Home | Finance | Fundraising
The suggestions that follow may seem trivial but they they have the distinction of working almost every time they are tried. They address the central reason why some schools do much better than others even when all other factors are equal. It is all to easy when planning a new fundraiser to focus on the things that don't matter. Here are five of the right things to you should focus on. Below you will find four things that a school or group can do that will greatly affect how much money is raised with their new fundraiser: Step #1 - Profit Percentage Does Not Equal Profits. A company offering 75 or 80% profit on it's goods vs a company offering a 20% profit margin is not necessarily better for a school. One thing people often overlook is that banks do not accept deposits of percentage. Every bank I know of accepts only money. Profit percentage is the thing that many decision makers look at first when it comes time to pick what they are going to do for their new fundraiser. What I am saying here does not mean profit percentage is not important, but it should not be the school's first and only priority when choosing their next new and unique fundraiser. It should be the school's number one goal to raise the maximum profit possible with the least amount of hassles! Step #2 - The Product You Sell Does Make a Difference, however, Not As Much As You Might Think! Picking just the right product for your new fundraiser does make a difference, but, it does not have the importance that most people think it does. You have probably seen this in your own neighborhood, how two schools will decide to sell cookie dough and they both sell them at the same time and at the same price. But the difference in their results way different! Things like that can lead you to come to the conclusion that it is not the product that makes the difference. So what is it that makes the biggest difference in fundraising results? Hint, see Step #4! Step #3 - Time Your Fundraiser as Early In the School Year as Possible When you start your fundraiser is a very important reason for it's success. It is a fact that is indisputable, the first school to start it's fundraiser wins. The first sales brochure that goes into the office or neighborhood has higher sales than the ones that come later. However, timing is not the #1 reason why schools have successful fundraisers. Hint, see the next step! Step #4- Program Management (How the fundraiser is run) is the Number One factor in it's success. Program Management is the element that makes all the difference in having a successful fundraiser. You as a fundraising chairperson may know that "How" the school fundraiser is run is critical to it's success, but the main problem is not many fundraising companies train the sponsors in how to run their sale the right way. On top of that, it is very simple to do. Following are several key elements on Program Management: A) Setting Goals for the School B) Have A Memorable Kick Off C) Maintain The Enthusiasm through the Entire Sale D) Find Helpful Volunteers E) Motivating the Students/Sellers F) Motivate the Teachers and Staff members to Promote and Participate in the Sale. To get the HIGHEST sales on a new fundraiser the students/sellers must be properly motivated. You can provide motivation not only to the students but also to the teachers and the staff. The main reason why one school will make $8,000 while another similar school will make $15,000, is in what they did with their prizes for students and for the teachers! There is a saying "Students could sell $5 bills for $10.00 and do real well if you motivate them right." The most important part of your fundraiser will be to provide incentives that truly motivate more of your students and teachers to get involved in your school fundraiser like they have never done before! A school that typically has a 25% participation rate will more than double with only a 15% increase in participation. Increasing participation by 15% is not a hard thing to do. But you will have to do something different than what you have been doing to accomplish it.
Article Source: http://www.ezine-directory.info
Juan Franco is the owner of AIM Fundraising. Juan has worked with thousands of elementary schools and youth organizations, helping them in their school fundraising projects. Get more information on how proper program management can help you maximize the profit for your school Fundraiser visit us at AIM Fundraising.com
Please Rate this Article
5 out of 54 out of 53 out of 52 out of 51 out of 5
Not yet Rated
