Success Tips For the Fundraising Organization:
1. Set the financial goals for your fundraiser. Set the target amount that you want to raise. Make sure your goals are realistic for the size of your group and your customer's demographics. With the Six Ingredients or Less program, if you decide on a price of $17/book, you can then simply do the math. At $10 profit/book, you can calculate how many books each member of your organization should sell to reach your goal.
Example: If your group would like to earn $2000, and you have 20 members, each member would need to sell 10 books. Put this realistic goal before your members and show them how easily you could reach your target!
2. Plan ahead. If possible, plan the timing of your fundraiser well enough in advance so you can get the fundraiser on your school's or organization's calendar and into your newsletter. Schedule your fundraiser so it is not competing with other area fundraisers in your community or school. If your fundraiser is geared around a major holiday, make sure there is ample time for your cookbooks to be delivered for gift giving.
3. Set a clear beginning and ending date for your fundraiser. An ideal fundraiser should run for about 10-14 days. This helps keep participants focused and enthusiastic because they know the project won't drag on or fizzle out.
4. Organize your team. Your team includes the team leader/s, volunteers, parents (if working with children) and your Six Ingredients or Less representative. Make sure everyone on the team is aware of the dates of the fundraiser and what is expected of them. When the fundraising materials arrive give clear instructions on how to take orders, what type of payment is acceptable, when to turn in orders most importantly, how they can contact the team leader/s with questions. Contact your Six Ingrediends or Less representative with any questions.
When doing a fundraiser with children, parents need to be on board with your effort to insure that orders are taken properly, money is turned in and cookbooks are delivered promptly after they are delivered. Make sure parents are well informed about the fundraiser. Because notes to parents may not reach them, phone calls, emails or face to face conversations from the advisor to the parent will make sure parents are well informed about the fundraiser. Remind parents that a "Successful" fundraiser will ease the parents financial burden for their children's projects and goals.
We offer a handy checklist of instructions.in our sales kit for the team leaders and for the volunteers/parents so everyone can keep on track.
5. Build support. Make sure your volunteers are able to communicate the vision behind your fundraiser. Knowing the "why" for their fundraiser will motivate them to go out and makes sales and their enthusiasm will in turn motivate others to support their vision. Keep your goal in mind.
6. Advertise. Get the word out about your fundraiser. Make sure you advertise your event in newsletters and community calenders. Take advantage of free advertising - press releases, public service announcements on TV and radio, announcements at community, school or congregational events, gatherings and websites. Don't forget social media - Facebook and Twitter. Six Ingredients or Less offers ideas, flyers, e-files for attachment to emails, sample ads and press releases.
7. Keep your customer satisified. A timely deliery of the cookbooks and a grateful thank you will encourage your customer to be eager to work with you on future fundraisers.
8. Make it fun! Offer a fundraising kick off event and motivate your team with rewards that are meaningful to your volunteers. Make it competitive! Six Ingredients or Less offers lots of ideas for fun rewards for every age group of volunteers.
Success Tips For Volunteers:
1. Understand the goals of your fundraiser so you can get excited and stay excited! The key to a successful fundraiser is for each volunteer to keep the end goal in mind. If you are excited and motivated to reach your goal, your excitement will be communicated to your customers. Everyone loves to part of something special. When working with children, help them connect with goal - make it personal for them. In addition to this, fun incentives will also motivate them. See our suggestions for motivating prizes and incentives.
2. Set a daily selling goal. Don't wait until the last minute to reach your sales goals. It is far less stressful and a lot more fun and rewarding if you break the task down into small sales victories!
3. Be creative. Think of who would want your product or would like to support your project and reach out to them. Ask them if they would PARTNER WITH YOUR TO REACH YOUR GOALS and ASK FOR REFERRALS! ASK if they have any GIFT GIVING NEEDS coming up - wedding shower, birthday, holiday, hostess or thank you gifts. Consider getting a LOCAL MERCHANT OR CORPORATE PARNTER to ENDORSE your project and if they would offer your fundraiser their sphere of influence. It is good PR for them to help a good cause.
4. Show a sample of the cookbooks. The books are so attractive and are a terrific value, they will sell themselves! If you don't have sample cookbooks, carry a copy of our brochure and have plenty of order forms. Be postive and upbeat about the product. Point out recipes or reasons why YOU like the cookbooks.
5. Be organized and familar with the order taking and delivery process. Know how and when to turn in orders, how to take the money (who should checks be made out to) and finally make sure your cookbooks are delivered promptly when the order comes. Know who to go to if you have questions.
6. Be safe. Don't sell door to door. Children, work with an adult or a group. Ask your family, friends and familar neighbors to support your project. Have your parents take sample books or a brochure to work with them.
7. Don't forget to show your appreciation to your customers for supporting your project. Sincere thank you's go a long way and will build support for your next fundraising project. Say "Thank you for helping me raise money for ______".
8. Have fun. NO explantion needed! Remember your goal!
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Success Tips For Your Fundraiser
Maredy Success Tips for Students and Advisors
http://www.maredy.com/SuccessTips/SuccessTips.html
Fundraising.com
http://www.fundraising.com/fundraising-tips.aspx
BuyForCharity.com
http://www.buyforcharity.com/fundraising-ideas/15-tips-first-time-fundraising
PTO Today
http://www.ptotoday.com/pto-today-articles/article/109-30-tips-for-a-winning-sales-fundraiser
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How to Choose a Fundraising Company
Good points to go through and then add to your Success Tips Page showing why you would be a good fundraiser.
AFRDS Report Card. http://www.afrds.org/pdf/reportcard.pdf
This doc helps people rate a fundraiser. Might be some helpful things in this to add to the site.
PTOToday Article on How to Choose a fundraising company.
http://www.ptotoday.com/pto-today-articles/article/1003-how-to-choose-a-fundraising-company
PTOToday - Fundraiser Ratings: What's Right for You?
A comparison of various fundraisers based on the amount of work needed, the potential rewards, and other key factors
http://www.ptotoday.com/pto-today-articles/article/408-fundraiser-ratings-whats-right-for-youPTOToday - Sales Fundraisers. The Basics
This article gives some data on US fundraising numbers. Good info. How to choose a fundraising partner.
Product fundraiser and other new methods (Affiliate Fundraisers for internet shoppers) Working with a Rep.
http://www.ptotoday.com/pto-today-articles/article/216-sales-fundraisers-the-basics
