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“24 years of ministry have gone by and I’m still raising funds. Yet, the difference now in fundraising is a 90% increase.
I shutter to think about doing $100.00 bake sales or $200.00 car washes today. Such little money. Such unnecessary work. What I’ve learned should help you avoid these nickel and dime money chasers and truly learn what makes for a great fund-raiser.
This help comes in the form of: (1) choosing food preparation over other products, (2) giving total product donation over cost minus overhead, (3) giving total price of tickets to the seller over
splitting total among participants, (4) stacking your incentives over offering little or no motivation to sell, and (5) building a clientele with a quality product over offering an inferior one.”
So begins my article, What Makes For A Great Fund-raiser. This how-to article is based upon tried and true principles of fund-raising among church youth groups.
What Makes For A Great
Fund-raiser
By: Danny Von Kanel
24 years of ministry have gone by and I’m still raising funds. Yet, the difference now in fundraising is a 90% increase.
I shutter to think about doing $100.00 bake sales or $200.00 car washes today. Such little money. Such unnecessary work. What I’ve learned should help you avoid these nickel and dime money chasers and truly learn what makes for a great fund-raiser.
This help comes in the form of: (1) choosing food preparation over other products, (2) giving total product donation over total or reduced purchase, (3) giving total price of tickets to the seller over splitting total among participants, (4) stacking your incentives over offering little or no motivation to sell, and (5) building a clientele with a quality product over offering an inferior one.
Choosing Food Preparation Over Other Products
Everyone has to eat. Most people can do without other marketable products. Food fund-raisers, if you can secure all the food as donations, becomes 100% profits. Candy, light bulbs, and calendars have limited markets with maximum amount of effort required. And then the companies you use for the fund-raiser limits you to a 40 to 50% profit.
We have found that spaghetti suppers are our best fund-raisers. Chicken dinners, and in our area, a brisket lunch come in a close second.
Giving Total Product Donation Over Total Or Reduced Purchase
We have found that businesses are more than willing to donate to a worthy cause if we show a little courtesy and mention their contribution to the community. Times that we have met reluctance to donate a product we took what we could get and moved to the next business. Acceptance of a reduced price or even worse, paying the total price, robs your fund-raiser of profits.
Giving Total Price Of Tickets To The Seller Over Spitting Total Among Participants
Teenagers are motivated to sell when they know they will receive every dime of the ticket price. Why would anyone be motivated to get out and sell when they know others will simply be lazy and get the benefit of their labor? Giving the full ticket price to the seller is possible when everything is donated. Why sell $5.00 calendars when $3.00 will go to the company and not to the teen? Yet, a $5.00 spaghetti ticket becomes $5.00 to the teen who sells it. A teenager becomes free to sell 50 $5.00 tickets and knows he will have $250.00 toward his camp, tour, or youth activity experience.
Stacking Your Incentives Over Offering Little Or No Motivation To Sell
In addition to receiving the full ticket price, teens need other motivation. We have found that awarding 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place salesman awards adds further impetus to spur beyond their required cost of their tour, camp, or activity. For instance, our tour to Washington D.C. cost $424.00 per person. A number of our teens raised over $600.00 each. They only got $424.00 but three won the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place salesmen awards ($100.00, $75.00, and $50.00).
Also, we made it easier to sell by offering our meals in three ways: delivery, sit down, and pick-up. This widened our market of those who would buy plates.
Building A Clientele With A Quality Product Over An Inferior One
The best way to keep people coming back to your next food fund-raiser is to offer a quality product. This is not the time to skimp on how much food is put on the plate. Also, it must be hot, freshly cooked, and above all, taste good. You can get by with one poor tasting meal but you won’t the next time.
So, what makes for a great fund-raiser? Food fund-raisers, total product donation, complete ticket price to the seller, stacked incentives, and a quality meal are necessary ingredients. Follow this plan and watch 30 teens raise $2500.00. Your fund-raising appetite is sure to be wet ... and satisfied.
See a special offer from CSS Publishing concerning Danny's book, "Built by the Owner's Design" at www.csspub.com/BuiltChurchGrowth.lasso
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