Should schools accept early sign-on bonuses for school fundraisers?

This time a year, a lot of fundraising representatives start calling on schools.  School fundraising companies will bring their newest offers.  Are the offers any good?  How will you decide if you should take one?  Which one will you take?

Let's just cover the facts... In Fall, there is no incentive for schools to give extra product, prizes or incentives.  Groups that register late, will not be getting more.  This is because fundraising companies are running fundraisers, not selling them.  So, the fact is, earlier is better.

So, should you get suckered and mesmerized by the offers?  The answer is absolutely not!  As a parent group member, your goal is to systematically determine what's best for your group - Not what is the flashiest. There are flashy offers out there without the substance behind the scenes.  In this way, an offer should just be icing on the cake, not the cake itself. 

As you consider the various fundraisers and offers available to you, are you prepared to take into consideration some of the following differences between fundraisers?

• Profit Margins
• Included Participation Programs
• Incentives for Teachers / Principals
• Included Prize Programs
• Product Differentiation / Diversity
• Product Prices
• Product Quality
• Overall Value to Customer
• Marketing Package Included
• Online Features
• Sales Averages Per Student
• Dollar Averages Per Sale

• Order Processing
• Volunteers Needed
• Delivery Specifics
• Report Generation
• Customer Service
• Delivery Efficiencies

Really, who's got the overall package capable of delivering the profits you need without letting you or your customers (neighbors, friends' parents, community members) down?

All I can leave you with today is that an early sign-on-bonus, although it may seem outrageous or awesome, is only great in combination with other greatness.

Ok, Until Next Time!

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School Fundraisers

Fundraising Strategy for Elementary School Districts, School Principals and PTA / PTO Parent Groups

Let's talk strategy for a moment...

Picture in your mind, the big game.  An excited crowd anticipates a big play at just the right moment.  The moment arrives but unfortunately, the coach hasn't planned very well and it turns out they don't have one. 

They blow the big game and nobody on either side is happy with the way the game ended.

Really?

Do we think this is a reality and the coach has no plan?  I know how ridiculous it sounds but this is the way we treat school fundraising.  It's like the win or lose is decided randomly.

I'm here to tell you all that a solid fundraising plan will allow you to win the championship every year!

Tomorrow, I'll discuss that steps to take specifically, but for today, just know you can change the game of chance you play with your current fundraising plan and have consistent wins every time.  It's possible and probable!

Until Next Time!

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Feel free to keep the conversation going here in the form of blog comments or on twitter or facebook.  Thanks so much for sharing my blog and letting me know you appreciate the writing.

Elementary School Fundraising
Elementary School Fundraising Blog
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Elementary School Parent Groups Re-Inventing for Spring

Spring is not in the air here in Colorado.  In fact, it's pretty cold and wintery (if that's a word). I find it hard to believe that we're kicking off another fundraising season.  And even if Spring is not in the air, Spring fundraising season is about to begin!

The thing about spring is that although we get a new calendar year, we have the same teachers and students and administration and they all most likely lent a hand in some sort of fundraising in the Fall.

Schools entering the Spring semester will not be starting completely over though.

The impression left on parents and the community from the Fall will be brought forward and linger in the Spring.  If the school ran too many fundraisers, that may be felt in Spring with less participation in upcoming events and fundraisers.  On the flip side, a school that held one or two key fundraisers or held quality events will find parents more responsive and likely to attend and engage in spring activities.

The big challenge for any school is to be aware of how they are being perceived and respond accordingly.  It's probably not as easy as it sounds.  I've been the type of person who notices a lot of things and it's been that way for me forever.  I also know a lot of people who have to work much harder at perception.  Regardless of a knack for it, I believe anyone can begin to think in terms of what another person would feel in a certain circumstance.

So, even though you can't change the past, you can change the future to an extent.  Schools are given a chance right now to make changes and re-invent.  Use your amazing powers of deduction and just like Sherlock Holmes, gain tremendous insight from just a few clues.  Take the information you gather about your school, your community and your parent group and change accordingly.

Right now is your last chance to re-group and come up with your streamlined plan of how to most effectively raise the money you need and host the educational, fun and inspirational events you've been looking forward to.

I realize this is a bit deep and my deductive reasoning tells me I am in fear of losing most everyone to my crazy logic so let me wrap it up this way...

If you had a great Fall and your parents are happy, carry on.  If you felt like the school or parent group could have done better as far as communication, fundraising, event planning or anything else, take this opportunity to work hard to make this Spring seem different.  Make the parent group appear fresh and new to the world however possible.

Do it right away because now is the time to change the way people perceive the school and it's motives.  That way, you minimize any carryover from the Fall that may not be helpful.

So, here's to a fresh start in Spring for those who need it!