at a school, community center, or other public place is a good idea.

2. Carefully Select the Best Time for a Drive - You will be much more likely to collect a lot of bottles if you can schedule the drive at a convenient time for people choosing to donate. Think about local events, such as sporting events or community gatherings, that attract a lot of attention and try to schedule your bottle drive around the same time.

3. Talk to the Bottle Return Center - Even though bottle return centers will appreciate the extra product that you bring in, it is a good idea to let them know that you are going to be hosting a bottle drive. You will not be like the typical customer once the drive is complete; you could easily be bring in thousands of bottles at once. Letting the recycling center know in advance will help ensure they are prepared for your arrival.

4. Get the Word Out About the Bottle Drive - A successful bottle drive is all about good advertising. Most people will be willing to donate if they know about your event--especially if you are trying to raise money for a good cause. Prepare flyers and signs and make sure you place a few ads on the local radio station or online community message center.

With a little pre-planning and a little information, you could easily see a well-organized drive be successful. Talk to a local bottle return depot, like Trail Bottle Depot, for more information about how you can make the most of your bottle-collecting efforts.