FastTrack Fundraising Tips and Articles

A candle fundraiser is a great way for school clubs, cheer squads, or scout groups to raise funds because the unit price is high and most sales are for multiple units. Here’s how you can maximize your candle fundraising profits.

Provide samples
Believe it or not, using sample candles doubles the sales volume. Why? Because people can see, touch, and most importantly, smell the candles.

The fragrance is what sells the product and that doesn’t come through on the brochures. Not until they start providing scratch & sniff versions anyway!

Order at least two sample candles for each seller. Get a variety of all the popular fragrances in the main styles. Your fundraising company can easily tell you which ones those are and you can use the samples to fill orders, so you’re not wasting any money.

Use a sales script
I’m a big believer in kids actually getting out there and doing their own selling, so you need to teach them how to sell. Surprisingly, it’s not that hard to do.

As the kids say, here’s the thing. You must do these three things:

Smile and introduce yourself while making eye contact, then state why you are raising funds.
Ask for their help and use the word “because” to justify it.
Recommend a favorite and place the sample in their hands.
“Hi, I’m Jimmie Jones and we’re raising funds because we need new computers at school. Can you help us out by buying a candle? This French Vanilla one smells great!”

And that’s when you hand over a sample candle and an order brochure. After that, you keep quiet until they ask a question or agree to place an order.

Sell a second product
Another great way to maximize profits is by offering something completely different. If the customer doesn’t like the candles, you can quickly pitch your alternative.

Or, if they buy, you can upsell them with the same offer. Same number of sales calls, double the profits.

One product that works especially well is a fundraising card offering two-for-one discounts on pizza or similar products from fast food chains. These retail for $10 and cost $2, so there’s plenty of extra profit built in.

Plus, they appeal to families because they provide real value for the price. They get their money back the first time they use the card, so it’s a great deal for them.

Offer sales incentives
Motivation is a wonderful tool because people always act in their own best interest. By offering sellers prizes for every sales level they exceed, you motivate even the worst ones to reach the first bonus level.

Plus, your top sellers will keep cranking out the sales to achieve the really good prizes for selling hundreds of dollars worth of candles. Your supplier will provide certain prize packages, but I recommend supplementing those with extras like a free discount card or items donated by local businesses.

You can even spend some of the profits on really great prizes like a videogame console, the newest games, or an iTunes gift card. Just make sure you inform your sellers about all the great prizes available.

When you start, have them state their sales goals by prize level in front of their peer group. Why? Because fear of failure and peer pressure are truly powerful motivators!

Reach a bigger audience
Another way to increase sales is to expand your sales targets beyond family, friends, and neighbors. Set up sales tables at local events or even at high-traffic shopping center locations.

Use big signs to spell out why you’re raising funds. That helps pre-sell people as they approach. For many of these sales, you might need to fill them immediately from your sample inventory. Still, it’s an excellent way to make hundreds more sales!

Candle Fundraiser Summary

Boost your candle fundraiser profits by providing samples, teaching your sellers a simple sales script, selling an alternate product, and offering sales incentives. In addition, you can sell even more candles by expanding your marketing efforts beyond just family friends, and neighbors.

Take some time to develop the right candle fundraising program, select a good supplier, and watch your profits soar to new heights!

These days we all use digital cameras and reproduce our cherished memories via a printer. While the fascinating art of operating manual cameras appears to be in decline, people only become more interested in displaying their favorite photographs at home and in the office.

Because everybody wants to protect valuable photographs while proudly putting them on view, magnetic fridge frames are a unique and increasingly popular fundraiser that will help our organization make great profits. The frames can be fixed on refrigerators, filing cabinets, office walls and other flat surfaces. They come in different colors and sizes, holding between 3 and 13 photographs in creative and energetic styles. There are even special designs for lovers of cats and dogs!

From your organization’s point of view, magnetic fridge frames are the perfect fundraiser because it makes your job hassle-free. All the necessary sales and promotional materials are provided, and all your organization needs to do is to take the orders and distribute the products. Specifically, the full-color brochures and order forms can be either mailed to your organization or quickly downloaded from the Internet. Then the magnetic fridge frames will be sent to you in 5 to 7 business days.

Research shows that an average supporter of your organization will spend about 70 dollars on this fundraiser, or 4.5 frames. Obviously, the more magnetic fridge frames you are able to sell, the more money can be raised for your organization. In general, there is a 40-percent profit from the sale of 20 or less magnetic fridge frames, each of which costs between 7 and 20 dollars. For sales of more than 150 frames, your organization will be able to make 55 percent of profit. Best of all, this fundraiser is new and easy to manage, and can be started right away!

“Congratulations Ms. Cantsayno, you’ve been appointed fundraising chairperson. Your mission, should you decide to accept (and you will because we know that’s the kind of person you are) is to oversee our school’s fundraising activities. Good luck.” Do not panic. Fundraising is not for wimps. You’ll never hear Tom Cruise whine, “But…but…I’ve never done this before.” Now is the time for action. The following attack plan was developed with the fundraising rookie in mind in consultation with several experienced fundraisers. One word of caution: every fundraising program is different so the logistics can vary greatly. However, once you’ve selected a particular program and a professional company, your fundraising representative can help you map out the details.

6 Months Before

Step 1 – Set a Goal

No fundraising activity should be without purpose and that purpose should be one that everyone can support. Why do you need the money? How much money do you need? When setting the fundraising goal, be specific. Involve all interested parties in setting the goal and then make that the focus of your campaign from start to finish. If the goal is meaningful to school administrators, faculty, parents and children, your chances for success are greater.

Step 2 – Recruit a Committee
New fundraising chairs often try to do too much themselves rather than delegate. Recruit a team of three or four parent volunteers to help organize the activity and recruit any other needed volunteers. For example, assign one person to take care of publicity; two to handle money collection and record keeping; and another to manage delivery logistics.

Step 3 – Select a Company
Get this right and the rest should be a cakewalk (pardon the expression). Pare down your list to two or three companies and make appointments with each. Allow enough time (at least 45 minutes) for a proper presentation. Step 3 is not the place to skimp on time and effort. Competing companies will need to know your group’s financial goal; the number of potential participants and their ages; and any historical information you can provide (e.g. past fundraisers, participation levels, successes and failures).

You will need to learn from each of the companies you interview: § How long has the company been in business?

1. How many years of experience does the company representative have in fundraising?
2. Are the program’s product/s of high quality that the organization will be proud to stand behind?
3. What services are available to save you and your volunteers time and energy?
4. How will the program work? Are products paid for in advance or upon delivery?
5. Does the company understand and comply with your state sales tax laws? § How is safety addressed? Does the company discourage unsupervised door-to-door sales? Will adult supervision be stressed? How will these points be communicated to parents? Children?
6. What promotional assistance will the company provide? (kick-off assemblies; parent letters; posters; samples for display; etc.)
7. Is there an incentive or prize program? If so, who pays for it?
8. How are products shipped and when? Who pays the freight?
9. What is the policy regarding damaged or unsold product? What about back orders?
10. Will there be a written agreement?
11. Can the company provide references? (Be sure to call and check these references.)

Again, it’s important to remember that there are many types of fundraising programs. Not all of the above criteria may apply to your organization or the company with whom you choose to work.

Once you’ve selected the firm, set the dates and place them on a school or community activities calendar to avoid overlap within your own school or neighboring schools. Clear activities and crucial dates with appropriate officials (school principal, coaches, and custodians) to avoid conflicts with other events. Now relax for a few months

1 Month Before

Step 4 – Final Planning
Contact your fundraising representative and meet with your fundraising committee to review logistics. Make a list of materials that you’ll be responsible for and those that the company will supply. Determine how many adult volunteers you’ll need to execute the fundraiser at every step. Develop a master schedule of important dates for everyone to use as his or her blueprint. Include such details as: advance promotion (press releases, newsletter articles, billboards); arrival dates for company materials; kick-off activities with students/teachers/parents; deadlines for orders/money to be turned in; reminder notices/P.A. announcements; delivery of products and prizes; announcement of results to all participants; volunteer appreciation; and a wrap-up meeting to review the entire event. Let teachers know about the fundraiser so that they may incorporate it into their lesson plans.

1 to 2 Weeks Before

Step 5 – Advance Promotion
Send a flier home to parents announcing your fundraising goal and when they can expect to receive their fundraising packets/products. Put up posters around the school and post dates on the school billboard, web site and on the homework hotline. If an open house or parents meeting is scheduled, arrange a display with product samples from your fundraising project.

1 to 2 Days Before

Step 6 – Countdown
Touch base with fundraising company, school administrators and custodians to reconfirm logistics. Gather and sort the supplies you’ll need from the company. Check in with your committee and team leaders. Call volunteers to remind them of their responsibilities and when they’re needed. Post reminders to teachers, explaining procedures, reminding them of the goal.

D-Day
Step 7 – All Systems Go
This is when you start to congratulate yourself on all the careful planning. Kick-off activities, if scheduled, go off without a hitch. Appropriate materials finally go home to each family. If your particular event will last over a one- or two-week period, make your final preparations to motivate volunteers. Remind volunteers of important deadlines; the group’s ultimate goal and what progress has been made. Some families may jump right on the fundraising project, returning their order forms/money immediately. So it’s a good idea to review your process for order and money collection to ensure theseearly returns are accounted for. Likewise, now is the time to review your plans for product delivery first to your school and then to the end-user. Touch base with the fundraising company representative for an approximate date of delivery. Reconfirm availability of space with school officials. If parental pick-up is planned, begin scheduling times once a firm delivery date has been determined.

Step 8 – Product Delivery
Again, fundraising programs will vary widely. Sometimes products will go home with students. Sometimes parents will pick up the orders. There are some instances that the product may go directly to the end-user. Have enough volunteers on hand to handle products at the appropriate time, making sure there is someone to trouble-shoot missing orders. Forward appropriate paperwork (invoice, purchase orders) to your organization’s treasurer or bookkeeper to ensure prompt payment. Then, congratulate yourself again on yet another well-executed plan.

1 Month After

Step 9 – Evaluation
Did your group meet or exceed financial expectations? Are plans underway toward implementing the originally stated goal? (Is the new playground equipment on the way? Are the field trip plans complete?) Communicate the final fundraising results by P.A., billboards, newsletters, parent letters, etc., thanking participants for their support. Meet with your committee to review the entire activity and any notes taken along the way to identify improvements for next year. Provide an overall report to the school principal in a brief meeting. And provide your fundraising company representative with your feedback. Now you can proudly pass on your file and vast knowledge to the next, more fortunate fundraising chair, because … congratulations, Ms. Cantsayno, your successful fundraising efforts just landed you the position of incoming President.

Source: AFRDS

Elementary school children have plenty of enthusiasm and energy that needs to be released under careful supervision. One way to augment their determination is to encourage their involvement in school fundraising events. As children strive to complete every assigned task, they learn to cooperate with each other and develop a sense of responsibility. Teachers and parents participate in these events and provide appropriate guidance to ensure that the children complete their hard work safely and receive much emotional and psychological reward for it.

Sweets make an excellent fundraiser for elementary schools. Many companies have developed fundraising programs specifically for elementary schools, and you can find out relevant details by consulting their business representatives. Make sure that your selected company provides enough promotional materials for your school to distribute. Working with teachers and parents, you can further take the opportunity to educate children about sweets as “sometimes” foods that are consumed only on special occasions.

Perfumed candles and other decorative items, such as calendars and dishes featuring children’s art works, are also a good way for elementary schools to raise funds. Your selected company offers attractive brochures for families to browse through and place orders, providing ample opportunities for the children to utilize their talents. In return, the company gives a percentage of the raised money back to your school.

Finally, book fairs, sporting events and carnivals are great ways to raise funds for elementary schools. Because both parents and children are able to participate, these events can often attract large crowds and contribute much to your school’s fundraising and public relations efforts. Make sure that you invite local businesses, particularly the media, to participate, either as sponsors or to occupy stalls that promote their products and services. Much support can also be found in nearby preschool facilities and high schools.

Churches and religious groups need to raise funds in order to survive and continue serving their supporters. Like businesses large and small, the best way for churches and religious groups to improve their fundraising campaign is to create and promote their “brands”. To build a brand is to explain who you are and what you can do for those who have faith in you. It also helps establish a strong emotional bond between you and your supporters.

To further enhance such emotional bond, here are some useful ways in which churches and religious groups can express gratitude towards their supporters:

• Custom pewter medallions and coffee mugs, which can be crafted to showcase the representative image of your church or religious group and its specific message.
• Engraved or personalized bricks, which can be arranged around a special entryway or sidewalk. They can even be used in landscaping the building or garden of your church or religious group.
• Brass plagues and wall displays, which can be mounted against a polished wood backdrop in high-traffic areas for everyone to recognize the contributions of your supporters.
• Gift plants or memorial trees, which can be erected both indoors and outdoors. Gift plants are three-dimensional sculptures of plants whose leaves are engraved with the names of your supporters. Meanwhile, trees can live for years and help reinforce the bond between your church or religious group and its supporters.

Remember, there is no better way to thank your supporters by publicly recognizing their contributions. Indeed, all of us can do with some faith in certain power “behind the scenes” that sustains us through life’s hardships. Our faith enables us to appreciate the strengths of those around us. Only when we have faith in our fellow people can we have faith in this world.

We all want to do what we can to protect and improve our living environment. As we have only one planet to share with all current and future generations, it is important that we create and help promote products that are highly sustainable.

Currently there are thousands of eco-friendly products in the market that you can use to raise funds. Most of them are made of recycled or recyclable materials, or aim at encouraging individuals and businesses alike to develop habits and practices that are environmentally friendly and socially responsible. With a quick search on the Internet, you can find a wide range of companies and groups who are keen to provide assistance in selecting products that suit your organization’s fundraising needs.

Meanwhile, selling can hardly be as good as sharing. How can your organization conduct fundraising events that are environmentally friendly as well? Here are some useful tips:

• Use recycled stationery. While some recycled products can be slightly pricey, their long-term return on investment is considerable and will boost your organization’s environmental credibility.
• Reduce usage of paper and copy machine. Electronically distribute all internal documents and as many external ones as possible. For permanent storage, use CDs and DVDs.
• Reuse public relations materials. Carefully design your organization’s promotional items to present its long-term visions and targets. Yearly updates can be featured on supplementary pages when necessary.
• Act as role model. Establish partnerships with businesses that are eco-friendly and socially responsible. In all fundraising events, use recyclable and reusable advertising materials.

Caring for our planet is a task that is easier done than said. Every small step counts in a long journey as it brings the achiever closer to his or her goal. By working together, we can have a direct positive impact on our environment.

We all love dining out, whether it is for special occasions such as Mother’s Day (which is coming soon!) and birthdays, or just for some fun and relaxation. Even the most talented and devoted family cook would like to get some rest and enjoy having delicious meals brought to his or her table.

This is why restaurant gift cards are an ideal fundraiser for businesses that are keen to become involved in their local communities. Not only can fundraising supporters save up to 60 percent on their restaurant meals, but participating restaurants also receive free advertising opportunities and create good sales.

More importantly, this is a fundraiser that is easy to organize. All you need to do is to order at least ten $50 gift cards at the price of only $10 each, specify your contact details, and then the cards will be delivered to your door in two to four business days. There is no deadline before which the gift cards have to be sold, and all cards unsold (which are rare) may be returned. Better still, by selling each gift card at the price of $20, your business is making $10 profit.

Finally, be sure to inform your supporters that they can redeem their gift cards at Restaurant.com (http://www.fundraising.restaurant.com/). Whether their favorite meal is vegetarian, seafood, Italian, Mexican or Chinese, there are thousands of participating restaurants proudly displaying their contact details in this website. All one need to do is to enter his or her gift card code numbers online. Then they will be able to search for restaurants using either their zip codes and preferred search radius (such as within one mile from their residences) or regions of their states (such as New York, Long Island & Vicinity, Queens, Jamaica, near the John F. Kennedy International Airport).

Most non-profit organizations have fundraising committee positions that last for at least one year. Each year, new members receive training and learn from their predecessors. All results of previous fundraising events and relevant details are available, so that the new committee does not have to start everything from scratch.

However, when a fundraising committee is being established for the first time, it is important to get things organized to enhance future management. There should certainly be a team leader who is in charge of chairing meetings, distributing minutes and resources, and settling disputes when necessary. A financial officer should also be appointed to keep track of the money collected through fundraising events.

Among the other thousands of tasks to get organized, some fundamental documents need to be prepared:

• Names, addresses, telephone numbers and email addresses of all fundraising committee members and volunteers.
• Details of fundraising product suppliers you plan to use and are considering using, including notes on the types of goods and services provided.
• Financial books, to keep notes on fundraising account details, receipts, income and expenditure records, check and credit card statements, etc.
• Copies of your organization’s fundraising and money handling policies and procedures, as well as your planning documents such as schedules of fundraising events, committee meetings and training of volunteers.
• Documentation on all fundraising committee meetings, discussions, decisions, actions and reviews. Each fundraising event should have its own folder, which is to be filed separately from that of general committee affairs.

Setting up a new fundraising committee is not difficult, as long as you are prepared to pay attention to details and patiently plan and implement every single step. With all essential documentation retained and properly categorized, you will find your tasks and those of future fundraising committee members very easy.

We all learn from our predecessors, people who used to do what we do now, who have learned great lessons and received much emotional and psychological rewards from their work. As we ourselves now arrive at these positions, we are keen to experience, to perform and, most importantly, to succeed. We soon find that there is no better way to gain knowledge than learning from our forerunners.

Particularly in fundraising, we need much guidance from those who know. What kinds of fundraising events have been organized before? How were the products, services or activities promoted, and were the results lucrative or less than satisfactory? How were the products collected and what happened when there were not enough to distribute? What happened to the excessive stock? Where did all those volunteers come from and how were they organized and trained?

Most importantly, where can we find more fundraising ideas and put them in practice? How do we keep our volunteers and ourselves enthusiastic? Who can we talk to when we feel tired and frustrated? With whom can we share our success?

This is why heritage is important in fundraising, as hard-earned experiences should be passed on. Policies and procedures may be established to enhance the handling of a wide range of matters, while criteria are required for us to measure our achievements. While fine examples are to be followed, all efforts should be made to avoid previously made mistakes.

It is therefore highly recommended that all fundraising committees possess a full copy of at least the previous year’s committee meeting minutes, contact details of volunteers, reports on all fundraising results, product distribution and storage records, and relevant financial proceedings. The better written and catalogued these documents are, the faster and easier they can help the newcomers prepare themselves for their work.

Financial trouble with Varsity Gold Fundraising causes office lock-out and change from chapter 11 filing to chapter 7 filing. 

Employees confirm that the office is no longer operating and reps are officially out of work after being on unpaid vacation. According to posts at the PTO Today website, court filings were changed from chapter 11 (re-organization) to chapter 7 (liquidation) and the office was locked down (confirmed by Tim Sullivan founder, PTO Today link). 

Court documents show heavy debts that will remain unpaid to vendors and reps but the cause of the bankruptcy was leveraging Varsity Gold to invest in failed business opportunities. From their website they explain “The reason we are in (bankruptcy) has nothing to do with our fundamental business; rather, it was the result of investments in businesses unrelated to Varsity Gold.”

(Complete article @ http://believejay.blogspot.com/)

FastTrack Fundraising would like to offer it’s discount card fundraiser to any affected groups and sales reps.  Please contact us, and we will help to the best of our ability.