3 Ways to Advance to Big Event Fundraising Programs

How schools graduate up to our big event.

We were recently contacted by a school interested in using our magic show as their prize program for their upcoming fundraiser. Discouragement set in once they learned how much they had to sell to get it.

They were a new school in a young neighborhood adding on grades each year, so their student population was only about 250. Without pursuing it any further, they moved on. As it turns out, this school had three ways to graduate from a traditional prize plan to a big event fundraising prize program:

1. Reach a Certain Fundraising Goal

The first option allows a school to qualify for a free big event if they reach a predetermined sales goal. If they fall short, they use our cost-share plan. We call this 'Option A'. The closer they reach the goal, the less money they have to pay. Also, if they have to share the cost of bringing in an event, they pay for it from the money already collected from their fundraiser. Therefore, they don't have to take the money from another source. Regardless of their sales results, the students get a big event. Most schools that select this option are pretty confident they'll reach the goal that earns them a free event.

2. Sell Enough to Get the Big Event

The second option allows a school to graduate to a big event fundraising program after starting on a traditional prize program. This is referred to as 'Option B'. Consequently, they start out on a traditional plan and switch if they reach the goal that earns them a free event. Most schools that choose this route aren't sure they'll reach the goal, so they take a more conservative approach. The downside to this option is that if a school falls short, they settle for the traditional prize program.

3. Bring in the Big Event Regardless

We call the third option 'changing your mind'. In other words, a school initially on a traditional incentive plan can switch to a big event prize program. It doesn't matter how much they sell. They're still allowed to bring in the event, even if they fall short. They would cost-share based on their sales. This option works well when a school ends up selling more than they expected and realizes they only have to pay out a small amount to bring in the event.

How to Predict Your Sales
If you're not sure where your sales will end up, here is a simple way to do the math:

1. Multiply the average brochure retail price in the brochure by your number of students.
2. Multiply that number by the student goal.

For example, multiplying $12 by 500 students equals $7,500. Then multiply $7,500 by 5. The result is $37,500.

The student's goal is five items for the magic or reptile show. The super party and super splash party require students to sell eight items. This gives you a reasonably close estimate. Remember, some students may not sell, while others will reach higher prizes. You'll also want to avoid comparing previous results to what you think you might sell with a big event incentive plan because they may differ.

See our big event fundraising programs.

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.