One Page Guide to Fundraising Participation! Believe Kids Elementary School Fundraising

The One Page Guide to Fundraising Participation - Believe Kids Elementary School Fundraising

Hope you like it!

Ok, until next time!

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elementary school fundraising

Believe Kids - it's part of my story!

Believe Kids Elementary School Fundraising

Hi!  BelieveJay here.  So, every once in a while I have to let you in on part of my story.  In fact, it's a big part.  I run a company called Believe Kids Fundraising. 

What makes the story of Believe so special is that it was started in support of charity.  The purpose has always been to raise a significant amount of money in a short period of time. Now working with thousands of schools per year, Believe is different because we care what the schools earn.  So much so, we often are more concerned about the money earned than the schools and groups that fundraise with us!

Involving everyone in the fundraisers, but not interfering inside the classroom has helped us raise more for schools than they are used to.  But earning money is not everything.  Using systems to make things easy on schools is at the heart of why working with Believe on a fundraiser can be so successful.

Good luck trying to tell a school that fundraising is easy.  It's the first thing everyone says when they market their fundraiser.  In this case, it's a different level of easy altogether, but you'll need to discover that for yourself.

So, if you're interested in finding out more, follow the link here to take a look at the Believe Kids successful school fundraisers.

Ok, until next time!

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www.believekids.com
twitter.com/believekids
facebook.com/believekids

Believe Jay Elementary School Fundraising Blog

Hi!

I've been posting here since March of 2008.  I realize we do elementary school fundraising and it's not the most popular blog topic in the world, but in my own way, I'm very proud!

I even have my own splash video:

Ok, so there you have it.  Hundreds and hundreds of posts about school fundraising.  Now, that's dedication :)

Ok, until next time!

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elementary school fundraising

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

Consolidation of the School Fundraising Business...

Let's talk the business side of school fundraising for a moment.

School Fundraising is changing.  The industry is being consolidated.  What this means is that there are no longer thousands of thriving fundraising companies.  The business has effectively shrunk to just a few key players - all of which are dealing with a new reality.

More groups fundraising more often.

This is causing participation in fundraising to fall.  In some cases, groups are finding it difficult to determine which fundraisers raise $1,000 vs. those that raise $10,000

In the confusion, some schools are contributing to the problem by adding other fundraisers to make up for losses on earlier ones. 

I believe it's the responsibility of fundraising companies to help groups navigate their fundraising strategy and create a plan.  Groups should be fundraising LESS but MORE EFFECTIVELY.

Letting a group know how much they should realistically make should help.  Groups fundraising without a reachable goal, are not succeeding. 

My hope is that fundraising companies will step up to provide better products and services and truly help the schools by letting them in on what to expect. 

Help Schools Succeed!!!

Ok, until next time!

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elementary school fundraising

The ABC's of Elementary School Fundraising...

Let's take  a look at some of the ABC's of elementary school fundraising starting with why you fundraise. Here are some fundraising basics:


Fundraise if you REALLY need money. 

Don't fundraise if you can get the money elsewhere without burdening the entire group.  Don't fundraise if you can charge parents directly such as dues or equipment fees.  Don't fundraise if you compromize nothing by not having the money.
 
Fundraise deliberately.  

Get a plan together and stick to it.  If you have a goal, you can hit that goal.  That means you select a fundraiser that is capable of earning that much money.  If you need to hit your goal, do not host new and untested fundraisers.

Avoid risk.

Some fundraisers come with an element of risk.  For instance, there are fundraisers that you pay upfront for product (such as candy bar sales) and then you distribute the product.  Knowing how much you can sell and not over-ordering is important.  Getting stuck with a bunch of extra candy, unsold tickets or carnival prizes eats into your profit percentage.

Team up

Put a team together to help promote the fundraiser.  If you're able to get the principal on board, your sales can go through the roof.  One email from the principal alone could be worth thousands of dollars in sales!

Host a heavy-hitter

In an effort to fundraise less but more effectively, choose a heavy-hitting fundraiser to raise your funds.  This way, instead of staggering fundraisers over the course of the year, you can minimize other fundraising efforts with one profitable one!

I post here everyday so subscribe, comment or share if you like the info. 

Ok, until next time!

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elementary school fundraisers

Subscribe to my blog!

Jay Moneta

Subscribe to My Fundraising Blog!

Daily rants about elementary school fundraising!  Sounds awesome huh!

Subscribe to this blog so you can get weekday only updates right into your email.  It's cool and I promise to not be boring!

Ok, until next time!

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The direct link to this blog is:  http://believejay.blogspot.com

Thanks!

Elementary School Fundraising Consultants / Representatives...

I was thinking about fundraising representatives today.  Wondering how everyone is doing here in late July. 

We're about to head into the school year and the Fall fundraising season.  There will be just a few weeks to get all the pending schools out there registered for fundraisers.  Just a few weeks to prepare for how to consult so schools can raise the most money in the shortest period of time.

I'm pulling for you all and if there's anyone out there with questions, comments or thoughts on how to make the Fall fundraising season a successful one, I'd love to hear it!

Ways you can interact would be to subscribe to my blog, leave comments below, visit at facebook.com/believekids or do some tweeting at twitter.com/believekids

If you're so inclined you can call me as well.  My contact info is at www.BelieveKids.com

Here's to an amazing Fall!

Fundraising Innovation for Elementary Schools and PTA PTO

Let's face it, there's not a lot of innovation in the fundraising industry.  From a very robust industry followed by a period of consolidation, the programs and procedures have stayed largely the same.

Why that's alright...

When something works, it's good to make just minor adjustments and trudge on confidently.

By way of illustration, take just about any industry, the boating industry, for example, still sells boats with hulls that cut their way through the water.  They don't fly then dive or roll on the bottom of the ocean.  What I mean by this is although there have been vast improvements, the boat hasn't changed for literally hundreds of years.

Fundraising has had immense improvements.  In recent years most notably, the quality of the fundraising products has increased, most prices have come down and delivery has become smoother.  That's not even half of it though.  Incentive programs have improved and now shopping on the internet has ushered in a brand new element to the traditional school fundraiser.

What's the future of elementary school fundraising?

There's a few reason this is hard to predict.  Reasons I'm not sure would make for compelling reading.  In a basic sense, everyone (schools included) will be following us into the digital age.  More devices and apps will influence our daily lives and connect us in new ways.

This trend will have an impact on school fundraising.  I believe when Facebook, Google and others say the future of our technological lives is mobile, I believe them.

I also feel it myself.

Because of a few key devices (namely the iPhone), I don't use my computer nearly as much at home as I had in the past.  Hey, I don't even print directions from mapquest before I leave the house anymore.  This is a big deal.

So, how the trend to mobile affects us is unknown, but it's coming!

Conclusion...

There will be improvements to the fundraising industry and the fundraising industry will change.  We can all hope that by being more social and connected, needs are met more effectively.  Time will tell.

For me, I hope that technology makes it easier to meet the high-dollar needs of schools all across the country who are struggling.  What was a local effort will become a global one as our world is shrunk by the connections we have all over the globe.

For now, we don't make a submarine, we just enjoy our sailboat :)

Ok, until next time...

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Elementary school fundraising

Elementary School Challenges and Rewards...

Hey, my thought after watching this is that kids want to, and are willing to step up to challenges presented to them.  The thing is, if the school doesn't get behind them, they don't work.  In this case, a clear goal and a clear reward were presented and the principal and faculty stepped up to make this a rewarding experience for everyone!  If you put importance to something, it works!




Ok, until next time!

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twitter.com/believekids
believekids.com/blog/
facebook.com/believekids

elementary school fundraising

Small Victories - Posting to this Elementary School Fundraising Blog Daily...

Hi!  I don't do self-promotion on this blog.  It's not that I am above it or anything, but I believe that content should rule the day.  In short, I believe that if I write truly remarkable things, you will search me out.  If I am determined to blog daily about things that matter to you, you will return and share.

So, I discuss elementary school fundraising in a real way.  I am probably the one and only person doing it.  And dispite the fact that there are no others, I will help you or your PTA or your principal or a parent.

Small victories keep me coming back to post daily.

I'll be here posting so I have a question...

What fundraising related questions can I help you sort out?

Ok, until next time!

________________

Keep the conversation going!!!
Leave comments and questions below or visit any of the following:
Twitter.com/BelieveKids
www.BelieveKids.com
facebook.com/BelieveKids

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Self-Promotion Day! Believe Kids Elementary School Fundraising

Hey! It's self-promotion day on my blog!

Believe Kids Fundraising - Elementary School Fundraisers

The thing is, elementary school fundraising can be tough.  It's hard for schools to get a handle on what fundraisers are results driven and which are a waste of time.  It's even tougher for groups to find easy fundraisers that make parents happy.

I'm not telling you that Believe Kids is right for your group.  I will suggest though, that you find out more about Believe Kids.  You may just discover that it's right for you!

Then at least all the other stuff I write about will be much more helpful :)

Ok, until next time!

Selling school fundraising products at work...

If it's cool, it's cool.
If it's not, it's not.

But it is up to you to judge for yourself. 

By including a workplace in raising money, you share the responsibility amongst members of your community.  It can be uncomfortable, but it's shared and important. 

If you choose to keep it to yourself, it's yours and yours alone.  That's Ok too.  After all, it makes no difference to the school.  But it does add obligation to you that others may just want to help with if they were asked.

What communities do is pull together when there is a need, so if your need is great enough, you don't have to worry about asking.

Ok, until next time!

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keep the conversation going at twitter.com/believekids
elementary school fundraising
fundraising blog

Fundraising Raid and Outrage... Easier ways to raise money...

Here a story about a food truck fundraiser raided because the trucks at the event were not legal.  

When school officials put together this fundraiser, they probably never imagined a bunch of illegal trucks speeding away from a police raid.  There is an easier way.  Regardless, schools do need to know that they are responsible for the activities they partake in and that fundraising is a big deal.  The better organized a fundraiser, the less likely issues like this will occur.  

Here's the story...

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Torrance food-truck raid outrages fundraisers:

Direct Link:
http://www.dailybreeze.com/news/ci_19413536

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Keep the conversation going at twitter.com/believekidsFundraising PLNwww.thefundraisingpln.com
Elementary School Fundraising

Friday Inspiriation - The Fundraising PLN

Elementary School Fundraising Blog:

TheFundraisingPLN.com

Ok, until next time!

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Keep the conversation going on twitter! Twitter.com/BelieveKids

elementary school fundraiser
elementary school fundraising company

5 Questions Every Parent and Teacher Must Be Able to Answer

Many of us work in support of learning.  I do both as a parent and as an elementary school fundraising guy.  When I come across anything that gets across the importance of supporting learning, I get excited and want to share.  Here it is:

 

5 Questions Every Parent and Teacher Must Be Able to Answer 

 

Ok, until next time!

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Elementary School Fundraising
Believe Twitter

Elementary School Fundraising and Google Docs

In an effort to create more time in the day and better systems surrounding me and my work, I integrate technology in any way I can.   Having said that, I have to admit that I look for ways to simplify my life because I have a tendency to over-complicate things. 

With that off my chest, here's the deal:

If you are a fundraising representative or you are a parent group member such as a PTA or PTO member, you could be more effective.  You can use technology to plan and run things.  I know this to be true because it's true for everyone in any profession.

I offer you a starting place.  Visit Google Docs (docs.google.com).  You'll want to check this out so instead of offering a long list of suggestions, just start here.  Join if you haven't already and look at the suite of completely free tools at your disposal. The screen capture image above illustrates some of the many tools here. 

Since everything is saved to the cloud, you're free to access it anywhere, anytime and it's free.

Go, do it - check it out. docs.google.com

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Elementary School Fundraiser

Take Advantage of Your Summer

The very best and most profitable elementary school fundraising is done at the beginning of the school year.  When elementary schools postpone fundraising until winter, sales drop.  Here is a post from the fundraising PLN that provides some amazing tips to how to spend just a few minutes in summer planning for an early super-successful elementary school fundraiser!

Take Advantage of Your Summer by Starting your Elementary School Fundraiser Early

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

Extend Your School Fundraiser Beyond Parents!

Let's face it... If you're school is marketing for fundraising dollars just from the parents at the school, you're missing out on 99.99999999999999999% of the population (or some such similarly rediculous number).

It may just be fine to rely on parents because they will take responsibility for their children's education.  But, what about friends and coworkers and relatives that would happily support the child as well?

Chances are, they would like to help support the school and classroom as well.  After all, we know that the nation is interested in helping schools in need.  But only if they are invited and encouraged.

So, the next time you are thinking about elementary school fundraising and are planning your next fundraiser, ask yourself if the fundraiser is limited to just support from parents or if it goes nationwide.

We need to think differently about school fundraising and it starts by going nationwide.

Alrighty, until next time!

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Lots more information, inspiration and advice about how elementary school fundraising companies can help raise more by going nationwide at www.believekids.com or on my school fundraising blog.  Also, share this website if you would.  The address is believejay.blogspot.com

Thanks!