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Everybody wants an easy fundraiser. The problem is that you also want
results.
So, how do you get
the best results from an easy fundraiser?
Three things to
consider:
1) Effort
2) Resources
3) Duration
An
easy fundraiser
shouldn't take a lot of effort, but let's be honest. It is going to take
SOME effort. The level of effort
is often directly proportional to the size of your group's monetary goal,
but not always. That's why you are considering an easy fundraiser in the
first place - you're looking for less effort, not more. Resources are always
a problem in small group fundraising. You can never have too many
volunteers and you usually never have enough. For an easy fundraiser, you
want programs that don't require an excessive time commitment from a large
number of people. You want either a
single weekend only activity or a program that takes only a small amount
of time each week. It's easier to get people to help with something that
doesn't require more than a two-hour commitment from them. Conserve your
resources with an easy fundraiser and you'll have more to draw on later
when you really need help.
Duration is
important. An easy fundraiser that lasts more than a single weekend
should not require a lot of attention to keep it productive. Those that
only last a single weekend shouldn't require a tremendous amount of prep
time.
So, what easy
fundraisers take only a little effort, few resources, and have the right
duration?
Some simple ones to
put together are:
1) Printer cartridge
recycling program
2) Onsite or Online Yard Sale
3) Seasonal Specialty Item Sale
A recycling program
for collecting used printer cartridges costs nothing to put together. All
collection boxes and shipping needs are covered by the supplier. Your effort involves
finding businesses to participate in the program, leaving pre-labeled
boxes with a site representative, and providing directions on calling UPS
to pick up a full box. A used cartridge is
worth between $1 and $20, depending on the popularity of the printer and
the cost of a new cartridge. Many businesses encourage recycling
efforts. For good prospects, check with the leasing manager of large
office buildings that house multiple companies. Another good location
is an electronics store or office supply retailer. Customers often bring
in their old cartridge when shopping for a replacement. You are doing the
retailer a service by providing them with an environmentally safe
way to dispose of these leftovers.
A good recycling
program will cover a couple of dozen sites and not require much work after
the initial placement. Over time, working this many sites can produce a
considerable amount of
funds for your group.
A big yard sale is another easy fundraiser to pull off. It's short in
duration, usually just a Saturday sale with some prep time the night
before. Choose a nice high-visibility location like a school or church
parking lot. Advertise in the local paper and put up signs for the cagey
veterans who troll around on Saturday mornings looking for bargains. Group your items
together by category - kids clothes, tools, toys, books, pictures,
music, etc. Place general price signs around items instead of pricing
everything individually. For example, "$5-$10 Tools" or "Books: $1-$3" are
signs that allow people to haggle and help you avoid putting on hundreds
of
price stickers.
Resources are needed
most for helping to sell. Recruit outgoing types who can be enthusiastic
about these odds and ends. Make it a fun time with some helium balloons
for small children and have coffee/doughnuts available for adults. By grouping items
together from multiple households, you create a bigger draw as well as a
bigger workforce. If you attract enough shoppers along with enough
donations, you can raise as much as $500 per participating household. A variation on the
yard sale fundraiser is to sell the items online. The best place to sell
large quantities of lower-priced items is on Half.com. You'll get more
for books, music, and consumer electronics that way. Keep it in mind as a
way to get better results on some items or as an easier fundraiser to do
for very small groups. You'll need to spend some time creating the
listings and having online pictures posted seems to help with
higher-priced items. All in all, it's an easy fundraiser that produces
results.
The third type of easy fundraiser is a weekend specialty sale of a
seasonal item. Examples would be a Pumpkin Patch sale, a Christmas Tree
sale, a Spring Flower Bulb fiesta, and so on. This involves an
effort similar to having a large yard sale. You'll need a high-traffic
location and some advance publicity. Your goal is to capture seasonal
sales from the general public as well as those from within your group. Avoid stretching
these sales over more than one weekend or you'll run into resource
issues. Make it quick and keep it fun. Setup on a Friday, sell hard on
Saturday, and wrap it up by Sunday afternoon. Make arrangements
ahead of time with your supplier about how to handle left over items.
Source pumpkins from the local Farmer's Market, Christmas trees from
grower's associations, and flower bulbs from national suppliers. Be sure to price
everything competitively and offer great customer service. For Christmas
trees, have able bodies standing by to tie them down on vehicles. For
pumpkins, help place them in the trunk. The easier you make it for
customers, the more you'll net for your group.
Putting together an easy fundraiser isn't
hard. It does take some effort and it does require resources, but nothing
too difficult. Give your group a helping hand by taking it easy.
Easy Fundraising!!
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About The
Author: Kimberly Reynolds is
the author of
Fundraising Success, a
best
selling ebook on fundraising. You can read
more of
her
fundraising
ideas on her website, FundraiserHelp.com. |
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