Organizing Your School Fundraiser - Part 2
| Summary: Other aspects of school fundraisers worth
considering. Plan ahead to be successful with your fundraiser. Profit
percentage is important, but not the only criteria of a successful school
fundraiser. Quality and reputation are important too. |
Hopefully, you've already read Part One of these tips for organizing your school
fundraiser. Here are some other considerations:
Using a consultant
Consider using a fundraising consultant to assist your organization with larger
fundraisers, first-time events, or mission critical efforts. Among the benefits
of using professional help are the following: increased market penetration,
increased sales per client, higher average sales volume per participant, and
smoother logistical flow.
Use a fundraising consultant to take the hassle out of organizing your event and
put the “fun” back in fundraising again.
Protect your reputation
Offer only high quality products. Remember that no one feels good about
overpaying for something or getting shoddy merchandise in return for a
contribution. Take the high road and build loyalty within your customer base.
Profit percentage
Place less emphasis on the percentage profit offered by the supplier and focus
more on the total net profit generated. Higher unit prices will mean higher
total sales revenue and often, higher profits per customer.
That’s not to say that percentage isn’t important, but consider other factors as
well. Look at whether sales incentives are included, hidden costs that may
arise, sales brochures that cost extra, poor quality merchandise that can hurt
future sales, and so on.
Incentives
Rewards will increase participation and that can positively effect the net
proceeds from your efforts. The quality of the incentives is an important
motivator. If appropriate, consider rewards from among the products you’re
offering. Look to local merchants for supplemental prizes.
Insist on best value
People will be more inclined to buy if you’re offering quality goods at the
right price. Higher-priced goods will actually generate more net from each sales
transaction to your organization than the cheap stuff that offers a higher
percentage profit to your group.
Price points
Many times, different organizations conduct similar fundraisers at coincidental
times. Make sure that the prices asked are comparable to other fundraisers in
your community. Check prices ranges via the Internet and with other nearby
organizations. Look at other catalogs, retail merchant pricing for similar
goods, and trust your gut instincts.
Beware of perfuming the pig
There’s an old saying about making a silk purse out of a sow’s ear. It means
that someone is trying to assign a higher value to an item than it is worth.
Another phrase often used to reference the deceptive selling of overpriced goods
is “perfuming the pig.”
If you overcharge your customers for common items, they’ll resent it,
consciously or subconsciously. Compare results with records from past
fundraisers to check what price points were offered before on similar items. Be
certain to give fair market value for the items your group is offering. You want
those customers back the next time, don’t you?
Setup calling trees
Once your fundraiser has begun, don’t forget to utilize your calling tree for
immediate feedback. Ask if there are any problems, check on initial reaction
from participants and their families, keep the enthusiasm level high, and don’t
let your initial positive momentum slip away. Regular polling of team leaders
and participants will keep you informed.
Doubling Up
Double check all order forms and check payments to be sure they’re correctly
filled out. Double-team all money handling facets of the fundraising process.
Have double dates (makeup days) planned in advance in case of inclement weather
or other unforeseen delays on delivery day.
Use co-chairs for each mission critical function. Cross train on all tasks. Keep
duplicate records of important details in a different location as part of your
backup plan. In the world of technology, this is called disaster recovery or
disaster prevention. Double count all deliveries coming in and going out.
Record Keeping
Accurate records are a lifesaver and a source of information for future
fundraisers. Follow audit guidelines just as if you were a small business. As a
non-profit organization, you have to be able to document the source of your
funding as well as how those funds were spent.
Setting goals and deadlines
Do this well in advance, mapping out campaign timelines and strategies before
the school or fiscal year starts if possible. Your goals should be realistic and
based upon solid data from previous results. Take some time to think what extra
offerings you could add that would double the net proceeds from each customer.
Always have a hard deadline for the sales period to end, nothing more than 17
days. Seventeen days is two weeks plus an extra weekend, the prime selling time.
Don’t forget to smell the roses
A well-planned and well-executed fundraiser will leave you time to bask in the
glory of your success. Remember to have fun and good luck!
Related Pages
Organize School Fundraiser -
Quick tips on organizing your school efforts by planning ahead.
Location, Location, Location - A good fundraiser location can generate big profits - How to find the best fund-raising locations and work them for maximum fund raising 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.
School Fundraising Incentives -
School fundraising incentive and reward programs - Boost your school fundraisers
results with the right incentives and rewards.
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