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Ideas For The Fundraising Season
By: Michelle Pearson
With the new school year approaching fast, it is time for schools to set their
fundraising efforts for the upcoming year. There will be fundraising companies
literally knocking down your door – but how do you know which products to
promote, which companies to choose and which events to host?
The easiest thing to do is separate them into two categories, fundraising events
and product fundraisers. Most schools usually host several of each kind
throughout the year. For this article, we'll be focusing on how to choose a
product based fundraiser that will work the best for your participants.
Elementary School Fundraisers
Elementary schools are the most limited in product based fundraising because the
average age of their sales force is between 5 and 10. This means you need a
simple fundraiser that can be done by even the youngest of participants.
Fundraisers where you take orders seem to work best for younger children – the
simpler the form the better. Many fundraising companies offer one page flyers
that you can use to sell products. While this limits the amount of products you
can offer, it simplifies the sales process and makes it easier for the kids.
Candle fundraisers usually work well with this age group, as they only feature
one to a few different products and are available in a variety of scents; giving
customers' choice, but not enough choice to confuse the kids.
Middle School Fundraisers
Middle school students range in age from 10-12 and can do more complicated
fundraisers, but, at this age, it may be smart to stick with "order taking"
fundraisers and not have them carry inventory on hand. There are many brochure
fundraising companies and brochure sales can be done for a wide variety or
products – everything from coffee to pizza. Try to keep the brochure process
simple and explain payment procedures in detail.
High School Fundraisers
The age of high school students usually varies between 13 and 18, which allows
you to choose from a wider range of fundraising options. Candy bar fundraising
can be a great success for this age group. Not only will the product be welcome
and purchased by the sale force themselves, they are simple to do, and 13 to 18
year olds can keep track of money and inventory. Parents can easily do the same
at their place of employment and local events (such as a book club).
Whatever product you choose for your product based fundraisers this year, be
sure to give your sales force incentive to sell their hearts out.
About the Author:
Michelle Pearson is a former fundraising coordinator who now spends her free
time as a freelance writer for Fundraising Know How Magazine http://www.fundraisingknowhow.com/ – a site dedicated to fundraising coordinators and helping them earn more for their organization. |