Fundraising Success #49
Fundraising Success - Issue #49 - Article: "Fundraising Sales Incentives";
Supplier Spotlight: "Bryan China"
================================================
Fundraising Success #49 - December 2006
================================================
=> Kimberly's Column: "Where Has 2006 Gone?"
=> Reader Q & A: "What's In It For Me?"
=> Feature Article: "Fundraising Sales Incentives"
=> Supplier Spotlight: "Bryan China"
=> SiteSeeing: "Hummingbirds; Billion Tree Campaign"
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Kimberly's Column: "Where Has 2006 Gone?"
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Hi everyone!
Hard to believe that 2006 is almost over. Where in the world did this year get
off to? In the rearview mirror, it seems like it flew by!
At this time of year, it's all about family and friends, plus looking forward
to 2007. I have a lot of new articles planned, starting with a series on auction
fundraising which has become a hugely popular way to raise funds.
I'm keeping this issue brief because we all have more important things to do
the month before Christmas than reading my newsletter.
Hope everyone has a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
----------------------------------------------------------------
Readers Q & A: "Looking For Easy Fundraisers"
----------------------------------------------------------------
Question: I'm looking for easy fundraisers for our school group to
raise funds for some new computer equipment. What's easy to do that makes a lot
of money fast?
Randy H.
Answer: Randy, that's probably the Holy
Grail for a lot of fundraisers. One thing that's become incredibly popular are
fundraising auctions. The key with these are getting items donated to auction
plus getting lots of publicity so you draw a big crowd to the event.
There's no silver bullet for getting items donated to
your cause. It's simply doing the hard work of contacting hundreds of people and
asking them to donate an item for your group to auction off.
Sometimes, you have to beg. Other times, you get lucky
and catch a business owner in a charitable mood.
The best thing to do is to divide this job up.
Everyone in their group should make a dozen calls to their contacts and do the
asking only from people who know them.
That way the success rate is much higher and one
person doesn't get stuck doing the hardest job of all.
Happy fundraising!
Kimberly
You will find my book, Fundraising Success, very helpful in any
fundraising endeavor.
Buy a copy today because you'll save both time and money!
Yours for only $17:
http://www.fundraiserhelp.com/fundraising-success.htm
----------------------------------------------------------------
FEATURE ARTICLE: Fundraising Sales Incentives
----------------------------------------------------------------
Boosting Results Through Incentives
Incentives are meant to drive additional participation in your school
fundraiser and generate more
sales. The best incentives are those that have value in the eyes of the
participants and will motivate them to give their best effort.
Therefore, your reward program should offer quality items within a fairly
structured setup that doesn’t cause unwanted behaviors such as excessive or
unsafe competition.
Who’s paying?
An important consideration is who ultimately pays for the rewards program. If
you think about it, all rewards will come out of your net profit one way or
another. Doesn’t it make sense to get the most for your money while at the same
time offering the best overall incentives?
Look for ways to save
Ask your supplier how their reward program works and whether there are any
discounts for not utilizing their prize package. You might be able to not only
save money, but also construct a better incentive program through local
merchants. Consider putting together a selection of gift certificates for top
sellers that are donated or bought at a discount from businesses that want to
participate.
Go local
Offer locally generated prizes such as lessons, gift certificates, baked goods,
and other items. Discount coupons can also be easily printed and supplied as a
participation reward for everyone. Local merchants like toy stores, fast food
restaurants, family entertainment businesses, sporting goods stores, etc. are
examples of coupon sources or potential prize suppliers.
Think it through
Brainstorm with your team on how to create the best possible set of rewards at
the lowest cost to your organization. Try to structure your incentive program to
reward everyone - merchants, buyers, volunteers, sellers, parents, each
sub-group of participants, etc.
Weigh competing factors
Consider the long-term impact of an improved prize program based on local
offerings versus the alternatives. Don’t default to low-end prize packages
unless you have to.
Consider what’s important
An incentive program should pay attention to what’s important to the grass roots
level of the organization. Look at ideas for incenting higher
participation in a school fundraiser and pick ones that will have a greater
impact than simply using token giveaways.
Classroom incentives
In school fundraisers, try to include something that directly benefits each
classroom by providing supplies, special classroom privileges, or extra
playground time.
Example elementary school incentives:
- Giving a portion of funds raised by them directly to that class
- Offer the teacher an incentive for hitting their classroom goal
- Allow a class to keep a portion of funds raised above their goal
- Give a class bonus funds for hitting 100% participation goal
- Reward the top five classes with a teacher prize package
- Provide premium rewards via a points qualifying system
Summary
The right sales incentive program will definitely boost your fundraising
results. It's easy to design one that makes sense for your particular situation.
Sure it takes a little extra effort, but the results are well worth it in extra
sales.
----------------------------------------------------------------
Supplier Spotlight: Bryan China
---------------------------------------------------------------- (Excerpt from my book, Fundraising Success!) Supplier: Bryan China
Phone: (800) 966-3098
Fax: (724) 658-8968
Website: http://www.bryanchina.com
Email: info@bryanchina.com
Address: RD 3 Box 1A Northgate Industrial Park
City: New Castle
State: PA
Zip: 16105
Description: Churches and other organizations can commemorate a special event
with fine china plates, mugs, or bells. Items are custom made from your
photograph in choice of colors on white background.
Plates range from 6” up to 10” with pricing tracking accordingly from
approximately $6 to $10 for 72 unit order plus $65 setup fee.
Mugs are $2.80 to $3.60 depending on quantity.
Candles are 50% profit with retail of $8, $12, $16, and $18.
Interesting candle approach – the $8 ones are your basic fruit jar type, but the
$12 ones are in a coffee mug fired with your group’s photo image on it. This
makes for an easy step up to the next level while keeping your organization’s
name in front of your supporters.
$16 candles are 16 ounces and come in an apothecary jar. Five hour burn time per
ounce. $18 candles are in a 12 oz. ceramic crock fired with your group’s image.
Twenty different scents to choose from.
Also has commemorative plates for various Armed Forces along with special
“September 11 - With Gratitude To Those Who Serve” plate.
Product Lines: Americana, Candles, Candles – Commemorative, Commemorative
Plates, Commemorative Mugs
Terms: Prepay
Notes: Free artwork on orders of 1,000 pieces or more.
----------------------------------------------------------------
Places To Go, Things To See
----------------------------------------------------------------
Places to go:
Billion Tree Campaign
Recently, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) launched their major
worldwide tree planting campaign, “Plant for the Planet: Billion Tree Campaign”.
One major component of their outreach efforts is this very fine website,
which includes sections such as “Facts and Figures”, “Trees and Humanity”, and
of course, “How to Plant a Tree”.
On the site, visitors also have the option to pledge their support for the
project in a variety of ways. The “Facts and Figures” section is also helpful,
as it contains answers to a number of basic questions such as “Where are forests
found?” and some more specific information on the importance of this project.
http://www.unep.org/billiontreecampaign/
Things to see:
Hummingbirds Website
Recently, the National Geographic Magazine created this multimedia portrait of
these hardy creatures and placed it online for the general public.
On the homepage, visitors can read a brief overview essay on the lives of
hummingbirds, and then continue on to over of the site’s six primary sections.
These sections include a photo gallery, an “On Assignment” area which includes
field notes from staff photographer Luis A. Mazariegos, and a “Learn More” area,
which includes links to relevant websites.
The real highlight of the site is the narrated tour by Ernie Franzgrote into the
lives of different hummingbirds, including the violet-capped, the
purple-crowned, and the marvelous spatuetail.
http://www7.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0701/feature4/
That's all for this issue. See you next month.
----------------------------------------------------------------
Copyright 2006 by Kimberly Reynolds. All rights reserved.
Maximize your fundraising success!
Related Pages
Newsletters - All the Back
Issues!
Fundraising Ideas - Ideas for fundraising
that focus on the best activities for high school, elementary school, sports teams, and youth groups to raise funds
with events, activities, programs, projects and products.
Fundraising Events - Three profitable event ideas
for small group or school fundraisers - Fundraiser events that are quick and easy -
Event ideas you
can do in a monthend that work anywhere from Canada to Australia.
School Fundraisers - Easy fundraising ideas for schools that consistently
produce excellent results. Includes articles on cheerleading, high school football,
soccer, and band, plus more great youth sports team activities and events for other high school groups.
Thank You Letters - Seven tips
on writing thank you letters, notes, or simple donor recognition phone calls.
Fundraising Letters - See what fund
raising letters work for other non-profit groups.
Fundraising Letter - How to
generate the best response with your donation request letters.
How To Write A Fundraising
Letter - Advice and
tips on what works and what doesn't.
Nonprofit Software - Listings and descriptions of popular software programs
for nonprofit groups. Donor tracking and recognition programs, nonprofit accounting, and capital campaign support.
Church Fundraisers - Church fundraising ideas for capital campaigns through donor recognition -
Christian fundraiser charity activities and events that produce quick results.
Articles - Full list of articles on high school fundraisers,
nonprofit fund raising, and great event ideas.
Fundraisers In The News
|
