Did you miss Collegiate DECA’s Engage Conference in Austin? If so, we’ve got you covered!
Check out these 100 member-generated ideas and best practices to help boost your chapter's community involvement, competition preparation, fundraising strategies and member engagement.
Community Involvement
- Participate in events for the MDA
- Volunteer or raise funds for the National Pediatric Cancer Foundation
- Perform random acts of kindness for local families
- Volunteer or donate non-perishable items to a food bank
- Donate blankets to a homeless shelter
- Donate or raise money for your local Red Cross
- Volunteer at Feed My Starving Children
- Host a community clean up event
- Participate in Trick-or-Can during October
- Adopt a highway/street
- Host a clothing or school supplies drive
- Ring bells for The Salvation Army
- Organize a community blood drive
- Donate stuffed animals to children in hospitals
- Organize a Special Olympics event for children and teenagers
- Plant a tree for Arbor Day
- Volunteer with or donate to Meals on Wheels
- Participate in a day of caring with the elderly
- Volunteer at retirement homes or animal shelters
- Volunteer with Big Brothers Big Sisters of America or local after school programs
- Carol during the holidays
- Host a drive for Toys for Tots
- Build a house with Habitat for Humanity
- Partner/collaborate with other clubs and organizations for a larger impact
- Host interview and resume workshops with local high schools
- Put on a 5K run/walk for charity
Competition Preparation
- Host mock competitions within your chapter or school
- Utilize one-on-one mentorships (pairing returning and new members)
- Host an alumni panel of previous top competitors
- Recruit business teachers and/or industry professionals to judge mock competitions
- Use the Case Study of the Week feature on DECA Direct
- Host guest speakers on a variety of topics
- Use previous DECA exams for practice
- Start a "Vocab Word of the Day" competition
- Host a competition boot camp for new (or returning) members
- Host a workshop on creating powerful PowerPoint presentations
- Use public speaking and impromptu speaking exercises
- Improve critical thinking by taking members to an escape room
- Review past score sheets for areas of improvement
- Make a master list of Do's and Don't's for case studies
- Participate in case study competitions hosted by other organizations
- Host an informational workshop to help new members understand competitive event opportunities
Fundraising Strategies
- Host a car wash in your community
- Sell Krispy Kremes or other baked goods
- Host a basketball or other sports tournament
- Sell apparel
- Work with a direct sales company (Tastefully Simple, Tupperware, etc.)
- Use a fundraising bingo card on social media
- Secure corporate sponsorships
- Work a concessions stand at a sporting event (on-campus or professional teams)
- Pie a professor in the face or dunk a professor
- Host a talent auction
- Sell raffle tickets
- Popcorn sales/candy grams
- Host a 5K walk/run event
- Use silent auction items
- Sponsorships from local businesses
- Host a video game tournament
- Sell coupon books
- Work with restaurants for a profit share event
- Offer professional headshot sales
- Host an up-all-night fundraiser
- Offer Brownie sundae late night delivery
- Set up a hot chocolate/cider stand
- Host a casino night
- Offer holiday gift wrapping services
- Sell candy-grams, flowers, etc. for Valentine's Day
Member Engagement
- Host social events throughout the year
- Plan special events with featured guest speaker
- Host professional development workshops
- Reward outstanding members with "Member of the Month" awards
- Host holiday-themed parties
- Provide shirts for new members
- Purchase gifts for graduating seniors
- Develop a strong, consistent social media presence
- Plan an end of the year (or semester) banquet
- Offer free food or snacks at meetings
- Focus on diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) initiatives
- Work together to achieve the Chapter Leadership Passport
- Socialize with post-meeting dinners or outings
- Participate on intramural teams or form a fitness group
- Host a Secret Santa event during the holiday season
- Start a big/little mentorship program
- Find creative ways to engage alumni
- Offer incentives for attending conferences such as monetary assistance
- Nominate members for other awards and recognition opportunities on campus
- Refer a friend, get a reward
- Host a chapter movie or game night
- Enjoy fall activities like pumpkin carving, visiting an apple orchard or checking out a haunted house
- Use a point system with prizes to incentivize members
- Form a social/membership committee
- Participate in trivia nights
- Create custom chapter merchandise
- Annual banquet
- Tour local businesses
- Plan overnight retreats
- Highlight members on social media
- Enjoy winter activities like sledding, skiing, ice skating, etc.
- Get moving with bowling, mini-golf, a ropes course or laser tag
- Visit a theme/amusement park
Not only will these ideas strengthen your chapter's activities, but they're sure to help spread awareness and goodwill across your campus and in your community. We can't wait to see your chapter put these ideas into action!
