We called it a time and talent auction--figuring everyone has time or a talent to offer--baby sitting, lawn work, baking, cooking--stuff like that--that way they are involved and really feel like they can be part of it
Car Wash--we did it free will donation--went to the local bowling alley where there was a fire hydrant--the city just charged us for the water--which was about 10.00---they made over 2,000!!!
When I was in 4-H--and they might not let you do something like this now--but we did the bake sale--put kids in a car with different adults and went house to house to sell items
Candy bars sell very well around here--sell them for 1.00 and you earn 50 cents off each one
I too have seen the local supermarkets let them sell candy bars--or just donation jars with the pictures of what it is for
Also saw our Jewel support a local church--they let them put up a little jar at each of their registers and collect what ever amount they could get
Our school does well with Cooks Night Out--McDonalds, Culvers, pizza places etc--give you back 10%
Would you be able to sell those cards that give you back 50%---my girlfriends daughter sold them and they were a hot ticket--they were a fundraiser card--you could use over and over--with a lot of restaurants, sporting good stuff on them--it was a plastic card that was good all over the US__I think it was called the Valu Card---people liked them because they were good in other states--so out of state friends could buy--and if you were on vacation you could still use the card.
A craft fair could be cheap--you could do it two ways--if you have a home-then have the girls make items and sell them in your home
If you have a gym or somewhere like that-you can sell space for other crafters---
I had one church that let people use their great room---they charged the people 20 percent of their sales--no charge for the tables--so that people were more abt to go since if nothing sold you were not out anything
Also-have seen it where they just pay a certain amount for a table (they bring their own-if you supply it cost more)
This one would take more work--however many people have reported making lots of money--put on a 5K race and a kids race. If you can find a place in your area that has done one--you can reuse their route--the most expensive part is the t-shirts--or if you are in an area that charges you for police to guard the streets--
however--if you do a 5 K--you can time it yourself--or hire a timing company (try and get a sponsor to cover that cost--usually people can get the cost of most of the race covered with sponsors--the names go on the shirts--and you can usually find places to do them cheap)
Einsteins is really good at donating bagels--usually day old ones that people freeze and then bring it to the race--
For a teacher at our high school--the kids did a basketball game--where they just played against adults and kids---sold fund raiser tickets and did well.
Good luck!