Fundraising Questions

[mandm'smommy]

I would love to hear how those of you who do fundraisers go about getting them set up. I would love to do fundraisers for schools in particular. Any of you have any adivce as to how I even go about approaching schools? I would also love to hear some success stories.

If this makes a difference, I would be doing a candle fundraiser....

Thanks in advance for any advice,

Melissa

[Bell04]

HI,

Your best bet would to call each school. and as for the person who does the fundraising for that school. then set up an appointment so they can talk to you about your information, or send information to everyschool.. then do follow up calls asking if they got your info


Hope I helped some.

Amanda

[hskerfan402]

hello- I'm just getting started with doing fundraisers as well. I thought about going to each schools website and look for the cheer band and rotc director and firing off a email to see if they are interested. I'm trying it this week while they are on break. Wish me luck and good luck too you!

[Charlee]

You can see how other fundraising reps are doing their fundraisers by going to www.fundraiserstoday.com. Each rep seems to offer a different percentage and incentive(s).

[mandm'smommy]

Charlee,

Thank you so much for the info. I will check it out now!

[LA Grouch]

I have a unique program for any organization with 250 members or more that will allow their subscribers to easily help raise money for their cause.

There are no costs involved for either the member or the organization, and the members do not have to sell anything.

The organization will also be able to increase their database.

This is perfect for any Non-Profit Org. (schools, churches, etc.)

PM me if you would like more info.

[mandm'smommy]

Monica,

Please let me know how it goes and best of luck to you!


Melissa

[mvandv]

I personally am the head fundraiser for my childs school and this is what we do.

We have a committee and have committee meetings that vote on what fundraiser/s we will be doing. First calling the school to see who is the heading the fundraiser that year would be great so that when you send stuff in the mail to them it will get to the right person. Teachers are known to snatch up fundraising material for their classes own fundraiser and in turn the committee member will have no clue if you sent something for them for the whole school to do. So a call to the head committee member to give them a heads up that you are sending information would also be great.

All the fundraisers that the Fundraiser Committee decides not to do is then passed down to the teachers in case they would like to do it for their class.

I know that it can be time consuming and cost alot to send in samples but samples do work the best. As a chandler myself I know how costly candle samples can be to send to several different places that may or may not give your fundraiser the chance. But that's part of the game.

When our Committee has a tie we call the fundraisers to see if they will come to our PTA meeting to set up some products and answer questions from parents. Because in the end the parents will be the ones to sell the products. One fundraiser company at a time per PTA meeting.

Also with some experience in this will you be offering a reward for the kids if they sell so much or something like a dance or whatever if so many children sell so many items. Many schools will opt out of the prize program and many wont but be aware the more you offer the more likely you will get picked.

Also do you prepackage the items per child, if so that's a big plus. That's less of a headache for the committee members.

If I think of anything else I'll post it but I'm drawing a blank. If you have any questions concerning anything about Fundraisers let me know.

[hskerfan402]

thanks melissa! good luck to you too. Do you think calling or emailing is the best way to get ahold of the chairperson. What time of the year do most schools to fundraisers? thanks for all your answers!

[mvandv]

Originally Posted by hskerfan402

thanks melissa! good luck to you too. Do you think calling or emailing is the best way to get ahold of the chairperson. What time of the year do most schools to fundraisers? thanks for all your answers!

Honestly unless the school has a website or the person got a hold of you first you wouldn't have their email address. Also the secretary can give you their phone number but rarely will they know their email address.

IMO calling is the best, because they get to hear a real person on the end of the phone instead of an email that is so impersonal.

I know that my sons school picks the first fundraiser of the next school year at the end of the school year. I hope that made sense. So in our case someone would have to send information out the second half of school (January to April) before school let out. Because the majority of the parents that participate are rather busy during the summer to meet.

Like for instance our first fundraiser was a catalog of different items we did fairly well and are thinking about doing it again next year. It's still up in the air though and needs to be voted on. But the Representative for that company is going to have a meeting with us in the beginning of February to show us the new items in the catalog for the next school year. After discussing everything we will vote after he leaves and call him with our answer.

I know that every school is different and for you to find out specific information you need to call the head of the fundraiser and ask these questions so that you can get your information out at the right time. This year our school did 3 fundraisers it's not uncommon for a school to do more than one even though we hope to do just 1.

You really have to sell your fundraiser on us, we want to know why your product would be better than the rest. What can you offer us that the others can't. Find your ninche and sell it.