How to Have a Successful Fundraiser
The following are helpful hints for fundraisers, which we’ve divided into sections for Schools, Sports Groups, Churches and Religious Groups, and Non-Profit Organizations.
6 Tips for a Successful School Fundraiser
4 Tips for a Successful Sports Fundraiser
5 Tips for a Successful Church Fundraiser
7 Tips for a Successful Non-Profit Fundraiser
6 Tips for a Successful School Fundraiser
The Banazzle fundraiser is an ideal way for schools to raise money for any project or cause (i.e. playground equipment, library books and furniture, school trips, special events, etc.). The Banazzle fundraiser allows your supporters to save a lot of money on the things they buy for their vehicles.
1. Provide Selling Instructions
Set kids up for success with a selling script or easy-to-use instructions. Each of our sales kits includes selling instructions.
2. Use the Internet to Easily Sell to Out-of-Town Supporters
Grandparents, aunts, uncles and close family friends are more than happy to help schoolchildren raise money for their school. Parents can send emails to ask out-of-town family and friends to help your school fundraiser. We provide a written sample email so your students and parents can easily customize with their information to send to supporters who live far away.
3. Motivate and Reward Your Top Sellers
Motivate your sellers by providing rewards that are fun! Consider letting the top sellers decide what silly outfit the principal or a favorite teacher has to wear. Or have classrooms compete, and the winning classroom earns a pizza party or gets to have lunch outside. Or the teacher of the winning classroom has to do something outrageous like kiss a frog, color their hair green, etc. Be sure to talk to local merchants and ask them to donate products or gift certificates as rewards for your top student sellers.
4. Plan Fundraiser Kick-Off Events that are FUN
Plan a fun kick-off assembly to get kids excited about your school fundraiser. Provide great prizes for them to earn to help motivate them. Our fundraising experts will help you plan so you can put on a great assembly. Be sure to emphasize to students that they should only sell to people they or their parents know. Don't go door-to-door and don't sell to strangers.
5. Know the Right Time to Raise Money
Holidays and exams are generally not ideal times for fundraising drives. Academic success is the priority for kids in school, and fundraisers should never interfere with that. Parents will also appreciate your consideration, and support the fundraiser more enthusiastically.
6. Get Parents, Teachers & Kids Involved
Ask other parents and teachers to help with your school fundraiser. The old adage, "many hands make quick work" is especially true with school fundraising. At a minimum, you'll want volunteers to help with promotions/communications, and tallying and verifying orders to make your school fundraiser a snap. Older students can also be a big help.
4 Tips for a Successful Sports Fundraiser
The Banazzle fundraiser is a win-win sports fundraiser because your supporters can save a lot of money on the things they buy for their vehicles, and your team raises the money it needs for equipment, uniforms, etc. in its quest for a winning season!
1. Aim for 100% Involvement
Get the kids involved! If your sports group members are kids who are old enough to help, be sure to involve them and give them as much responsibility as possible. Fundraising is a great learning experience for kids - they'll gain valuable organizational and leadership experience while raising money to help the team.
2. Sell Fundraising Products at All Your Games and Team Events
Be sure to have Banazzle sign-up cards available for sale at your games. It's as easy as setting up a table (or using the concession stand) and having someone available to answer questions, sign up new members, and collect money. Have the announcer tell the crowd about the money-saving values they will get and what you hope to achieve with your fundraising efforts. Best of all, you don't even have to advertise, since people will be coming to your games anyway!
3. Plan Rewards for Top Sellers
Your fundraiser is a great opportunity for businesses to support the community and gain recognition. Ask local businesses to support your team fundraising efforts by donating gift certificates or other prizes to reward top sellers on the team.
4. Promote to the Sports Fans
Take advantage of the traffic at sporting events and sporting goods stores. Who better to support a youngster's soccer team than a die-hard fan of the game? Set up a table where fans and patrons congregate, and be ready to tell folks all about your team and your fundraiser. (Be sure to talk to store or venue management and ask for permission first!)
5 Tips for a Successful Church Fundraiser
The Banazzle fundraiser is a great way for your church to raise money for youth group trips, mission projects, church expansion and outreach, etc. Your congregation and the community will feel good about supporting a worthy cause, while at the same time they can save a lot of money on the things they buy for their vehicles.
1. Make Your Fundraiser a Pleasant Experience
Recruit plenty of volunteers. Rely on your church volunteer team to help you. Before you start asking for assistance, clearly identify the kind of help you need and the responsibilities of each role. For example, you'll likely want a fundraiser chairperson, a co-chairperson, a treasurer, and a point person to coordinate promotional efforts.
2. Reach Out to the Community
Most likely, your congregation does a lot of good work for the community, and your fundraiser is an excellent opportunity for the community to respond with support. They will save money while helping your church raise valuable funds.
3. Make Announcements to your Members
Church fundraisers can sell a lot of Banazzle discount cards by informing the congregation that sign-up cards are available in the lobby. Be sure to mention the great local savings available. By supporting your church fundraiser, they can save money and help make a difference!
4. Email Family and Friends
Ask every member to email out-of-town family and friends to help your church fundraiser. We provide a written sample email for your members to easily copy and send out.
5. Promote Your Church Fundraiser in All Church Communications
Have a newsletter? A church website? A church email directory? Be sure to submit a short article about your church fundraiser, explaining what you're raising money for and how people can help. Often the difference between a successful fundraiser and an unsuccessful one is merely letting people know about it!
7 Tips for a Successful Non-Profit Fundraiser
1. Take Advantage of Free Publicity
Local newspapers will publish group announcements free of charge, so send them a press release about your non-profit fundraising campaign. Be sure to include what you're raising money for, how people can contact you to help, and where you'll be offering Banazzle discount cards for sale.
2. Use Your Group's Website to Announce the Fundraiser
Promote your non-profit fundraising efforts on your website. You can include your fundraiser code and our web address (www.banazzle.com) on your website so visitors can purchase their Banazzle discount cards, and enter your fundraiser code so your organization still earns 50% on each sale.
3. Ask Group Members to Sell Fundraising Products in their Workplace
Don't miss out on this valuable opportunity to make more money for your non-profit fundraising campaign. Fundraising order forms are a common site in office break rooms and reception areas.
4. Include Your Non-Profit Fundraising Efforts in Other Group Events
When you have a meeting, special presentation, Bingo night, fish fry, or other group event, be sure to have a table promoting your non-profit fundraising efforts. You can have the event emcee announce the Banazzle fundraiser so everyone knows the great cause you're raising money for and the savings they will get.
5. Promote to the Crowds
Take advantage of the traffic at grocery stores and popular retailers on the weekends. People love to save money, especially on their vehicles, so they'll be glad to support your group and save money, too. (Be sure to talk to store management and ask for permission first!)
6. Recruit Plenty of Volunteers
Rely on your volunteer team to help you divide all the tasks involved in running your fundraiser. Banazzle fundraisers are an ideal opportunity to involve your supporters in the community. People like to pitch in for a non-profit group they support. Before you start recruiting help, clearly identify the type of help you need and the responsibilities of each role. For example, you'll likely want a fundraiser chairperson, a co-chairperson, a treasurer, and someone to coordinate all promotional efforts.
7. Share Your Fundraising Success Stories
Be sure to keep your non-profit group up-to-date on the progress of the fundraiser. Use a simple thermometer poster so everyone can easily see how much money the group has made, and how close you are to your goal. Ask members who are selling a lot to talk about their methods. Your group will benefit when you share fundraising ideas that have worked for others.
