1. Decide on which brochures or product you would like to sell that best fits your needs.  Then decide the dates of your sale.  Usually a 2 to 3 week period is enough, allowing up to 1 week to receive your products or brochures.
2. If ordering candy, Smencils or sell-out kits, be sure to order responsibly.  Order based on what each member can realistically sell, not based on how much you want to make.  Keep in mind you can reorder any time and receive additional merchandise in just a few days.
3. Communicate your sale to the group members.  You can do this by having a meeting or including a cover letter when handing out the products or brochures.  Be sure to discuss...

More Tips For Fundraising Success

• Establish a clear financial goal before evaluating products, programs, etc. -- knowing how much money you need to raise will help make these decisions easier.
• Don't let your organization's profits be eaten away by "hidden" costs (e.g. for freight, prizes, overruns) -- ask questions ahead of time and make the necessary adjustments.
• Select your fundraising program early to assure ample time for planning. If the school or community has a planning calendar, be sure your event is included. Stagger fundraising activities to avoid competing with other groups.
• Set a specific beginning and ending date for your fundraiser and stick to it -- without a clear target date the campaign will drag on, often without direction.
• Avoid "fundraising fatigue" among parents and volunteers by conducting fewer programs that are more effective individually.
• Rely on your product fundraising company professional for suggestions and advice.
• Don't let your program fizzle -- some organizers will lose interest once a program begins; stay motivated until the end to assure success. Put a time limit on order-taking. Usually 2-3 weeks is more than enough.
• Keep energy levels high by communicating before, during and after the program -- remind parents, teachers and other volunteers of the fundraiser's goals and deadlines, provide frequent status reports and updates.
• Avoid shipping and ordering problems by working closely with volunteers to assure that all order forms are legible and filled out completely.
• Keep copies of all forms turned in by volunteers before sending them to the fundraising company.
• Assure efficient handling of products by recruiting adult volunteers ahead of time to help distribute the products to volunteers.
• Double check the products shipped to your organization against the order forms; check each box or bag for damaged or missing merchandise before sending volunteers out for delivery.
• Don't forget to communicate with absentees who miss the program's kick-off or other important meetings.
• Have fun! With the right approach, fundraising can be educational and enjoyable for everyone.

Identifying needs and setting financial goals are vital first steps in conducting a successful fundraising campaign. With a clear understanding of how much money is needed and how it will be spent, volunteers will be motivated and focused. Clearly stated financial goals also will give a fundraising program a benchmark for success. Too often, fundraising coordinators equate financial success with the percentage of gross sales that their group will keep. While the percent of sales is important, there are many other factors that should be considered at the same time.

For example, one company may offer the group 50 percent of sales, compared to another offering only 40 percent. The "40% company" may be providing valuable services (e.g., incentive programs, consulting, timely delivery of merchandise, custom packing for individual orders) that save volunteer time or increase sales. The company offering the lower percentage may also have a product so superior in quality that the increased sales volume will net more money for the group. It may be better to choose a program that offers a smaller percentage if the added value of the overall program (including services) will more effectively achieve your goal. Remember: percentage does not translate into profits.

Among the services available to the organization eager to reach their financial goal, is the option to include an award or "incentive" program. Although the organization's goal is incentive enough for some volunteers, often prize and award programs can be a valuable addition to the fundraising program (including significantly higher profits). The best incentives will increase participation and, therefore, profits for the organization. They add fun and excitement and will involve as many volunteers as possible.

Awards can be based on the size of the sale (e.g., volunteers who sell one or more items may “earn” a variety of awards) or it may be as simple as a "thank you" gift for taking brochures home or just participating.  Before selecting an incentive program, take into consideration the age of volunteers and the overall goals of the program.