Do Early Season Fundraisers Have an Advantage?

Does it pay off to have your sale early in the school year?

Aren't you somewhat annoyed when your child comes home from their first day of school, and you look inside their backpack and find a student packet? After all, you haven't even settled into the routine yet, and you're already being asked to sell.

We get asked all the time by schools about when they should start their sale. Should they do early-season fundraisers to try to beat the other schools out of the gate, or wait until the dust clears?

Each approach has advantages and disadvantages, so you must determine based on your area and circumstances.

Here are some things to consider if you're considering an early-season jump on the other schools in your area.

Why Start Your School Fundraiser Early?

Since many schools are close to other competing schools, the prevailing thought is to attempt to be the first ones out in the community. The idea is if people haven't been approached yet, chances are they'll be more likely to buy. Since it's the beginning of the school year, students and parents feel fresh and are more willing to get out and sell.

Another consideration is academics haven't gotten underway yet. Many parents have grown to expect early fundraisers, and as long as they know this is not the first of many, they're probably ok with supporting their local school. After all, the sooner you finish your sale, the sooner you can start putting the money to work.

Issues with Selling Before Other Schools

Are there disadvantages to starting your fundraiser immediately? Most people are already attempting to switch gears from summer break back into school mode. If you add something else to their plate, it may just be too much too soon. Even if you were the only school in town, it would be hard enough to readjust to the other challenges that going back to school brings.

Schools also require parents to buy a checklist of classroom supplies, and this doesn't even consider the fact that new clothes must be purchased as well. And you want to throw a fundraiser into the mix? Add in the fact that many other organizations have the same idea and want to be among the first selling. Chances are pretty good that many people have already been approached to buy anyway. This doesn't even count the fact that year-round and many private schools have already completed their sales.

As a result, many groups have found that waiting to start their school fundraiser makes more sense. However, limiting the number of sales you have as much as possible is just as important.

When have you found to be the best time to start your sale?

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.