Getting Started With Your Fundraiser - Part 2
| Summary: Fundraiser action steps in a who, what,
when, where, why and how format. Part 2 covers selecting the right
fundraising products to sell and selecting the right time for your
fundraisers. These are quick tips on getting everything up and running. |
In this multi-part fundraising article, these are some of the important points
to consider for your fundraiser:
What are you planning to sell?
Make the right choices
Choose a fundraiser by using the information in this book (everything is also on
the website) – see the Sections on
Fundraiser Ratings, The Best Sellers, Selecting the Right Fundraiser, etc.
Select the fundraiser that best meets your overall needs and your capabilities.
Once you’ve made your selection, be sure to select the best supplier of that
type of fundraiser. Easily check your potential suppliers by consulting the
Supplier Cross-Reference Section. Get the best prices by then looking up those
suppliers in the Section titled Supplier Profiles.
When will your fundraiser take place?
Start at the beginning
Start your process by creating a fundraising calendar for the entire year. Lay
out the year with a major fundraiser slotted for the fall and another for the
spring. Each one will have roughly a two-month block of time set aside for it.
You can also pencil in a smaller holiday fundraiser if desired. Give it a four
to six week block of time. Each specific fundraiser has its own unique aspects,
but most of the organizational timelines remain the same.
Avoid conflicts
Be sure when plugging in your dates that you avoid scheduling conflicts. Don’t
plan a school fundraiser that overlaps exam time or holiday breaks. Avoid
setting any distribution activities for days when school is out, the youth group
is away on a retreat, the team is playing in a tournament, and so on.
Create a specific timeline
Different types of fundraisers will have different timelines. The major variable
is the product delivery window. A fundraiser with products being delivered
immediately by the seller will therefore be much shorter than one where the
orders come in during a two-week period. Then, product delivery is one
to three weeks later, followed by a few days of sorting and delivery to
customers.
Here are some approximate timelines:
- Planning & organization – two weeks
- Information dissemination & arrival of selling materials – one week
- Selling period – two weeks for larger, shorter for smaller and for events
- Order tally & remittance – one week to supplier’s hands
- Waiting for shipment – one to three weeks
- Shipping time, sorting, and delivering – one week
Calendar considerations
Don’t forget to include the timeline of when you actually need the money in your
planning decisions. Set the appropriate timeline for the fundraiser you’ve
chosen and plan ahead. Once the rough timeline is determined, you can get into
the nitty-gritty of getting started.
Click Here for Getting Started - Part 3
Related Pages
Getting Started - Part 1 - The who,
what, when where, why, and how of a successful fundraiser.
Organize School Fundraiser -
Quick tips on organizing your school efforts by planning ahead.
Location, Location, Location - How to find the best
fund-raising locations and work them for maximum profits.
Fundraising Fundamentals - How to
increase community awareness of both your need and your offering.
What's In It For Me - To succeed,
everyone needs to know "What's in it for me?"
Tried and True Fundraisers - These
old standbys always produce good results for any-size group.
Free Fundraisers - Three time-tested
fundraising ideas for raising fast cash for groups of any size.
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