Marketing

 by: Paul Jensen

To achieve a successful fundraiser you need to create

awareness and excitement.

Some things to consider:

 When planning a fundraiser the most important

question you need to answer is: How much money

do you need to raise?

 How many people do you have that can help carry out

the fundraiser?

 When will the fundraiser start and when will it

end? It is generally a good idea to have the fundraiser

last 2 weeks or less. With a smaller window of

opportunity, people are more inclined to act immediately.

It is important to get a commitment to the fundraiser the

first time, and eliminate the need for a second sales pitch.

 Collect the payment at the point of sale. This

eliminates the need to collect payment at the time of

delivery and does not allow for lost revenue due to

undeliverable product.

 What is the profit percentage allocated to the

organization?

Is your community aware of your organization, its

activities, and why you need a fundraiser? You may want to

send out press releases or flyers to increase awareness.

Does your group need:

 new uniforms?

 money for a summer camp?

 specialized enrichment classes?

 to attend competitions?

Let them know the goal that your group is working toward.

All your communications should specifically state how

much money you are trying to raise.

After the fundraiser has taken off and you have reached your

goal, let the contributors know and thank them for their

participation. This goodwill message will leave a positive

image of your organization, and encourage them to support

your next fundraiser.

Select a product such as coffee, magazines, or candles for

your fundraiser since most people are likely to use them

anyway so it is already included in their budget. This way

your contributors can enjoy a high quality product and feel

good about supporting local organizations at the same time.