| Planning and managing a fundraising event can make | | | | windows would be helpful in making your fundraising |
| you want to pull your hair out because of all the | | | | event better. There are many ways to promote an |
| frustration. Here are seven helpful tips that will help | | | | event and you should take advantage of as many of |
| make your fundraiser a smooth and profitable | | | | them as possible. |
| success. | | | | 5.) Pre-Sell for Success |
| Copyright (c) 2008 AIM Fundraising | | | | This tactic will work effectively for any type of |
| Organizing and running a school fundraising event can | | | | school fundraising event. If your fundraiser is an |
| be a nail biting experience. This is especially true if | | | | event like a dance or dinner or some kind of ticketed |
| you are the one that was put in charge of planning it. | | | | event, you will do much better pre-selling your |
| Here are 7 simple and easy to follow ways to help | | | | tickets. Start early in getting your fundraising machine |
| you run a trouble free and profitalble school | | | | going. When items such as cookie dough or |
| fundraising project | | | | Christmas gift items are your main products start |
| 1.) Plan for Success | | | | mentioning it to friends, family, and neighbors ahead |
| Efficient planning is integral to the success of not only | | | | of time. |
| your school fundraising campaign but any project you | | | | 6.) Multiple Income Streams |
| might think of. Without a well thought out plan of | | | | Do not put all of your eggs in one basket. Multiple |
| action chaos will reign and your project will suffer as | | | | income streams have been a recipe for success in |
| a result no matter how good your fundraising ideas | | | | business for many years and you should be running |
| are. In fact, you should have a primary plan as well as | | | | your school fundraising just like a business. If you are |
| a secondary and tertiary. | | | | placing your whole years planning on the success of |
| 2.) There can be Only One! | | | | only one program, then you may find yourself in a |
| There can only be one captain of a ship and the | | | | shortfall. You might even have another nearby school |
| same holds true for your school fundraising program. | | | | start the same thing your were planning to do the |
| Too many chiefs and not enough Indians is a recipe | | | | week before you kick your fundraiser off. If you are |
| for failure as well as a bad idea. Pick a competent | | | | located in a small town, this can be a huge blow to |
| person to be in charge and then let them be in | | | | your school fundraising success. Try using multiple |
| charge. | | | | events to your advantage. This is an excellent way |
| 3.) Delegate Authority | | | | to reach your goal as quickly as possible and spread |
| Assign specific tasks to people in whom you have | | | | out some of the risk. |
| confidence and trust. In your planning create a list of | | | | 7.) Post Event Analysis |
| tasks that must be accomplished and choose | | | | While not part of the actual event planning phase this |
| personnel for each task. Ensure that each of your | | | | is something that you should not overlook. Analyze |
| chosen staff understands that accountability for their | | | | how each of your school fundraising efforts |
| assigned task falls squarely on their shoulders. | | | | performed. Which ones did your customers like the |
| 4.) Promotion is the Key | | | | best? Which ones made you the most money? |
| Get the word our about your school fundraiser. | | | | Which ones were the easiest to do? You can use |
| Promoting your school fundraising project will help | | | | your analysis of your current campaign to enhance |
| you greatly in the quest to reach your goals. Send | | | | future fundraising efforts. It is especially helpful to |
| out press releases to local media outlets. Don't forget | | | | write these things down in a journal for the next |
| your own school web page is a great way to post | | | | board to view in case all the faces on the board |
| your fundraising ideas and opportunities and get the | | | | change from year to year. Doing this will make it |
| word out about it. The type of fundraiser you are | | | | much easier on the inexperience leaders who follow |
| planning will dictate if creating promotional flyers and | | | | you to pick up where you left off! |
| soliciting local business to place them in store | | | | |