How to Prepare for a Smaller Group Kickoff

The school fundraising kickoff is vital to your success. The primary purpose of the kickoff is to generate enthusiasm for your fundraiser and the more passionate you are, the more likely your students will want to get involved. Here's what you'll need to do:

1. Plan to communicate your purpose:
Start your kickoff by communicating your purpose. How do you plan to convince your sellers that your purpose is important to them?

2. Pass out the following and explain the process:

• Order Forms (Have your students fill in the information at the top and review how to use. Encourage them to also have their family members help them sell)
• Brochures (Review page by page. You should familiarize yourself with the brochure ahead of time)
• Prize Brochure (Explain what they can win and that they only have to sell a few items each day to reach their goal)
• Parent Letter (If you are using a parent letter, make copies prior to your kickoff)
• Money Collection Envelopes (Explain that money must be collected up front, checks are made payable to your group and money and order forms are do back by the turn-in day)

3. Communicate your fundraising goal:

• Let everyone know how much money the group as a whole needs to raise
• Inform the group how many items each seller will need to raise to reach their goal. See our Group Goal Setting Guide

4. If your fundraising program also has an online store:

• You will find information on your parent letter as well as the brochure
• Inform your group that online sales is an easy way to bring in additional money
• Sellers will receive prize program credit

5. Maintain the high level of enthusiasm:

• Meet with your sellers and track their progress as often as possible by using your Fundraiser Progress Tracker
• Create competition between your sellers by offering fun and rewarding incentives or special privileges throughout your sale