There are a number of fundraising options available this fall. Anything from single item fundraisers to large events. Of course, it is our contention that fall gift & wrap catalogs, frozen cookie dough fundraisers or well-promoted events will generate the best results.
Regardless of who you choose to help you with your fundraising efforts, you will want to know the company has your best interests at heart and will help you achieve additional sales and participation over your previous efforts. Today, schools should not accept average in themselves or the school fundraising company they choose.
For the purposes of this post, I will be assuming that you are doing a fall gift & wrap catalog sale or frozen cookie dough fundraiser which for most groups is their main fall fundraising effort:
1) Stay positive - When choosing a fundraiser and fundraising company, being open to discussions about fundraising only serves to better inform you of what is out there and what is being offered.
All too often, schools blindly return to fall fundraising efforts that don't work well because of a general unwillingness to research what heavy-hitting fundraising programs and options presently exist.
By simply letting companies know that you will be making decisions on a certain date, you will not be 'sold' anything but you will have the opportunity to gather valuable data by each and every fundraising call or visit.
2) Define your parameters - It's best to start off by jotting down any specific needs your group has. If you do a dunk tank every year for example, make sure to mention this right up-front in your discussions with various fundraising companies and fundraising representatives.
If you know you have certain needs that are specific to your school, mentioning these right away allows fundraising companies and fundraising representatives the opportunity to put them into their written proposals which means in most cases, they pay for them. If you wait to mention them until after you are registered, you'll most likely be picking up the bill.
3) Get it in writing - It's best to have a few fundraising companies vying for your attention. If you choose 3 reputable companies that seem to fit the bill, let them know what you are trying to accomplish and get their offer in writing. It's all too easy for fundraising reps to say 'we can do that' or 'that's something we can do' and really not commit. Saying 'we can' is not the same as 'we will'.
4) Be honest - In the discovery period before you choose a fundraising company, if you have any historic numbers of your sales, feedback from parents or insight from the principal about what would help the sale, let it be known. There's really no reason to hold anything back.
Your fundraising company can help you increase your sale! They just need to know a bit about your fundraising history.
5) Negotiate - Rarely do schools take the time to negotiate a deal but there are times where it's in your best interest as an elementary school to do so. When you get to the point that you have an offer in writing, your last call to that fundraising company should include something like... 'If we sign today can you throw in a top-seller prize? We were thinking a new bike?' Then pause and wait for your answer.
At this point, your chances of getting that bike are pretty good! At least from my experience here over at Believe Kids Fundraising. I know that when we offer an elementary school fundraiser and we get to this point in the negotiations, it's very likely we will accept.
So, there you have it. 5 solid tips for choosing an elementary school fundraiser. I have some other free insight for you. Check out this post entitled Choosing a Fundraising Company - Why Comparing Apples to Apples is Tough...
We don't have to take our school fundraising so seriously all the time - so, make sure you have some fun with it! Having said that, we should take our negotiations seriously!
Good luck out there!
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Jay Moneta is the Vice President of Believe Kids Fundraising and blogs here and at the School Fundraising PLN
I encourage comments and suggestions here or on the believe kids twitter.
If you enjoyed the insight here, please share this link www.believejay.blogspot.com with friends and aquantances.
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