Time And Timing

An essential part of good fundraiser planning is determining time-factors; time for organization and campaigning, and timing to maximize fundraiser impact. Time and timing are included on every fundraising company's list of considerations when choosing fundraiser products, services, and/or methods.

Time To Plan

First off, your organization needs time to plan your fundraiser. You may be excited to get started, but starting off haphazardly and not allowing for adequate planning and organization time will only end in disaster, and all efforts will have been wasted; that will make volunteer recruitment and support difficult for subsequent and future fundraising campaigns, not to mention the fact that you will not have met your financial need.

Fundraising companies recommend that groups start planning for product-based fundraisers at least one month ahead of time, and allow two weeks for the actual sales campaign. To this time you will need to add time to tally the total order, submit it, receive it, and sort and distribute the order. Even if you plan to sell items through on-hand cash and carry sales, you need enough time to place the order, receive and sort it, and line up sales sites.

Event based fundraisers usually require more planning time than one month (the exception being, perhaps, simple events like car washes). One month will be the time you need just to advertise the event and sell tickets (unless all sales will be handled at the door or gate). A minimum amount of time for planning an event-based fundraiser would be more to the tune of two months, and the more time the better.

Timing The Fundraiser

Another consideration when accounting for planning time is fundraiser timing; you wouldn't want to be selling Christmas gift wrap in June. If your fundraiser is meant to incorporate holiday gift buying or seasonal items like gift wrap and Easter bunnies, it is imperative that you include enough time for delivery and distribution. That means not only receiving the supply prior to the holiday, but also getting it sorted and distributed to sellers and end buyers.

Another aspect of fundraiser timing is straddling other area fundraising events. A kid's fair or craft sale will not do well on the same weekend as your community fair, unless your event is incorporated into the larger event. Get in touch with schools and other fundraising groups in your community and ask what their plans are for product and scheduling. Explain that you are calling to plan your sale or event accordingly, and that spacing events and choosing non-competing products will help both your sales be successful.

It's easy to see that the right timing can in itself make or break a fundraiser's success. However, it is easy to work around timing issues when your group puts some thought into the product, event, and process.

This is an article created by the FundraisingIP.com Editorial Team. For more fundraising ideas and fundraiser help, go to our article directory at FundraisingIP.com/articles.

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Plan For Big Profits: Planning Tips For Fundraisers - By : FundraisingIP.com Editorial Team

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