School Wide Fundraising

Since I started in the fundraising business in 1986 a lot of things have changed.  The products were all $3-$6.00 and there were only about 12-15 items on the brochures back then.  Now we have brochures with over 200 items which gives your customers lots of choices but adds complication at the same time.  No problem really for the school, that complication is something that we “professional” fundraisers take care of behind the scenes!

Also, since 1986 there has been the introduction of frozen goods into the school fundraising forray!  If you had asked me back then if I ever thought an elementary school would ever be doing frozen cookie dough as a fund raiser project, I would have laughed.  Now, about 85% of my school fundraising business is cookie dough fundraising.

BUT… One thing has not changed one bit!  That is that schools and school groups that do above average prize programs have above average results. Period.  No wiggle room on that one.  This is simply a hard fact about fundraising and life.  Give better rewards for effort, get better results.  The key to this however, is something that most people (including most professional fundraisers) miss.  The key is not simply having above average prizes, it’s having those “more desirable” prizes given at the right level of sales.  Do this wrong and the extra money spent on prizes is a waste.

Here’s an example of what we mean if you’re having a fundraiser for a graduating class. Provide a “Graduation Package” as one of the big prizes that could include a gift basket with such things as a personalized high school rings, cap and gown, tassel, announcements, professional graduation pictures, prom tickets or diploma plaque.

Below I have a video that explains what I mean.  You can use this information the next time you have your school fund raiser.  And that is whether or not you use Aim Fundraising or some other fundraising company.  This information is for you to use.  At Aim Fundraising, we take great pains to educate our sponsors on proper “prize structure.”  This is something that most other fundraising companies don’t get into with their clients.  Why?  I don’t know.  Because most of the schools that make a few changes in the way the give their prizes will double or more their previous sales.

Anyway, without further à deux (or however you spell that word) here’s a video that explains this sale doubling prize philosophy in detail.

If you have any questions about how you might be able to have similar results at your school, go to the Aim Fundraising prizes page and feel free to fill out the “Request Form” to receive more information.

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