| -- End Ad Box ---> | | | | fundraising items. |
| Hosting a successful fundraiser is no accident. It | | | | The decision of what to sell goes hand-in-hand with |
| requires planning, commitment, and more than a little bit | | | | "what company should you choose to provide the |
| of salesmanship. If this sounds like a lot of work, make | | | | product?" This can seem overwhelming at first |
| no mistake about it, it is. But it's rewarding work, it's | | | | — search the Web for fundraising companies |
| meaningful work, and done the right way, it can be fun | | | | and you'll get over 3 million pages to sort through, and |
| work. Fundraisers present wonderful opportunities to | | | | sadly, not all of these companies are reliable. Get |
| generate both income and good will for your | | | | referrals from other groups if possible, or consult |
| organization, to raise community awareness for your | | | | unaffiliated, information driven websites like the |
| cause, and to create a sense of camaraderie within | | | | Fundraising Ideas Center for more ideas and advice. |
| your group. These tips are designed to help your | | | | Advance promotion is a key element of any |
| organization get the most from your fundraiser, in | | | | successful fundraiser. A week or two before the |
| every sense of the word. | | | | actual selling begins, start spreading the word. Send |
| When planning your fundraiser, the first question to ask | | | | letters home to parents and ask them to network on |
| is "when?" Timing is very important and depending on | | | | your behalf. Utilize the media — almost every |
| the kind of fundraiser you want to hold, certain times | | | | outlet has some version of a Public Service |
| of the year of the year are better than others. The fall | | | | Announcement that they offer free of charge. Put up |
| and spring, with their temperate weather, are | | | | posters where it is allowed (but be sure to take them |
| wonderful seasons if you're going door-to-door, having | | | | down when your event is over). |
| a bake sale, or holding a car wash. | | | | When you are ready to begin selling, it's time to "rally |
| If you're tying into a specific event like an Oktoberfest | | | | the troops". Hold a kick-off session during which you |
| or school fair, then the dates are predetermined, but if | | | | explain the financial and tangible goals — "We |
| you're opting for the brochure or "pre-sales" method, | | | | need to raise $5000 for new uniforms. That breaks |
| you have some flexibility over your schedule. Generally | | | | down to X-amount of sales per person." Make sure |
| speaking, a two-week period is ideal — anything | | | | that the tangible reason (the new uniforms, the trip to |
| longer than that tends to be counterproductive. Avoid | | | | Paris, the care packages for troops stationed |
| times that coincide with school holidays when people | | | | overseas) is part of the sales pitch. If you're working |
| may be out of town. Not only do you want to have a | | | | with a fundraising company that offers to send a |
| lot of people around to buy your product, you want to | | | | representative to explain the finer points of selling, then |
| be sure that you'll have plenty of volunteers on hand to | | | | by all means take them up on it! |
| help. | | | | During the fundraiser, monitor the progress and keep |
| Once you've decided when, the question becomes | | | | everyone updated. Offer incentives to the person or |
| "what to sell?" Selecting the product for your group to | | | | team that sells the most. It's almost a cliché, but the |
| sell is in itself an art form and there are many factors | | | | "rising mercury in a thermometer" tote board is a visual |
| to consider. Who are your expected customers? | | | | tool that really works! |
| What image do you want to convey? If you're a | | | | When the actual selling is over, there are still a few |
| sports team, perhaps you want to choose a healthy | | | | things to do. If you've opted for a pre-sales version of |
| product. If you're raising funds for Juvenile Diabetes | | | | the fundraiser, you have to place the order with the |
| then obviously, you don't want to pick candy. Of | | | | company and arrange a time for the goods to be |
| course, there are several generic products that appeal | | | | delivered. Make sure you schedule enough people to |
| to almost everyone, such as popcorn, gift wrap, | | | | unload and distribute the product, and have a plan for |
| coffee or citrus. Often an answer is suggested by the | | | | dealing with damaged merchandise or incorrect orders. |
| season - spring bulbs, Halloween pumpkins, or | | | | As far as getting the goods to your customer, deliver |
| Christmas trees or ornaments are excellent seasonal | | | | them in person whenever possible. |