3 Easy Ways to Achieve Top Fundraising Results

Effective ways to raise the bar on school profits.

It's been said that there's little reward without some risk. And that's perhaps one reason many sponsors don't like to add extra incentives to their fundraisers to increase sales. They're just not convinced they'll get a good return on their investment.

So how can they know whether the money they're investing will ultimately pay off? Some are just not comfortable with the idea. If you're also concerned about this, you should incorporate incentives that won't cost you anything.

Here are three easy ways to achieve top fundraising results without blowing your budget.

1. Involve School Staff in Your Fundraiser

• Ask the principal to introduce your sale and stress its importance. Make sure they also make the closing remarks.
• Meet with the school faculty before the start of your kickoff to gain their support. Tell them how they'll benefit from the sale as well.
• Get the principal to do something fun to motivate the students to sell more. If the school reaches its fundraising goal, have the principal:
  • Kiss a pig
  • Get a pie in the face
  • Wear their pajamas to school
  • Spend the day on the roof

2. Promote Your Sale Daily

Ask your sellers the following questions:

• "Who's already sold a couple of items or more?"
• "How many of you have already picked out a specific prize you want to win?"
• "Who's already halfway to their sales goal?"
• "How many of you have met or surpassed your sales goal?"
• "Who plans to be the top seller?"

3. Incorporate Additional Fundraising Prizes

During your sale
Have your students turn in their prize drawing coupons every time they sell five items from their brochure. Here are some no-cost incentive ideas for the winners:

• 'Line Leader' for the Day
• 'Classroom Leader' for the Day
• 'Office Monitor' for the Day
• 'Door Monitor' for the Day
• 'Free Dress Day' Pass
• 'Extra Recess Time' Pass
• 'No Homework for a Day' Pass
• Help with Daily Announcements
• 'Sit Where You Want' Pass
• Free Library Pass

You can also make a fun poster that students can sign once they've sold 'x' items.

At the end of your sale
Once your sales results are in, reward your top performers:

• Your top 10 sellers get to have a special lunch with the principal.
• Your top seller can be the principal for a day.
• Anyone who sells 25 or more items gets invited to a Pizza Party.
• Top Seller, Top 3 Sellers, or Top Seller/Grade Prizes (Get your local store to donate these prizes. Many retailers have budget allotments for school assistance and donations.)
• Sell ten items to get into a DJ Dance Party (Ask the principal to be the DJ)

What additional ideas do you have that can help your school achieve top fundraising results?

See our brochure fundraisers.

Author Bio

Clay Boggess has been designing fundraising programs for schools and various nonprofit organizations throughout the US since 1999. He’s helped administrators, teachers, and outside support entities such as PTAs and PTOs raise millions of dollars. Clay is an owner and partner at Big Fundraising Ideas.