Fundraiser Ideas and Events » High School, College

Great Deals! Discount Card Fundraisers

FundraisingIP.com — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 20:16:57 +0000

Want a fundraiser that supports local businesses, keeps money in your community, has the publicity and support of area merchants, is welcomed by supporters and raises big funds fast? Sound impossible? Read on and learn about Discount Card fundraisers…

What Is A Discount Card Fundraiser?

A discount card fundraiser consists of selling pre-printed cards that are worth a discount from area merchants and service people. Area businesses agree to give a discount of their choosing to all who present cards to them at their business or at the time of service delivery. Your organization sells the cards at a set rate – usually $5 to $10 – and buyers can use the cards for as long as agreed upon by participating area businesses; the expiration should be printed on the cards.

How Do You Start A Discount card Fundraiser?

The easiest way to get started running a discount card fundraiser is to pair with a company that coordinates the drive and prints the cards for your organization. The discount card fundraising company will contact and negotiate with area merchants and solicit participation.

Once participating merchants and service people are contracted, the discount card fundraising company will print the cards and include on the back a list of participating merchants, including what discounts are available at each.

What’s In It For Everybody?

During a discount card fundraiser, everybody wins. Area merchants and service people get increased business and revenue; area customers get discounts of local services and purchases they need; and your organization profits from discount card sales profits. Everybody wins because almost all the money involved stays within your local community.

Your organization benefits from the ease and simplicity of the sale as well. With one simple product, there are no tedious sorting and storage issues. Discount cards are simple for even very young sellers to sell. And if you choose to go the route of cash and carry sales, there is no lingering delivery to contend with.

How Are Discount Cards Sold?

Discount cards can be sold one of two ways:

One way is to print informational literature and order takers, or obtain them from the discount card fundraising company, and collect orders for the cards. Money is collected upfront, and there is no out-of-pocket expense to your organization.

The second option does require an initial out-of-pocket expenditure, but can result in a fast and easy campaign. In this option, a set number of discount cards are ordered and paid for ahead of time at wholesale cost. Sellers then sell the cards for the agreed upon amount and deliver the discount cards at the point of purchase. This is often preferable for buyers, and instant savings can boost discount card sales.

Discount card fundraisers are often met with great success. With the all around support and inherent win-win-win situation, discount card fundraisers are gaining in popularity by the day.

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Planning A Dance Fundraiser

FundraisingIP.com — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 02:54:18 +0000

School or community dances are great fun for middle and high school aged kids. And, they also happen to be a great way to raise funds, because they’re high on appeal and low on cost and effort.

Valentine’s Day and spring are the two most popular times to host a dance; though it’s not necessarily a good idea to host one at Valentine’s Day for tweens or younger teens. The implication that one must have a “valentine” or date to attend will discourage many kids who would otherwise be happy to come alone or with a group of friends.

Though a dance is fairly simple to host, there are some important things to consider:

• Location – If you’re hosting a school dance, the school’s cafeteria or gym will likely make a good location. If it’s a community or organization event, you may need to locate a venue. Consider asking local clubs to either donate the use of their location or rent it to you for a lower cost than their normal rental fee. If the proceeds from your dance are going to a good cause, they may be more than willing to help. Eliminating or reducing the cost of the venue should be high on your priority list. If you have to pay for a venue, this will likely be your most costly budget item.

• Food – It’s OK to keep food simple; this is not an eating event. Water, sodas, juices, cookies, pretzels and simple finger foods may be sufficient.

• Music – Consider hiring a DJ rather than a band. DJ’s are typically less expensive and play a wider variety of music. Plus, they will typically be showmen who’ll keep the crowd happy with limbo contests, etc. If you let your DJ know that the dance is a fundraiser, they may lower their price. Or, consider scouring the parent body for a DJ right in your own organization.

• Decorations – Pick a theme and then plan decorations and food serving items around the theme.

• Ticket Sales and Prices – Come up with your budget before you set your ticket sales price. Tickets should be priced appropriately so that they are affordable, yet allow for you to make a profit. Consider setting a certain window for advanced ticket sales and then charge a higher price at the door. This will more accurately help you predict your headcount for food and drink.

• Chaperones – You’ll need to enlist volunteers to take and sell tickets, serve drinks and offer general chaperone help. Schedule volunteers in shifts of no more than 2 hours if possible to ensure that more people are willing to help.

• Advertising – Be sure you get the word out. Use posters and flyers as well as announcing your event as often as you get the chance.

As you can see, with a little planning and volunteer assistance, a dance is a great way to raise funds while entertaining a group of teens or tweens. Your group will probably have so much fun that you’ll consider making a dance an annual event!

Fundraisers To Raise Funds And Team Spirit

Guest Post — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 19:34:12 +0000

Spirit fundraisers are the ideal fit for fundraisers for schools, sports teams, dance groups, boosters clubs, youth groups, and more.

What Makes Spirit Fundraisers Popular

Spirit fundraisers fulfill the demand of club members, parents, and supporters looking to show their support. In many cases, supporters plan for and budget for spirit apparel and other items, so being the supplier of such products produces easy sales.

Spirit Product Fundraising Items

There are many, many items that can be printed and designed with individual team and organization names, mascots, event specifics, and mottos. These may be fun spirit-boosters like

Pompoms
Foam hands
Noodle wavers
Antenna toppers
Awareness bracelets

Spirit fundraising products may have a useful side, too. Buyers can show off their spirit and lend financial support when they purchase

Printed or embroidered backpacks, canvas and drawstring bags
Water bottles and bottle coolers
Can/beverage coolers
Cell phone holders
Handheld fans
Seat/stadium cushions
Badge holders
T-shirts, jackets, and apparel

One advantage of spirit fundraisers, particularly items such as t-shirts and apparel that will see frequent use, is visibility and publicity. When supporters wear their team spirit apparel, it will be seen by others, and more attention will be drawn to both fundraising efforts and the group overall, drawing in new membership and financial support.

The Selling Process

Spirit fundraisers usually require an organization to choose one or more items and work with company representatives to determine design and wording. Many times, a company will gladly supply a few sample items for a brochure or order-taking campaign. Another option that may be preferable is for the group to prepay and purchase a stock of products that can be sold on the spot at sporting and group events.

While order taking may be more financially feasible, outreach may be limited somewhat without items on hand for cash and carry sales. On the other hand, by prepaying for items, the group could get stuck if interest is not adequate to recoup sales.

Spirit fundraisers give fans, group members, team members, students, and faculty the organization-specific spirited apparel and products they are looking for and fulfill fundraising needs at the same time. The double-duty purpose of spirit fundraisers is virtually able to sell itself; not only to fundraising organizers, but to organization supporters as well. Selling spirit fundraisers really covers all the fundraising bases.

>> Search for Spirit Fundraisers/Promotional Products

College Fundraising

FundraisingIP.com — Wed, 21 May 2008 01:23:23 +0000

College fundraising is unique in that a more mature group is doing the fundraising and reaping the benefits. College fundraisers want a fundraising campaign that reflects their age and maturity while still being fun and productive. The same fundraiser that worked for younger school kids just won’t do anymore! Finding the right method, campaign, and product that will raise funds but not eyebrows can be challenging.

There are many fundraising companies who are skilled and experienced at supplying and organizing college fundraising campaigns. These companies are an excellent resource for college groups, especially since in many cases a college fundraiser will be young adults’ first experiences with actually organizing and running the campaign. Talking to one or more experienced, reputable college fundraising companies can put college fundraising members on the fast track to organization and success.

Recruiting College Fundraising Volunteers

Volunteers are the key to any successful fundraiser, but with the busy schedules college students keep, recruiting and motivating great help can be difficult. Here are some tips for finding volunteers, and working with them successfully:

Place sign up sheets in visible places for volunteers
Ask volunteers personally for their help
With a list of help in hand, delegate tasks
Rely heaviest on the people you know will stay with the project and can be relied upon
Give the most important tasks to those most reliable volunteers
Remind volunteers often of their commitment and responsibilities
Keep good records of who is doing what
Provide incentives for top sellers

Tips For Running A Successful College Fundraiser

Other than finding and organizing reliable volunteers, you will also benefit by keeping the fundraiser short and simple. College student have a lot going on, and just cannot commit to long-term fundraisers that cut too much into their time.

In addition, start off your fundraising campaign with a clear dollar-figure goal in mind. Make sure everyone involved knows what that number is and how much progress has been made towards reaching it.

College Fundraising Ideas

The following list includes some of the most successful college fundraisers:

Drive-in movie night with portable movie theater equipment
Concert/band night/battle of the bands
Scratch card fundraisers
Product based sales such as pizza, cookie dough, coffee, cheese, snack foods, etc.
Event based fundraisers such as dances and carnivals
Game night – games of chance, casino night (depending on ages of participants)
Donation drive
Raffles
Auctions
Yard sales
Credit card application booths

These ideas represent just the tip of the college fundraising iceberg. Since college campuses automatically have access to local supporters, with good organization, appeal, and ingenuity, your college fundraiser is to be a success!

FastTrack Fundraising – Scratch Cards (Sponsored link)