How to be a Successful Fundraiser

1. Set Goals

Setting goals will focus your fundraising campaign and provide clear targets to hit. Without these your fundraiser will drag on and will lack direction.

• What are you raising money for? It is much easier to create interest for a specific project than "school funds".
• How much do you need to raise? Make this an achievable target and use our profit calculator to determine how many units you need to sell to reach you target. This will also determine what you are going to sell.
• When do you need the funds by? Having a clear date will keep enthusiasm up and avoid the fundraiser stagnating. This is also particularly important if the product chosen is required for a specific date e.g. Prom Night or Christmas.

2. Set up a Committee

No one ever wants to be on a committee but leaving everything to one person is a sure way to struggle with your fundraiser. Getting a team of enthusiastic volunteers together will help enormously. Nominate a person to be responsible for the following at least :

• Creating the product
• Publicity
• Collecting orders and keeping records
• Collection and accounting for the money

3. Planning

Planning is crucial to the success of your fundraiser. Not only this particular campaign but also in relation to other activities going on at school. Having put your plans in place make sure that everyone knows what is required and that the plan is adhered to.

• Stagger fundraising efforts to avoid competing with other groups.
• Avoid "fundraising fatigue" among parents and helpers by organising fewer more effective campaigns.
• Don't try and fundraise in the middle of important times such as exams or SATS tests
• Use curriculum activities to generate the products for your fundraising that way you will avoid using too much "free" time

4. Publicity

Make sure everyone is aware of your campaign, if they don't know they can't be involved. Make sure that your publicity really gets across the message

• why do you need the money,
• when do you need it by,
• what are you selling to raise funds,
• how can they help.

Send letters home and put up posters in your school and the community.

Put details of your fundraiser on your website

Send a press release to your local newspaper

Go to our download section to get templates to help you with publicity

5. Motivation

Motivation and enthusiasm is crucial to the success of your fundraising campaign. If the steps above have been carried out and the purpose of the fundraiser has been communicated effectively enthusiasm will easily follow.

If you are having a struggle getting support for your fundraiser, make it a competition

• What is the most important thing to raise funds for? If pupils and parents feel that the funds are for something that they consider important then they are more likely to get behind the campaign
• Who can sell the most products? Consider using a small amount of the money raised to buy prizes. Nothing motivates kids better than a good prize. Make them worthwhile and make sure everyone knows about them.

6. Thanks

Communication is the key to the success of your fundraiser and is part of all the points raised so far. What is equally important is to communicate the success of your fundraiser and to thank everyone involved for their time commitment and money! Not only will this make people feel that their contribution has been worthwhile it will also give you a head start for your next fundraiser.

• Send a flyer home congratulating everyone in achieving the goal
• Have a special event to thank people
• Have an award ceremony to give out prizes and thank people for their efforts
• Put details of your success on your website and in your newsletter
• Send a piece of editorial to your local newspaper