Steps to a Successful Fundraiser

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Steps to a Successful Fundraiser:

1. Set your financial goals for the year, either in overall dollars or in dollars per
participant. Communicate these goals to all the participants and keep the group informed of the progress during the fundraiser.
2. Pick the fundraiser carefully. Consider the product or projects that will raise your
organization the most dollars, not just the highest profit margin. Also consider the fundraising company and the product manufacturer’s reputation and product quality. Choose a fundraising supplier who includes a pre-sorting service which makes distribution a breeze. (we provide that service)
3. Know your Customer- Choose a fundraiser your customer will buy and use. A
fundraiser that offers great profits or involves a product/service which the members like, may do poorly if the customers won't buy it.
4. Set the length of time to conduct the fund raiser. Usually two weeks is enough
time, and only extend the length of the fund raiser in extreme cases.
5. In order to reach any substantial goal you will need to:
     a) Really sell the fundraiser to your participants. This is usually best done by the head person (coach, director, principal, etc.) rather than the product representative or parent volunteer. Let the participants know the purpose of the fundraiser (uniforms, trips, equipment, etc.) and how they will benefit individually and as a group as a whole.
     b) Stress the importance of having everyone participate.
     c) Offer a group prize for reaching the groups' goals.
     d.) Create sales teams of 2's and 3's to compete for a top team prize.
     e) Offer prizes to anyone who sells a certain amount or fills in the total order form within the first week.
     f) Inform the parents and community of the fundraiser, its purpose and the group’s goal.
     g) Time your fund raiser so as not to directly compete with other major area
organization fund raisers.
6. Place your order early.
7. Communicate to all participants that their best customers are their parents, relatives, friends and parents' co-workers. DO NOT ALLOW DOOR TO DOOR SELLING
WITHOUT PROPER SUPERVISION!!!!!!! Read about "Student Safety".
8. Pay for your shipment and count the profit!

This is the fun part. Remember, the best time to plan next year's fundraiser is right after you've finished this years - while its still fresh on everyone's minds and the energy level is high.

We hope that this information will be helpful in your organization's next fundraiser. If you or other members of your organization have any questions, please feel free to call any time.