Let’s face it, school fundraisers aren’t easy and most people don’t look forward to doing them. However if you expect to raise a lot of money with minimal effort put into your sale you’ll probably end up even more disappointed. Successful fundraising takes hard work, smart planning as well as persistent seller follow-up and accountability. Unfortunately, if you are looking for a quick-fix to your group’s financial needs you’d be better off watching the late-night infomercials.
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Fundraising Ideas - Elementary, Middle & High School Fundraisers
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Many people think that school fundraising prize programs are all very similar. Sell a few items from your sales catalog and you can win a plastic whistle or a Shrek® super bouncy ball. These types of prize programs always seem to look more exciting on the brochure but are often disappointing once they’re in the student’s hands.
Most groups that use our Super Party Prize Program to motivate their students to sell for their school fundraiser know that they need to sell 8 items or more from their sales brochure in order to gain admission to the party.
There are times when fundraising coordinators just don’t follow our recommendations. Either they think that their way is better or they just don’t see the need until it’s too late. We recently worked with a small group on a discount card fundraiser that was raising money to pay for equipment and travel expenses.
A primary goal for your school fundraiser should be to reach your money goal in as short a period of time as feasible. The idea that the longer you give your students to sell the more money you will make is not necessarily true. In fact, this philosophy can also work against you. The longer your fundraiser lasts, the lower the sense of urgency that your sellers will have and the more they will tend to procrastinate.
Many schools understand the importance of limiting their fundraising as much as possible. One big fundraiser is much easier on the school staff, parents as well as the students than several smaller sales. These schools put as much effort into their fall fundraiser as possible. They make sure that they select the best possible sales catalog for their community and prize program for their students. They work hard to promote their sale and they are not afraid to invest money into it either.
Selecting the right sales brochure is important because people will need to like what you are offering if you expect them to buy. Potential customers become buyers for the following reasons:
High school students are often thought of as self-absorbed, lazy and consumed. It’s usually the motivated and driven students who are already too busy so how are you going to convince them to add one additional thing to their plate? Your students should see your group fundraiser as natural and expected rather than just one more activity that you are attempting to through in. Here are some things to consider:
Before your school fundraiser ever starts, if you want success you’ll need to get certain people to buy into your cause. It’s not enough if your students are excited about the prize program that they learn about at the fundraising kickoff. Successful fundraising is a team sport; therefore it will be important to get the following people on board before your sale ever starts.
If a school fundraising company is worth their salt they will do more than just try to entice fundraising groups with seemingly irresistible giveaways and signup bonuses. Some companies know that their products and service won’t measure up to the competition so they try to make up for it by offering extra rewards that they hope will grab your attention. Some people fall for this trap while others can see right through it. Instead, what should be most important to a potential customer is the overall substance of their fundraising program.