Successful Discount Card Fundraisers for Schools and Groups

Q: How much profit can we make from a discount card fundraiser?

Most discount cards for fundraising are sold for around $10, and organizations typically earn 50% of the sale price, which means for every card sold, you'll profit about $5. The exact profit depends on how many cards you sell and your target fundraising amount.

Blog Summary: Looking for practical ways to raise funds without draining your budget or burning out your team? This guide shares easy fundraising ideas that are fast, affordable, and proven to work. Whether you're a school, club, sports team, or nonprofit, these quick and affordable fundraising tips are designed to help you meet your goals with confidence and community involvement. Get inspired with creative options that don't require big spending but deliver big results.

Are you ready to shake up your fundraiser this year and make it stand out? If you've been considering new ways to raise money for your school, sports team, or community group, discount card fundraisers might be the perfect solution. Selling discount cards for fundraising is a fresh and effective way to raise funds without relying on the same old cookie dough or wrapping paper that many other organizations are selling.

Discount card fundraisers work for a variety of groups, from schools and sports teams to local non-profits. They are easy to sell, offer real value to your buyers, and promote local businesses—all while raising money for a cause that matters. But how do you get started, and what do you need to know to ensure your fundraiser is successful? We'll walk you through everything, from ordering the right number of cards to strategies for selling and ensuring your fundraiser meets its goals.

Key Highlights

Discount cards for fundraising offer great value to buyers with savings that last a year.
Selling discount cards as a fundraiser is an ideal way to stand out from other groups.
Schools, sports teams, and community groups can all benefit from the simplicity and effectiveness of discount card fundraisers.
A well-organized discount card fundraiser with clear goals can ensure success.
Utilize incentives and sales strategies to motivate your team and drive more sales.

What Makes Discount Card Fundraising Special?

When you think of fundraising, you probably think of traditional options like bake sales or the ever-popular cookie dough drive. While these methods have their benefits, discount card fundraising offers a unique advantage. These cards, often bundled with local vendor discounts, provide ongoing value for your customers and give them a reason to keep coming back year after year.

Here's why discount card fundraisers are so effective:

Ongoing Value for Buyers: Discount cards typically last for a year and can be used multiple times. They often feature a variety of local businesses, offering discounts that help buyers save money on items they buy regularly, such as meals, shopping, or services.
Customizability: The card can be personalized with your group's logo or name, making it unique to your organization and your community. With discount cards for businesses tailored to your group, you can offer a product no one else is selling.
Easy to Sell: Discount cards are an easy sell because they offer tangible value. Buyers understand the savings they'll get, and they're usually happy to support local businesses while helping your group.
Minimal Overhead: Unlike many other fundraisers, you don't need to worry about inventory costs or managing unsold products. Discount card fundraisers are simple to manage with just a small upfront cost for the cards themselves.

Setting Your Fundraising Goal

Before you jump into selling discount cards, it's important to set a clear and achievable fundraising goal. Know how much money you need to raise and how many cards each participant will need to sell to meet that target. Here's how to do it:

Determine Your Financial Goal: How much money do you need to raise? For example, if your school needs to raise $3,000, you can break that down into smaller, more manageable numbers.
Calculate How Many Cards to Sell: Most discount cards for fundraising are sold for about $10. If you plan to profit $5 per card and need to raise $3,000, you'll need to sell 600 cards.
Distribute Cards Efficiently: Once you know how many cards you need to sell, divide that number by the number of sellers (e.g., students, athletes, or volunteers), which will give you a target for how many cards each person needs to sell. In our example, if you have 50 sellers, each seller must sell 12 cards.
Plan for Extra Inventory: It's often a good idea to order a few extra cards, just in case you need them. If you order too many, you may end up with a surplus, but if you order too few, you risk running out of stock and losing potential sales.

How to Make Discount Cards Stand Out

One of the main benefits of selling discount cards is the ability to make the product stand out in your community. To boost your sales and make your fundraiser a success, it's essential to highlight what makes your discount card different and valuable.

Customize the Card Design: A discount card fundraiser works best when it's personalized to your organization. Consider adding your school's logo, sports team emblem, or your community group's name to the front of the card, which not only helps with branding but also makes the card feel more personal and special.
Choose Relevant Discounts: When selecting businesses for your card, make sure the discounts appeal to your community. Consider offering deals at local restaurants, coffee shops, retail stores, gyms, and entertainment venues. The more valuable and relevant the discounts, the easier it will be to sell the card.
Highlight the Value: Ensure potential buyers understand the card will pay for itself after just a couple of uses. Use your discount cards fundraising material to show how much the buyer will save over time and emphasize how they are supporting local businesses while helping your group.

Best Practices for Selling Discount Cards

Once you have your cards in hand, it's time to start selling. Here are some key sales strategies to ensure your discount card fundraiser is successful:

Set a Time Limit: Creating a sense of urgency helps drive sales. Set a firm time limit for your fundraiser, such as 1 week, and encourage your sellers to push hard within that timeframe to build momentum and keep your team focused on hitting their sales goals.
Use Incentives: Offering incentives to top sellers can encourage friendly competition and drive results. For example, you could reward the person who sells the most cards with a small prize, such as a gift card or an extra ticket to a school event.
Host a Kickoff Meeting: Don't expect success without proper preparation. A kickoff meeting lets you explain the fundraiser's purpose, set goals, and outline expectations. It's also a great opportunity to motivate your team and get them excited about the cause.
Provide Sales Training: Selling discount cards isn't just about handing them out and hoping for the best. Encourage your sellers to engage with potential buyers, share the benefits of the discounts, and explain how the money raised will directly support the group's needs. Role-playing can be an effective way to prepare them.
Track Progress: Stay on top of your sales with a tracking sheet, helping ensure accountability and keep everyone on track. You can also offer periodic check-ins to sustain momentum and encourage sellers to hit their targets.

How to Handle Unsold Discount Cards

Unfortunately, not every card will sell. So, what do you do with unsold cards? Here are some strategies for managing excess inventory:

Reassign Unsold Cards: If some sellers have sold more cards than others, ask if they're willing to take on extra cards. You can also ask teachers, parents, or other staff members if they are willing to help sell the remaining cards.
Sell to Staff or Local Businesses: Consider offering unsold cards to teachers, staff, or local businesses that may be interested. Sometimes they'll buy a few cards for their employees or customers, especially if the discounts are valuable to them.
Offer a Reward for Selling Extra: Encourage people to sell any remaining cards by offering a small incentive. For example, you could offer an extra $1 for each card they sell above their original target.

FAQs

1. What is a discount card fundraiser?

A discount card fundraiser involves selling cards that offer discounts at local businesses. The funds raised from selling these cards support your group, whether it's a school, sports team, or community cause.

2. How do I sell discount cards?

To sell discount cards, start by sharing the value of the discounts they offer. Train your sellers to approach potential buyers professionally, explain how the card will pay for itself after a few uses, and emphasize the support for local businesses.

3. How much profit can we make from a discount card fundraiser?

Most discount cards for fundraising are sold for around $10, and organizations typically earn 50% of the sale price, which means for every card sold, you'll profit about $5. The exact profit depends on how many cards you sell and your target fundraising amount.

4. How do I handle unsold discount cards?

If you have unsold cards, consider reassigning them to other sellers, selling them to staff or local businesses, or offering incentives for sellers who exceed their targets. It's essential to track and manage inventory to minimize unsold stock.

5. How long do discount cards last?

Discount cards usually last for one year, offering discounts that buyers can use multiple times during that period, making them a valuable product for customers who can save money over the long term.

Start Your Discount Card Fundraiser Today!

By now, you've seen how discount card fundraisers can be a simple, effective, and profitable way to support your organization. Whether you're raising money for a school, sports team, or local cause, selling discount cards offers an easy-to-sell, low-risk fundraising solution. By setting clear goals, offering valuable incentives, and preparing your team, you'll ensure your discount card fundraiser is a success.

At Big Fundraising Ideas, we specialize in providing high-quality, customizable discount card fundraisers that will make your campaign stand out. Check out our range of discount cards for fundraising, including coupon cards for fundraising and scratch fundraising cards, and get started on your next fundraising campaign today!

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.

Guide to a Successful Discount Card Fundraiser