15 Tips for 1st Time Fundraising

 1. Decide how much money your group needs to raise This will help you evaluate products and programs that will be ideal for your group.
2. Watch for hidden costs Don’t let your group’s profits disappear because of hidden costs (ex. shipping, prizes).
3. Give yourself & your group lots of time to prepare Select your fundraising program early. This will give you lots of time to plan. Include your fundraiser on the school or community calendars and newsletters. 4. Timing Make sure to stagger the various fundraisers to avoid flooding your potential consumers and to avoid competing with other fundraisers.
5. Set up specific dates & stick to them If you avoid setting clear target dates the campaign tends to drag on and often without direction.
6. Try to conduct fewer & more effective programs This will help maintain motivation and avoid “fundraising fatigue”.
7. Rely on your fundraising company’s expertise Ask lots of questions & use your fundraising company’s suggestions & advice.
8. Stay motivated throughout the program Some organizers tend to lose interest once the program is underway. Put a 10-12 day time limit on order taking. It’s easier to stay motivated with clear goals and deadlines.
9. Communicate clearly before, during & after the program is put in place Keep energy levels high by reminding parents, teachers and other volunteers of the fundraising goals and deadlines.
10. Avoid shipping and ordering problems Work closely with your volunteers and assure their order forms are legible and filled out completely.
11. Keep copies of the order forms Always keep copies of the order forms before you send them to your fundraising company.
12. Recruit adult volunteers ahead of time This will make the distribution of the products to the volunteers more efficient.
13. Double-check products received against your order forms This needs to be done before the products are given to the volunteers to ensure that nothing is damaged or missing.
14. Keep absent volunteers informed Don’t forget to communicate the program’s kick off and other important meetings to absent volunteers.
15. Have Fun! A good attitude = better success.

*The Washington State Booster Club Association (WSBCA)