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Start planning at least 1 month in advanceRun your fundraiser like a small business. Have a written
project plan that spells out all roles and responsibilities.
Slot motivated individuals into those roles and equip them with
everything they need to do a great job. The more planning done
in advance the smoother your fundraiser will go. Try and
anticipate bumps in the road and plan on how to deal with them.
Ask for and recruit volunteers
You will get more and better volunteers by going after
them. Don’t wait for them to come to you. Use a calling tree
to root out prospects. Ask for Moms and Dads, Older siblings,
and Grandparents to get involved. Advertise for specific help
via newsletters, flyers, and word of mouth.
Set your goal
First determine the total amount of funds you need, when
in doubt always estimate high. It never hurts to end up with
to much extra cash, but you definitely don't want to fall short. Don't forget to include any money you will need for prizes or
food. Then Set a realistic group goal, and make sure everyone
knows it. Structure your sales effort to emphasize and reward
achievement of that goal.
Set a timeline
Make sure that your start date and end date are both firm.
The best selling period is 21 - 30 days, including 3 weekends.
To much longer and the drive runs out of gas; any shorter and
you limit your prospects. Avoid any scheduling conflicts.
Plan ahead to avoid overlapping other important Community
Events, Holidays, etc. Set dates around paydays.
Use fun Incentives
The more prizes that you offer, the happier your team will
be. Be creative and seek local merchant support. Have escalating
levels of rewards for sellers, and volunteers. Give awards for
success that have real value. Nobody wants junk. Skip trinkets
and work with your community to come up with better prizes
that don’t subtract from your net.
Example: $5 to $10 coupon from a local fun center such as
miniature
golf, bowling, Local shops and Malls, online I-POD downloads, etc.
Those merchants know that more spending will result from
that visit.
Be creative! Have key organizational figures promise
to do something funny for meeting goals.
Examples: shaved head, blue hair, funny wig, dressing like a clown, etc.
Distribute workload
Get everyone involved pulling their fair share. Too much
of a burden on a core group or single person leads to burnout
and resentment. Spreading out the workload among all
volunteers and participants will help increase participantion
on this and future fundraisers, along with giving working parents
the ability to help.
Keep it fun
Fun is part of fundraising. Don’t make it drudgery to be a
volunteer or participant. Remember that they’re giving up their
free time to help. Plan fun things to do during each stage
of the process and reward involvement. Take pictures when you
can, always say thank you and show your appreciation, blend fun
food and fundraising, Have a casting party so everyone is on
the same page and nows who is doing what, play games, use
fun incentives. If your volunteers and participants are enjoying the fundraiser they will strive and achieve and get better results.
Money handleing
Always split responsibility for money handling between two
unrelated individuals. Check and double-check everything
financial in nature. Be sure to keep checks and money locked up until
they are deposited.
Boost parental involvement
Always be clear about what you’re asking them to do, and
they’ll be more willing to help you out. A great hint is to divide
the work up into smaller tasks, and have volunteers sign on
for one or two specific tasks of their choosing. Identify roles
suitable for working parents. Example: assisting with delivery
day on a weekend. This is a great way to get dads involved.
Make sure parents are well informed of the fundraiser and updated regularly. Notices and letters don’t always make
it home, so send emails, send letters by mail, make phone
calls and inform parents face-to-face when they arrive to pick up and drop off children.
Show Appreciation/say Thank You
Always remember to thank them, and do your best to
convey your appreciation. A simply thank you goes a long way.
People always want to feel llike there effort is appreciated.
That’s the best way to keep your volunteers on board for
future campaigns.
Team work
Make sure everybody pulls together, work as a team and
everybody wins. Build a sense of camaraderie among all
organization leaders, volunteers, and participants. With everyone
working as a team your fundraiser will run smoother and
achieve better results.
Start early to broaden participation and sales
Put the word out early and often about what volunteers
you need. Get plenty of help so no one feels overworked.
Getting as many people involved as you can at all levels only
makes your fundraiser more successful. Have a volunteer
sign-up sheet. Putting the word out early only helps get people
involved and increases sales.
Avoid any risk taking
Always caution against unsafe selling practices. All
neighborhood sales activities should include adult accompaniment.
Seller safety should be your highest priority. Always stress
safety to everyone involved.
