3 Keys To A Successful School Fundraiser

Because there are so many students in a typical elementary or middle school, the potential for huge sales and profit is great. On the other hand, because there are so many students at a school, it can be hard to motivate, organize and control the results of such a large school fundraiser. There are three key elements to a school fundraiser that if followed while planning for it, will almost guarantee that your fundraiser will be a huge success.

Communication!

Long before your school fundraiser gets started, things should be in place and ready to go for the big fundraiser kick off day. One of the best things that a PTA or PTO can do before their fundraiser ever get started is make sure that all the parents of your school children know what is about to happen BEFORE it happens. At least once and it is even better to do this twice, send a letter home with the students that tells the parents a little about the upcoming school fundraiser and why the school needs the funds. In any communications you do in this manner never forget to ask explicitly for their help and participation.

Build Excitement!

Have an assembly or rally to kick the fundraiser off. The fundraising chairperson can create excitement about the fundraiser. It is also great to discuss with the students what money is being raised for – where will the money they earn go? What are the positive results of their efforts?

Of course you really don’t have to cover all that in great detail with the students as doing that in any great detail would put them to sleep. We want them excited about the sale, not bored to tears about it. So unless you have a production equivalent to High School Musical 2 or the real Sponge Bob and Patrick to cover those details in song or antics, I would say, “Just mention it.” The bottom line is that the kids generally don’t have the interest or the memory tell their parents and potential customers about what the money is going to be used for. That is what the parent letter is there to do for them.

Motivation!

The part that gets the student’s attention and raises their excitement is not the product being sold or the purpose of the fundraiser, It’s The Prizes! In fact, if your prizes are really good, you could actually forget about the communication stuff mentioned above. If your students are excited about the fundraiser and the prizes, you don’t have to worry about their parents not knowing about your fundraiser, believe me, the will know all about it. If the only thing you do for the kickoff is show the prizes and hold up the fundraiser brochure that the prize program “goes with,” you will have a successful fundraising kickoff. It is really that simple as long as the prizes are really good.

It doesn’t matter what fundraising product you choose, if you organize, build excitement and reward the students like they have never been rewarded before, your school fundraiser will be the best one you’ve ever had. Now, in this article, I have over simplified the whole 3 step process: but not by much. There are some specific points about each of these 3 elements of a school fundraiser that will require particular attention to some important details, but by and large, this is pretty simple. It is a good idea to seek the advice of an experienced fundraising consultant who understands the whole prize concept and accept their advice.

A Word to the Wise!

Most fundraising companies are more interested these days in “getting your business” than in actually coaching you in how to run a school fundraiser to get maximum results. Most will sell you on their product or their service or their profit percentage as the key point in a successful fundraiser. This is far from the truth, and if you spend a few minutes thinking about it, you know this is true. Prizes are what drive school fundraisers. If you do the average, everyday, run of the mill prizes, you will end up with average run of the mill results. This is why schools that make a change in the way they do their prizes double or more their previous sale. It is not the product, service or profit percentage that makes the difference it’s the prizes.

The Lastest posts in Fundraising

An Exception to the Rule
If you've ever questioned why anyone would be able to surrender guaranteed incom...
http://www.bizarticlezone.com/finance/fundraising/an-exception-to-the-rule-4505/

How to increase charity ratings
Charity ratings are something so inconsistent that highly rated charities might ...
http://www.bizarticlezone.com/finance/fundraising/how-to-increase-charity-ratings-4371/

Building up the unpredictable charity ratings
Charity ratings are something so inconsistent that highly rated charities might ...
http://www.bizarticlezone.com/finance/fundraising/building-up-the-unpredictable-charity-ratings-3711/

Unique Fundraising Ideas That Work!
When you come up with unique fundraising ideas you need to think about a few thi...
http://www.bizarticlezone.com/finance/fundraising/unique-fundraising-ideas-that-work-387/