Fundraising Steos: Outline for a successful Fundraising Campaign.

Step 1: Meeting(s): Setup a meeting with your group. During this meeting complete the following steps:
Develop a game plan that details every facet of your program
Set Clear Financial Goals

Determine Firm Start and Ending Dates: Fund Raising efforts usually continue for at least two weeks. Anything more than 2 weeks can be counter-productive.
Attach a detailed cover letter with each order form instructing the sellers to neatly fill out their forms with their name and phone number as well as the buyer’s information.
Go over forms with leaders and volunteers and answer their questions. Have them fill in the necessary information including dates and phone numbers. Create excitement and emphasize that the sale is to raise money for the benefit of the group.
Organize a team of volunteers.

Step 2: Hold a "kick-off" rally, which educates the kids on the fundraising programs, and build enthusiasm to reach fundraising goals.

Communicate Clearly Before, During And After The Program Is Put In Place.
A good attitude = better success.

Step 3: Monitor progress and provide encouragement and incentives to keep the kids motivated.

Step 4: Ordering: The day after the sale ends, add up all of the groups order forms and contact Travel Vacation Vouchers to place the Vacation Certificate order.

Have them tally the forms prior to turning them in.
Arrange your forms alphabetically once finished.
Triple-check all monies and orders before calling in or sending your order to Fun Time Fundraising.
Trust us, this will save you a big headache if your orders are correct.
Always keep copies of the order forms before you send them to Travel Vacation Vouchers.

Step 5: Delivery Date: The delivery date should be scheduled when you first setup your Fundraiser with us. Delivery is made within 2 weeks of the order date.

Recruit Adult Volunteers Ahead Of Time.
A personal thank you letter by the students can't hurt.
Enjoy the fruits of your labor and start thinking of ways on improving your next fundraiser.
Have Fun!

The key to fundraising success is to establish clear fundraising goals and set firm deadlines for reaching those goals. Identify what you need, how much money is required and how long it will take to get it. Otherwise, your fundraising activity can be never-ending. So simply set beginning and ending dates for all fundraising projects. That way everybody knows that there will be closure and things won't drag on.

Best To Do Fewer Fundraisers- And Do Them Well

Most fundraising companies who work with organizations to raise money agree that, with fundraising, less can be more. Not only should schools and school groups be watchful of their own fundraising efforts, many advise that it is good practice to know what other groups in the area are doing to raise money.

Avoid Duplicating Another Group's Fundraiser

Today children and their parents are fundraising for their schools in addition to raising money for other groups. So it's important to know what, where, when and how others are doing in fundraising. The last thing you want to do is duplicate the efforts of others and over saturate the community. You are only hurting each other. Some groups plan at least one year in advance so that they can coordinate fundraising efforts with neighboring teams, schools and other groups (church, scouts, etc.) who may be selling in the community at the same time.

Product Quality Does Count

The old saying "You get what you pay for" is true for fundraiser campaigns and they're fundraising products. The quality of the product you sell to your supporter is a direct reflection of your group. It will also have a direct effect the next time you fundraise. Higher quality fundraising products will leave people with a positive image of your cause. It will also make your current and next fundraiser easier because supporters will be eager to buy from you, resulting in higher profit.

No Money Down Fundraisers

Is your group short on funds to buy fundraising products up-front? Choose an order-taker fundraiser. Selling Vacation Certificates is the perfect solution. Getting an order-taker fundraiser started costs you nothing. Take your orders, collect your money up-front and then place your order with Travel Vacation Vouchers. A simple way to raise funds without putting any money up-front.

The more you sell the more you profit! Our Vacation Certificates are shipped directly to your buyers.

A Vacation Certificate cannot be returned after Fund Raiser Sponsor receives their profits or if there is any damage or writing upon them.

"If you run it they will come..." Not quite. Don't assume that everyone will find out about your fundraiser. Get the word out ahead of time and make it as visible as possible.

Pick A Central And Well Known Location
Pick a location that everyone knows by name, just directing to an address will reduce your attendance. Also pick a location that can handle the requirements of your fundraising event as well as crowds.

Choose The Right Day
For a Full Day Sale Effort; Saturdays are usually best. Most people are not working and have less family or religious events to attend. Also check your calendar so you're not competing with another big event or holiday. Better yet, try to set up your fundraising event to take advantage of the other event's people traffic.

Ask Trusted Volunteers To Help
Make sure you get the commitment of your fundraising event volunteers. Your fundraiser will fall short if you can't rely on your helpers. Have backup volunteers lined up in case of absent helpers. Parents can help by selling at the office and to friends.

A little motivation can go a long way. Motivate your group with prizes, prizes and more prizes without it costing a lot!

Intangible Rewards

Rewards with no cash value are proven motivators and provide great entertainment. A few examples include:

Pie Throwing: allow the participants to throw cream pies at the organizers' faces if the goal is reached! (you might not like this one but it usually gets the money raised)

Activity of Choice: let your group have an activity of their choice that replaces their normal schedule (for example: a free afternoon of sports activities in the school yard instead of class)

Raffles And Prize Draws: For each small goal attained (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.

Grand Prize For Your Top Seller: Reward your top seller with a Grand Prize. It may be a portion of their vacations paid for.

Rewards For Top Class or Team: With the amount of money that can be raised using vacation certificates…take a small portion of the profits to reward your Top Sellers or Top Group Sellers.

This is a great way to motivate team work in your group. 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. Try an ice cream social, everybody likes ice cream!

In many communities, school fund raisers are necessary to supplement budget shortfalls and support a wide array of school programs. Fund raisers make impossible or marginal programs possible. But in some cases, the volume of fundraising is starting to take its toll on the students who are selling, the PTA and teachers who are organizing and the parents and family members who are buying. Fundraising fatigue is a common occurrence in school communities today.

Below are some tips on how to avoid fundraising fatigue:

Limit the number of fundraiser's. Many schools that do not regulate their fundraising activity run into the problem of over-fundraising-too many groups selling to the same people and tapping into the same volunteer pool. This drains school resources and is counter-productive. Schools should have only one school-wide fundraiser each semester. The principal should implement a strict approval process by which he or she decides what fundraiser's are allowed.

Set firm goals and deadlines. Fund raisers are effective only if they have firm financial goals and designated start and end dates. Enthusiastic participants and supporters are key ingredients to successful fundraiser. If you have never-ending fund raisers, you will lose the initial enthusiasm and burnout will occur. As with most things in life, there must be a sense of closure. Fund raisers are no different.

Avoid competing with neighboring schools. Fundraising is hard enough and the last thing you want is to sell the same products as the school down the street. Always know what other communities are doing for their fund raisers and make sure your fundraiser is unique.

Rotate volunteers. Parents and teachers should not be responsible for more than one fundraiser a year. Their time is too valuable to get caught up in organizing multiple fund raisers. Line up a healthy reserve of volunteers at the beginning of the school year and rotate their fundraising volunteer activities.

Most importantly, never lose sight of the school's purpose. Students are there to learn, teachers are there to teach, and parents are there to support the overall education process. Fundraising should never detract from these core principles.

Fundraiser Safety Tips
Child safety in fundraising is our main priority. That's why we discourage any student from selling door-to-door or selling to strangers.

Be Safe & Be Smart -- Use your common sense.
Make a list of friends, family, relatives, and neighbors to contact to avoid door-to-door sales.
Parents must be involved with each fundraising activity.
Follow all the instructions provided.
Make sure Mom and Dad have approved who you intend to ask to support your group.
Ask your parents to take an Order Form to work.
Use the telephone to call family and friends to ask them to help your group by making a purchase.
Never allow children to carry collected money unless accompanied by a responsible adult.
Use the buddy system - don't sell alone.
Do not carry large amounts of cash.
Never talk to strangers.
Never go out after dark.
Be Safe! Avoid door to door sales. All fundraising efforts should be supervised by parents or adults.

Purpose of the Fund Raising Efforts: ___________________________________________