Duck races are a unique and profitable event for many charities. The actual event, crazy as it may sound, involves racing rubber ducks down a local waterway, preferably one with a good current.

For a small fee, your local community supporters "adopt" the ducks for a chance at winning valuable donated prizes. Your group sells a ticket linked to a unique number that's stenciled onto each of the racing rubber ducks.

Depending on the prizes involved, tickets are priced between $5-$10 a ticket. A standard size for a race is 3,000 racing ducks, but you can adjust that number up or down depending on the size of your group and the amount you need to raise. Some races often involve 10,000 ducks or more.

At the starting line, large plastic bags full of the racing rubber ducks are simultaneously emptied into the water. The winning duck is the one that floats to the finish line first.

A rubber duck race adds a little extra zing to the old-fashioned raffle ticket sale. Additional prizes can also be awarded in different categories to add to the festivities. You can even award a prize for a last place finish!

Many groups organize their "race" around a group outing near the waterway. This enables you to make a leisurely family afternoon out of your fundraiser and, quite possibly, turn it into an even bigger event.

Profit Boosters

There are several ways to turn your duck race event into an even larger money-maker. One way is to sell food and drinks at your duck race event.

Another is to add family-oriented fundraising activities such as an inflatable moonwalk, a face-painting booth, temporary tattoos, a ball-toss game, or even a dunking tank.

To draw an even bigger crowd, cross-promote with other groups. Bigger events often add live auctions, silent auctions, prize raffles, sponsorships, and entertainment from a band or DJ, all of which can help raise considerably more funds for your group.

Put together a rubber duck fundraiser as your next fundraising event. You'll have a quacking good time!