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| JustFundraising.com
understands that fundraising events are most often
done out of a necessity rather than a desire. As
well, it often happens that individuals get thrown
into becoming a fundraising organizer or chairperson
overnight without any prior experience. We also know
that fundraising is a science in itself with so many
variables that may affect its success.
The JustFundraising.com
Tips section contains helpful
information including tips and how-to’s to help
make your fundraising journey simple, successful,
and fun! JustFundraising.com
is proud to offer more helpful fundraising
information than any other fundraising site online
and we’ll be adding and updating this section
regularly to make sure you and the rest of our
members remain the most informed!
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Why are Groups Product Fundraising
and why Should You? |
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In the past, raising funds used to be a very
time-consuming, difficult task and was often not so financially
rewarding. Today, there are
hundreds of products and programs to choose from that are time efficient
and that yield high financial returns.
Raising funds has become a necessity, helping pay
for computers, field trips, athletic, music, art and other programs that
educate and enrich young lives - important programs that are not always
covered by shrinking school and non-profit group budgets.
So
why are groups choosing product fundraising?
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It Works... |
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Each year schools and youth groups raise almost $2 billion through
sales of popular consumer products.
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It's
Better... |
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Although there are a number of fundraising options available such as car
washes, bake sales, straight donations or charity events, product
fundraising has consistently been the most effective and profitable.
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It's Proven... |
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8 out of 10 parents in America purchase fundraising products each year.
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There's
Value Added... |
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Product fundraising helps with the development
of self-esteem, provides a community service all while promoting the
group and creating community spirit.
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Direct-Sale Products OR Pre-Sale
Brochures |
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Should you use direct-sale products or pre-sale
brochures for your next fundraiser? We let them fight it out!
1) Fundraising with Direct Sale Products:
How it works: Your group orders an inventory of products; these
products are distributed to your group members who sell the products
directly to their supporters; funds are collected at the point of sale.
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Pros |
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- Requires
only one contact with individual consumers
- Program
is shorter in length than Pre-Sale because there is no product to
deliver and no returned goods to deal with.
- Usually
a very low retail price per item which results in an easy sale
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Cons |
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- Slight
risk if you over-purchase
- Less
variety of products to offer
2) Fundraising with Pre-Sale Brochures:
How It Works: Your group requests 1 brochure per fundraising
participant. The participants show the brochure to potential supporters.
The supporter selects a product from the brochure which the participant
records on the brochure order form. These order forms are then returned
to JustFundraising.com, who fulfills the order and ships the products to your group. Your group members and volunteers deliver the products to their supporters. Funds can either be
collected at the time of the selection or upon delivery.
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Pros |
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- No
guess work on how much to order, therefore no risk!
- Brochures
offer a wide variety of products and range of prices
- With
this type of fundraiser it's easy to include parents and adults in
the fundraising efforts
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Cons |
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- More
work :and time because you must deliver products and often deal with
a few returned goods.
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| Now that you have
a good idea whether you want to do a pre-sale or direct-sale
fundraiser, you must now decide which product or
program to sell.
 How
to Choose the Right Product
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Usually the first question that you ask yourself
when you realize your group needs to raise funds is What
Are We Going To Sell?
There are thousands of products available for fundraising programs
that range from candy to nuts, cookies to wrapping paper, and
inspirational goods to sausage and cheese. After all, anything people
can use in some form or another can be re-sold to them by groups for a
profit.
Consider the Following 6 Questions
to help you choose the ideal fundraising product or program for your
group:
1) How much money do we need to raise?
Come up with a goal that is based on your group's needs not just one
that sounds good. If your group needs to raise a few hundred dollars,
lollipops or a small order of candy bars may be appropriate. If you need
to raise over $5,000, you may want to use a shopper program (see Shopper
program in JustFundraising.com store), a popular chocolate brochure
program (see chocolate category in JustFundraising.com Store) or a
cookie dough fundraiser.
2) What would our group enjoy selling?
Your group members will determine the success of your fundraiser. Ask
them what they would like to sell and what they'd absolutely not like to
sell. The more they like the products, the more confident and motivated
they will be to sell them.
3) What has been successful in the past?
'If it ain't broke don't fix it' As the saying goes, if you've been
having a huge success with a certain program year after year- stick to
it. Chances are, your supporters are expecting you at that same time
every year and your participants are comfortable with selling the
product.
4) How soon do we need the money?
As we mentioned in the pre-sale vs. direct-sale section, pre-sale
programs do take longer. If you need to raise funds within 1.5-2 quick
weeks, we suggest you fundraise using our direct-sale products. JustFundraising.com will ship your product within 24-48
hours of receiving your online order, fax or call. If you have 4 weeks or more to wrap up
your fundraiser, a pre-sale brochure may be ideal.
5) Are the Products we're Selling of High Quality?
A consumer will be happy to support a worthy cause, however they
won't be very interested in paying for inferior or significantly
overpriced products. Remember that your fundraiser may be an annual or
semi-annual event, and nothing builds profits like a reputation for
offering top quality products.
6) Does the Price Match the Income Level of the Community?
As well, make sure that the retail price of the products offered are
priced fairly. Offering a fairly priced good at a price that's
affordable to help a good cause will lead to quick success!
Our professional and experienced customer service staff would be
happy to help you choose the ideal program for your group. Please call
us at
1-888-440-4114
The JustFundraising.com store features fundraising programs that
offer top quality merchandise, a very competitive profit level and a
variety of price ranges.
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Selecting the right fundraising company is a
critical step toward your group's success. Get the candidate list down
to 2 or 3 companies then evaluate each.
1) Service
- Make a list of what the company offers your group in order to make
your job easier
2) Expertise & Professionalism
- How long have they been in the product fundraising business
- What is the financial stability, experience and reputation of the
company
3) Which value-added services does the
company offer and what are their costs.
- Does the company offer an all-inclusive plan (pre-pack, prize
plan, shipping and brochures) and if so is this something your group
could benefit from.
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10 Important
Elements to Consider |
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- 1) Is volunteer safety a key element of the program? Is
unsupervised door-to-door sales discouraged and focus on family and
friends encouraged?
- 2) How does the company tailor the program to fit your
organization's particular needs?
- 3) Are teachers encouraged to take advantage of the
educational elements (ex.: oral presentations, math skills,
marketing practice for the fundraising program)
- 4) Does the company comply with your state sales laws?
- 5) What is the order turn around time? How are products
shipped?
- 6) How responsive will the company be should you have any
problems?
- 7) What is the company's policy with regards to returns,
if any of your groups goods arrive damaged?
- 8) How does the company handle back orders?
- 9) Ask and check company for references?
- 10) How do your volunteers perceive the company and your
personal representative?
· Does the rep take interest in your group's goals and concerns?
· Does the rep believe in the products and services offered?
These questions were derived from the AFRDS site
section Fundamentals of Fundraising.
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Identify your needs and set your goals
The first vital steps to a successful fundraising campaign are to
identify your groups needs and set your groups financial goals. If your
group members know how the money will be spent and their personal
benefits, this will motivate them, keep them focused and help with their
sales pitch.
Remember that % Profit does not translate into Profits!
Although the percentage profit of sales is important, there are many
other factors that need to be considered at the same time.
One company may offer 50% of sales while another may offer 40%. The 40%
company may be providing valuable services such as incentive programs,
consulting, kickoffs, timely delivery of merchandise, and custom
packing. These advantages will save volunteers time and lead to higher
profits. The company offering the lower % may also have a higher quality
product. This product's high quality will also help to increase sales
and profits for your group.
If a company is offering a lower percentage profit find out why!
Motivate your Members
Sometimes, the money raised is a strong enough incentive, but often
prize award programs can be a valuable way to build excitement and boost
profits. Ask the participants what would motivate them and don't forget
to be creative.
Note: For your convenience, JustFundraising.com offers your group two (2) profit plans, the Top Profit Plan and the All-Inclusive Plan. JustFundraising.com has also developed a Profit Calculator designed to help you estimate how much profit your group can generate with any specific program.
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Learn more about the
Top Profit and
All-Inclusive Plans.
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- Decide how much money your group needs to raise
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This will help you evaluate products and programs that will be ideal for your group.
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- Watch for hidden costs
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Don't let your group's profits
disappear because of hidden costs (ex. shipping, prizes). |
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- Give yourself & your group lots of time to prepare
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Select your fundraising program
early. This will give you lots of time to plan. Include your
fundraiser on the school or community calendars and
newsletters. |
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- Timing
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Make sure to stagger the various
fundraisers to avoid flooding your potential consumers and
to avoid competing with other fundraisers. |
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- Set up specific dates & stick to them
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If
you avoid setting clear target dates the campaign tends to
drag on and often without direction. |
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- Try to conduct fewer & more effective programs
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This
will help maintain motivation and avoid "fundraising
fatigue". |
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- Rely on your fundraising company's expertise
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Ask
lots of questions & use your fundraising company's
suggestions & advice. |
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- Stay motivated throughout the program
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Some
organizers tend to lose interest once the program is
underway. Put a 10-12 day time limit on order taking. It's
easier to stay motivated with clear goals and deadlines. |
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- Communicate clearly before, during & after the program is put
in place
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Keep
energy levels high by reminding parents, teachers and other
volunteers of the fundraising goals and deadlines. |
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- Avoid shipping and ordering problems
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Work
closely with your volunteers and assure their order forms
are legible and filled out completely. |
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- Keep copies of the order forms
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Always
keep copies of the order forms before you send them to your
fundraising company. |
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- Recruit adult volunteers ahead of time
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This
will make the distribution of the products to the volunteers
more efficient. |
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- Double-check products received against your order forms
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This
needs to be done before the products are given to the
volunteers to ensure that nothing is damaged or missing. |
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- Keep absent volunteers informed
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Don't
forget to communicate the program's kick off and other
important meetings to absent volunteers. |
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- HAVE FUN!
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The
tips above will be sure to make your fundraiser not only educational and
enjoyable but a great success and a lot of fun for everyone!
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1. Establish
your Goal
- How much money do you need to raise?
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What will your expenses be?
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When do you need the cash?
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What is the purpose of your fundraiser?
2. Name a
Chairperson
Consider:
- Reliability
- Availability
- Organizational Skills
- Personality / Popularity
- Commitment to the cause
3. Gather a
Committee
- Select one adult per ten children
- List members and phone numbers
- Make one person responsible for all of the money!
4. Decide What
to Sell, When and How
Select a quality product
Do you want prizes?
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View: Prize Plans
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How to Motivate Your Kids
5. Find a Source
for your Product
Ask:
- What will your profit be?
- Do you deliver?
- Do you supply sales material?
- Are prize plans, pre-packing, shipping and or
brochures included
6. Set-Up Clear
Dates and Deadlines for:
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Select a start date (Monday or Friday)
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Your campaign launch
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Taking orders
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Turning in money
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Product delivery
7. Communicate
to Your Organization from Beginning to End
- Prepare a group presentation and kick-off
- Reminder notices & PA announcements
- Group newsletters
- Billboards
- Printed fliers
- Free radio or TV announcements
- Upcoming meetings
- Open houses
8. Set-Up
Delivery of Products
Consider:
- Does it need to be refrigerated?
- Can you store it?
- Is the storage facility secure?
- Climate
- When can volunteers pick up the product?
- What are the hours?
9. Re-Order if
Necessary
Ask:
- Can we re-order?
- How long for delivery?
- What is the cost?
10. Collect The
Money
- Make one person responsible for all of the
group's money
- What is the deadline?
- What if money doesn't arrive?
Congratulations!
- Celebrate your successful sale
- Award the prizes
- Recap the fundraiser and what it allowed you to
achieve
- Have a wrap-up meeting with your committee and or
volunteers to review the entire fundraiser (what was
great and what can be improved next time- always end
with a positive message and a big thank you).
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| Motivate
your group with prizes, prizes and more prizes. Here
are a few ideas to help you motivate your members
and maximize your sales.
1) Intangible
Prizes:
These
ones have no cash value but are proven motivators
and provide great entertainment. A few examples
include:
a) allow the
participants to throw cream pies at the organizers'
faces if the goal is reached! (not sure if you'll
like this one but it usually gets the money raised)
b) have the
principal sleep on the roof of the school or the
group leader(s) sleep somewhere awkward if the goal
is achieved. Set an even bigger goal to extend the
number of days they must sleep there.
c) let the group
have an activity of their choice instead of the
normal schedule (for example: a free afternoon of
sports activities in the school yard instead of
class)
2) Raffles:
For
each achieved mini goal (ex. for every 10 units sold
or $100 in sales reached) the participant gets their
name put in the raffle for various merchandise. The
more they sell, the more times they can have their
name put in the raffle and the more chances they
have to win.
3) Top Seller Grand
Prize:
Give
a Grand Prize to your top seller. It may be a
computer, a bike, movie tickets, cash or anything
else that inspires your group members. Don't get
carried away and offer something your group can't
afford.
4) Top Class or Team
Prizes:
This
is a great way to motivate the kids and get them
working as a team- perfect synergy! If you're a
small group, you can create teams by putting your
members in groups of twos, threes or fours. If
you're a school you can do it by class and if you're
a league simply do it by team. You can offer the
best selling group a free pizza party, a field trip
outing to the place of their choice…ask them what
they'd like.
5) Individual
Completion Prizes:
Individual
completion prizes are very good because they are
risk-free for your organization. Once your member
raises a certain amount THEN they receive their
incentive gift.
For
example: Receive $10 cash for every $100 of product
sold. Other completion prizes may be a gift
certificate to a music, video, book, or sports
store.
6) Early Bird
Prizes:
You
can offer early bird prizes to the first, second and
third person who reaches a specific objective by a
certain deadline. For example: if you launch the
fundraiser on Monday, you can say the first three
people that generate $100 in sales or more by Friday
will receive a $15 gift certificate.
Also
Remember:
Solicit
Sponsors for Prizes
You
can get many prizes for free by simply soliciting
the local restaurants, sports, book and music
stores, as well as other local retailers. Tell them
what it's for and offer to mention their name in the
parent letter and at the campaign launch.
Get
the Right Prizes
What
could be worse than no incentive prizes? Investing
in incentive prizes which simply don't motivate your
members! Make sure the prizes you get are relevant
to your member's age group and interests. Ask them
what they'd like to receive as incentives given a
certain budget.
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$53.7 Million
Raised So Far |
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