Do a Brochure Fundraiser or Sell Candy Bars?

Learn what type of sale is right for your school.

Choosing the correct type of sale for your group can be daunting, considering there are so many types of fundraisers out there. There are many things to consider, like affordability, order processing, and delivery.

Do you want to take orders from a brochure or order the product and then sell it as your students collect the money? In other words, you must consider each program's pros and cons to ensure it will be the right fit.

If you're undecided about whether you should do a brochure fundraiser or sell candy bars, perhaps the following information might help you decide:

1. How a Brochure Fundraiser Works

Each of your students receives a brochure. After showing the brochure to potential supporters, one or more items are selected and recorded on an order form. Money is usually collected by the group when the order is made. At the end of the sale, the order forms and money are returned to the sponsor, who forwards them to the fundraising company. Once the order has been processed, it's shipped to the school or directly to the seller's home. The sellers then deliver the items to their supporters.

PROS:

• Receive an exact number of items that are already paid for.
• Items are prepacked by the seller.
• Prizes are offered to every student who participates.

CONS:

• Requires an additional step of delivering items to customers.
• It may require dealing with occasional broken or missing items.

See our brochure fundraisers

2. How a Candy Bar Sale Works

Groups place an initial order of candy bars based on how many sellers they have on consignment. Once their shipment arrives, candy bar boxes are distributed to group members who sell them directly to supporters. Funds are collected at the point of sale and then turned in to the sponsor. The average selling price is $1.00 to $2.00. Candy bars are trendy items that can be immediately enjoyed. They're often seen as impulsive buying.

PROS:

• Only one contact with the purchaser is necessary to complete the sale.
• They're affordable to most people.

CONS: 

• If you order too much, you may be stuck with additional products.
• Prizes are usually only offered to the top sellers.
• Have to collect money after the product is distributed to sellers.

See our candy bar 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.