Free Elementary School Fundraising Samples & Info...

In your travels you'll run across many fundraisers.  The thing is, how do you know which fundraiser is right for your school or group?

The decision process you go through should go further than just feeling right.  Your decision should be based on what is right for your school at the time you will be running it.

Things like 'I need the highest amount of money that can be raised' or 'This is a secondary fundraiser' are important to know.

If you decide you need to raise top-dollar, there are only a few companies that can do that effectively for you, without adding work to your already busy schedules (or interrupting class time).

Go ahead and follow the instructions on the video to get elementary school fundraising information from Believe Kids BEFORE you make your next fundraising decision.

Thanks much!!!



http://believekids.com/ is direct link - click on Free Info Kit on the top of the page.

Keep Calm and Believe

Keep Calm and Believe

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Believe Kids Elementary School Fundraising helps schools nationwide become believers!  Schools can raise more while fundraising less!  It's a simple two-week traditional fundraiser with a twist - it's REMARKABLE!  High dollars, unreal products and promotion on facebook and twitter just to name a few.  

Find out if it's right for your school: Elementary school fundraising at www.BelieveKids.com

Ok, until next time!

Should I Involve the Principal in My School Fundraiser?

OMG!  YES!!!

Involve the principal in your school fundraiser whenever possible.  If you can host a concise fundraiser where there is 'buy in' from the principal, faculty and teachers, you can raise enough funds in one fundraiser to not have to fundraise the rest of the year.  

Getting the Principal on board means that you can more easily earn the allegiance of the administration and teachers too!  Go do it, you can thank me later!

Ok, until next time!

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elementary school fundraising

Incentivize your Fundraisers!

One fundraising fact you may not know is that schools that decide against using the prize programs that fundraising companies offer, do way less in revenue than the ones that use the prize program!

Perhaps even more shocking is the fact that these prize programs cost the schools nothing!

If you're going to run a elementary school fundraiser, seriously consider the prize program you get offered.  It will earn you a lot of money over no incentives.

Hit me up if you have questions about this!  I'd love to help clear things up if I can!

Question... Why would you consider NOT using a provided student prize program?

Ok, until next time!

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elementary school fundraiser

Start Your Fundraising Early in the Year!

Regardless of if you are fundraising in the Fall or in the Spring, start your fundraising in the first few weeks of school!

Right after summer but before things get holiday-ish!

Right after the holidays but before things get spring-like!

There's a right way to optimize your elementary school fundraising and a lot of it comes down to when you choose your fundraiser!  The least distractions the better.

Then you can get in, run a simple effective and short fundraiser and move on to bigger and better things.

Ok, until next time!

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elementary school fundraiser

Our Hats Off to You!

If you had a successful Fall school fundraiser, our hats off to you!

Hats off to any school that hosted a successful Fall fundraiser!

Chances are, it took teamwork, planning and the understanding that a fundraiser is a two-week commitment that works best if you work it.  Hey, it's not meant to be hard but raising a year's worth of income in just a few short weeks is not easy either!

Ok, congratulations!

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Elementary School Fundraiser

School Fundraising Promotions and Cold Hard Cash!

You want to make some money on your elementary school fundraiser?  Here's a secret. 

Experts know something that most folks don't quite realize.  Fundraising promotions are the key to success!

A pizza party, ice cream social, duct tape to wall, kiss a pig, favorite teacher sleeps on the roof, principal for the day..  The list goes on and on!

Throw a promotion on top of offering your next fundraiser as it's designed and you'll get maximum impact!  That will translate into cold hard cash for your school or group.

Here's the 101 Low & No Cost Promotions book free of charge.  Hope it helps!

Ok, until next time!

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elementary school fundraiser promotions

Fundraising Profit Percentage - How Important is Profit Percentage?

How important is your school fundraiser profit percentage?  

Probably pretty important right?

You can gauge your fundraising on any metrics you want.  You can decide if your fundraiser was a success based on any reality you choose.  Ultimately, you have the freedom to gauge it by how it feels, how easy it was or even how you think parents liked it.

Plenty of fundraisers are gauged by emotional metrics.  There's nothing wrong with that necessarily because how people feel is paramount.  In fact, at the heart of today's marketing successes you find many companies that put the customer at the center.  It is right to wonder how their experience with your fundraiser was.

But, there's just one more element to fundraising that we need to get out of the way.  The business end.  We really need to look critically at the profit itself generated from the fundraiser.  If you gauge the fundraiser success on just the feeling of it, you may be missing the point. 

School fundraising today is a balance where the challenge is to fundraise LESS but MORE EFFECTIVELY.  In that vein, paying closer attention to the profit from the individual fundraisers is perhaps the first consideration we should make.

Consider this, some schools ask for a donation at the beginning of the year for as much as $375 per family.  If they are persistent enough, they will get it.  So... if you make a persistent effort at one main fundraiser, you too can reach your goals.  Having said that, knowing what fundraisers work and what don't is going to matter in a big way.

Fundraiser Profit Percentage

If you look at the numbers, fundraisers that work and what doesn't will become apparent.  Just know, there is a huge difference from one fundraiser to another and one school year to another.  The challenge is to agree that one main fundraiser should raise a significant amount of those dollars. 

Then the percentage comes into play.  All other things being equal, given a concerted effort, a higher profit percentage will lead to a higher return.  Naturally, you'll want to go for the higher profit percentage.

But if things are not equal, you have to run the numbers.  A higher percentage of nothing is still nothing.  Yep, bear with me.  If you can't sell something, your profit percentage doesn't matter.

Again, the idea of balance comes into play.  You can maximize your returns if you find a product or service that has a high profit percentage and also a product that is in demand enough to sell. 

If you've read this far, you deserve a secret.

You can ask any fundraising company for their average dollars raised per participating seller (in your area) and then multiply that by the number of sellers you have.  This provides a better idea of where you'll stand when all is said and done.

As if this post weren't long enough, I'll leave you with just one more sentiment.  Sometimes taking a slightly lower profit percentage will lead to a better outcome!  Sounds a bit counter-intuitive but consider this.  A frozen cookie dough elementary school fundraiser at 40% profit including a prize program and a bunch of extras will outsell a candy bar sale at 50% by literally thousands and thousands of dollars.  So, it's not a bash on candy bars, it's just that gaining 10% of what could amount to 50% less sales (or whatever number you want to insert) isn't going to make financial sense.

Hope you find this illuminating.  Feel free to share or comment either below or on twitter.

Ok, until next time!

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frozen cookie dough fundraiser

The wrong approach to elementary school fundraising...

I think I can prove once and for all with just one quote, that fundraising in schools is too frequent and hurts school revenue. 

Frequent fundraising undermines all the work fundraising companies have worked so hard to achieve.  It also undermines the relationship between parents and teachers by confusing what's important.

I believe schools need to focus on less fundraising throughout the year and ensure that people participate in those few fundraisers.  I hope schools begin to realize that 'free money' from these smaller fundraisers may actually be costing schools a lot of money.

Here ya go, a Mom's comment from a parenting website: 

"Since we already support the school with Market Day and box tops,  I don't worry too much about the Sally Foster / Innisbrook stuff."

This means that by supporting Market Day (10% commission to the school) and box tops (maybe $3 per participating family per year) that the parent's charitable contribution has been taken care of in it's entirety.

These fundraisers take the place of school gift wrap and catalog fundraisers with significantly higher sales like Sally Foster or Innisbrook.  I don't think her opinion is uncharacteristic.  I believe most parents that contribute something, believe they should feel good about their contribution and they should!  If you volunteer in your child's classroom once a month, you still do a good thing despite the fact that you're not there every single day.

So, I get it. 

The challenge is two fold.  Give parents a way to feel as if they've contributed but allow the contribution to make a big impact!  In doing so, market day and box tops would come after a school fundraising catalog (full disclosure - this is my company) fundraiser for instance.  At least, that's the logic.  The rational is that a parent is raising $100 for their school in just two weeks by participating in a catalog fundraiser for instance, while they raise just a small portion of that over the entire year with a combination of other fundraisers.

Hey, I'm not making this stuff up.  Look at the quote above again.  Then consider the financial difference that could be happening with just this one parent.  Multiply the difference contributed by the number of kids at your school. 

Then ask yourself, shouldn't be be promoting the fundraiser that brings in the most money?

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twitter.com/believekids

Helping Children Find Their Passion - Believe Kids Elementary School Fundraiser...

Normally, I wouldn't post this sort of thing because it's my fundraising company, but I want you to see it.  This is a very short video introduction for Believe Kids Fundraising. 

The thing is, quality top-dollar fundraising helps children find their passion.  By providing money for items important to the school such as teachers, supplies, books and technology, children are engaged.  This engagement can lead to them discovering what they truly love. 

Additionally, by making a concise fundraiser that is important to the school, fundraising can take two weeks instead of lingering all year long.  This lack of interruption lets teachers and students learn.

Take a look:



Ok, until next time!

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elementary school fundraisers

Chime in! School fundraising and your feedback!

Hey, if there is anything you'd like me to post about, please chime in!  I really could use your help figuring out if there is anything that I could focus on that would be of some help to you!

Schools welcome to ask
Fundraising reps welcome to ask
Parents are encouraged as well!

Here's how you can reach me...

home at believekids do t com
facebook.com/believekids
twitter.com/believekids
877-723-5438

Or just leave a comment below!

Ok, until next time!

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elementary school fundraiser
fundraiser blog

Planning for Elementary School Fall Fundraiser

You can start planning your Fall fundraiser now!  Yep, it's not too early to start thinking about it. Nothing serious of course, but, you can earn so much income in just two weeks, that it's worth thinking about now.

So, raise your right hand and make a pledge, I will succeed at my Fall fundraiser!

Here are some questions to get you started?

What fundraising company will offer you the ability to earn the most sales?
What will you do to get the word out on the fundraiser?
Who can you get to help?  Will your principal throw a contest or respond to a challenge?
How important will you and your parent group make the Fall fundraiser?

I do have a book on fundraiser promotions that you can download from slideshare if you would like.  Here's the link. http://www.slideshare.net/believekids/101-low-nocost-promotions-for-your-fundraiser

Ok, until next time!

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Keep the conversation going on twitter or facebook or below in the form of comments left on this blog.  If you like what you see, please share with others!  The direct link to this website is fundraising-advice.com or believejay.blogspot.com

Elementary School Fundraiser
School Fundraising Blog
Twitter.com/BelieveKids
Facebook.com/BelieveKids
Believe Wordpress Blog

I have 3 words of advice for you and your elementary school fundraiser!

PROMOTE, PROMOTE, PROMOTE!

If there was a time to pull together, get your administration, principal and teachers on board with your elementary school fundraiser, it's NOW!

For schools that are considering just sending a fundraiser home and seeing what comes back, think again!

If you are running a fundraiser and have not asked for your principal to get behind it, send emails and promote the fundraiser with a fun challenge, you need to!

If there was ever a time to be straightforward with parents about how much you need from them and what problem it's going to fix for their student, it's now!

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So, there. I've said it.  Take this advice to heart if you are able, and go out there and make your fundraiser a success!  What the fundraising industry and schools all across the nation don't need is more fundraisers.  We need fewer really good ones.

Until Next Time!

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elementary school fundraiser
fundraising promotion

3 Ways that Fundraising is like the Royal Wedding

Hey, check this out... 

3 Ways that Fundraising is like the Royal Wedding

That is all.

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Keep the conversation going on twitter or facebook and please share what you see here with others!  The direct link to this website is fundraising-advice.com


Elementary School Fundraiser
School Fundraising Blog
Twitter.com/BelieveKids
Facebook.com/BelieveKids
Believe Wordpress Blog

 

Why Some Teachers Don't Like Elementary School Fundraisers...

I've been giving some thought to elementary school fundraising as it relates to teachers.  I wonder why there are schools where teachers support fundraising and teachers where fundraising is shunned.

I want to get into this in depth,  however, today I think maybe just a few introductory thoughts would suffice.  This way, I can flesh out my thoughts as we go along here.  Yep, it's true that as I write this, I have no real conclusion or clear purpose.  I just want to explore some dynamics for a moment.


I realize now that that teachers don't necessarily judge a fundraiser based on it's own merits.  It's not a certain type of fundraiser, product or service teachers don't like.  Teachers, by and large, are not being critical based on fundraiser profit margins, product type, incentives or participation rates or how students feel about the fundraisers.

I guess the short way to say this is that teachers don't hate the fundraiser, regardless of what it is.  What they don't like is the interruption of it all.

In the schools where teachers are more likely to resist fundraising efforts, I believe other factors are at play.  Here are a few reasons that come to mind:

• Teachers and parents are not working as a team.
• Teachers and principal/administrators are not working as a team.
• Teachers resist things that threaten their ability to accomplish their goals.
• Teachers not placing strong relationship with parents as a high priority.

There are certainly many who care enough or have the interest to involve themselves in the school fundraising and there are a lot of teachers across the country that pledge their support regularly and without reservation.  This post is about schools that do not get support and why.

Here it is... Teachers need to have a remarkable bond with the parents of kids in their class.  Anything that interferes with that will be resisted.

I don't believe that teachers should be hosting their own fundraisers regardless of the fundraiser.  I encourage teachers to ask classroom parents to supply items or cash to purchase items directly when the need arises.  The reason is that this encourages parents involvement inside the classroom, even if it is only providing some cardboard boxes for a project or paying for some posterboard.

Teachers would very likely be all-in on school fundraising efforts if one of the following two things were true:

1)  The faculty and administration at the school put a high level of importance on the relationship between teacher and parent.  If unobstructed, teachers and parents will work together diligently on education.  When this relationship is hindered or threatened, I believe teachers will react by not supporting the choices of the administration and I believe parents will remove themselves from the education process so some degree.


2) Interruptions need to be minimal and important.  I believe teachers when they tell me that fundraising in their schools is non-stop but it shouldn't be.  A good fundraiser, made important through the involvement of the principal and staff, can be the only fundraiser of the year.  If fundraising is constant, this relationship above is threatened.  After all, if a parent gives to the fundraiser, did they do their part?  If they did, then will they be volunteering in the classroom or do they feel they have done what they need to do?

So, I leave you with this...

Less is more and more important is the way to go!  By supporting the relationship between parent and teacher, education is better.  By hindering this process, teachers rebel and less money is raised. 

Ok, Until next time!

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Keep the conversation going at twitter.com/believekids

If you liked this post, please share :)

elementary school fundraising

Top-Dollar Elementary School Fundraisers - SIMPLIFIED.

Here is the scoop on top-dollar elementary school fundraisers - only this is the overly simplified version:


The most profitable Fall fundraisers for elementary schools are:

1) Fall gift & wrap fundraising catalogs
2) Frozen cookie dough fundraisers
3) School-wide auctions

Hey, I could go on and on but this keeps to my simplified rule for this post.  I just don't think that Fall fundraising gets any better than the above 3 when it comes to elementary schools.

As usual, feel free to keep the conversation going on twitter - twitter.com/believekids or by commenting here.  Please follow and share my website to anyone that wants straight-up fundraising advice and inspiration - I know everyone is knocking down the doors to get to my blog but you can help point them in the right direction :)

More information on school fundraising ideas and elementary school fundraising available at www.BelieveKids.com or via the fundraising PLN at www.thefundraisingpln.com

Kissing a Pig - Elementary School Fundraiser Incentive

The Pig

The Kiss

The Aftermath

Hey, if you're throwing a spring or fall fundraiser, is there anything you can do to add excitement and a challenge to the fundraiser? 

It's a sure-fire way to create additional support and revenue!  I've posted my book 101 Low & No Cost Promotions for Your Fundraiser in a previous post and you can get a copy for free here.  Just select the download link at the top of the SlideShare presentation. 

Maybe your elementary school fundraiser could use one of the promotions or ideas to take your fundraiser over the top! 

Promotion works!

Elementary School Fundraiser with 100% Profit

I've seen several references lately to schools doing fundraising themselves and keeping 100% of the profit.

That sounds reasonable, but, there is a funny curiosity about it. It doesn't actually make sense.  With every school fundraiser, through a fundraising company or hosted on ones own, a school always keeps 100% of the profit that they receive. After all, it's profit.

Hey, just sayin'.

Semantics aside, how about this one.  If a school hosts it's own fundraiser, they keep 100% of the money?

If there are expenses incurred, the school is not receiving 100% of the money.  That implies no expenses.  The minute a cash prize, a Nintendo dsi, pizza party, t-shirt,  trophy, limo ride or water bottle is offered, that costs money.  Even expenses like printing, sign-making, paper plates or whatever cost real money. 

That means a school is not getting 100% of the money.

In fact, I looked at a school blog where they raised something like $600 on a product they were reselling on their own then offered a limo ride as the prize. Chances are they kept close to 0% of the money.  I guess they do keep 100% of the money, but it doesn't make sense if the expenses aren't taken into consideration.


Ah well.  Thought I'd start the week off with a bit of a humorous look at how schools view profits and money. 

We just have to remember that when we talk fundraising profit, it's the percentage of the retail per transaction that goes to the school after expenses that matters.

How to Raise $35,000 with One Check-Writing Fundraiser Letter

There's a lot of folks who would doubt that it's possible to raise thousands with just one letter.  It can be done and it's very possible.  I even offer proof.

But before I let you in on how this is easily achieved, I'll let you know that it's not the type of fundraiser that determines the giving.  It's the need.

The thing is, school fundraisers are often sent home without telling the parents why there is a need to raise funds.  "It's just because it is our fundraiser" is the reason for fundraising.

It's actually quite rare that a school wait until they really need money, clearly state why and how much they need and let everyone know just how important it is.

If a school needs money, the parents and community will rally around them.  Even from just one fundraising donation letter.
 
School fundraiser nets $35,000 to save programs


The example above illustrates just how easy it is to raise significant funds quickly.  The catch is you need a very compelling reason to fundraise and you need to get the word out from the top down. 

One thing to note in this example is that the principal took an active role in presenting the fundraiser.  This support goes a long way to making the need important.  Compare this to how most fundraisers are handled and it's clear why this fundraiser works while others may receive a lack-luster response.

So, can this school repeat this fundraiser?

The answer is a resounding 'perhaps'.  With donation drives, there isn't much incentive for parents to contribute beyond the scope of the reason funds are being raised.  So, if parents are receptive to another reason funds need to be raised, then yes.

If the reason is not sufficient or the need great enough, the fundraiser will fail to get the participation expected. If you look for articles on fundraising long enough, you'll realize that parents often suggest that they 'would rather just write a check right to the school'.  I challenge that sentiment as a general premise.  I actually know that they will not write that check if the need is not compelling.

So, there you have it - proof positive that a letter from the principal and a sufficient need to raise funds will generate results and a successful fundraiser.

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Thanks for looking.  I appreciate any sharing of this website.  If you take the need and support in this blog post and combine that with a quality elementary school fundraiser record dollars can be raised.  Regardless of what fundraiser you do and who you ask for help, remember that the need is paramount.  Combine this with support from faculty and fundraising success will happen.

I look forward to comments here on my blog or conversations via twitter - twitter.com/believekids

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101 Low & No Cost Promotions for Your School Fundraiser

I just posted 101 Low & No Cost Promotions for Your Fundraiser to The Educator's PLN (The personal learning network for educators). This is my latest book written together with Hunter Thomson here in the Believe Kids School Fundraising office.

This book outlines challenges, contests, drawings and games that can be used to encourage participation in your next elementary school fundraiser.

101 Low & No-Cost Promotions for Your Fundraiser

Please take a look and share!  Thanks so much!!!

Any feedback?  Let me know on twitter - twitter.com/believekids

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This document is available for download directly from Slideshare as well.  Just go directly to the book 101 Low & No Cost Promotions for Your Fundraiser and select the download button from the top of the presentation.

I also have printed versions available and if you would like one, just let me know!  I'll get it out in the mail to you.