How To: Sprinkler Blowout Fundraiser

This isn't for everyone but it may just be for you and your fundraising group.  Offering a sprinkler blowout fundraiser!  Here's how to do it:

Sprinkler Blowout Fundraiser

Difficulty: Hard

Preparation time:  4 weeks

Fundraiser duration: 2 weekends (or more)

Serves: small groups

Startup cost: High

Profit potential: High

What you need:

Marketing Flyers

Time Sheets or other tracking method

Credit card processing (recommended but not necessary)

1-2 experienced adults per team

Ladder

Commercial air compressor (could be rented)

Basic tools (screwdriver, shovel)

Method:

1. Advertise in school and around the community beginning in September and schedule appointments for the first two weekends of October.  Charge a fair market rate depending on how many zones a customer has.  In our area presently the fair price is $35-$45 per small residential system but yours may vary.  Avoid commercial work and focus on neighborhoods unless you have abilities beyond the scope of this post.

2. Schedule and confirm with every customer leaving enough time to stay on schedule even if you have some delays. 

3. Show up on time and complete the work effectively.  Allow children to only do elements of the job that are safe and age appropriate.  Do not let a child operate heavy machinery under any circumstance.

Notes:

1. This fundraiser requires professional experience outside of the scope of this post.

2. There are safety concerns with heavy machinery including emissions, loud noise, moving parts, fire danger.  Please make sure no children are in danger at any time.

PROS: Big money potential for a small group given great need in many parts of the country.

CONS: Seasonal, time intensive and requires equipment and experience.

Fundraiser Rationale - Why Giving Direct To Charity Doesn't Work

I think you've probably seen or heard someone say this 'if a school or group doesn't get all the profit, then why shouldn't people just give to directly'. 

In fact, I just ran across another comment that outlines just this sentiment from this article entitled Applebee’s seeks fundraising applications from schools, clubs

I've corrected a few typos for readability. Here ya go:

So if they get 10% of the proceeds and raised 31,000 that means the restaurants made $280,000 by selling dinners they would never have sold in the first place. How about people just give the directly to the organization of there choice and eat at home and they save money.

I just don't know how to put it without offending anyone but here it is:

People won't donate direct to the organization


They won't do it without the proper prompting, incentive, encouragement and reward.  There must be importance and excitement built around something in order to gain the type of momentum needed to successfully fundraise. 


Yes, there are always a few folks that say they donate and the key is a few.  The vast majority just doesn't do it.  So, there you have it.  If you are one of those people that thinks everyone should do this and that, consider the fact that although it's great in theory, it doesn't work in a practical sense.  There are a lot of things people 'should' do.

That's why organizations exist.  To create something exciting that gains momentum and donations.  It's a matter of encouraging and rewarding and it works.

So, Applebee's is quite obviously getting profitable business out of their efforts but that doesn't mean it's entirely bad.  The key is to realize that the money groups received was not just going to come from people giving straight to the organization - regardless of the percentage earned.

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Jay Moneta is the VP of Believe Kids a nationwide elementary school fundraising company.  The tone I took here is a bit harsh so feel free to leave positive or negative comments below.  I do appreciate everyone who is looking at, sharing or following me at thefundraisingpln.com facebook or twitter.  Thanks!