How to Improve Schoolwide Fundraiser Participation

How to raise more by getting more students to sell.

Good fundraiser incentives help drive sales. And if you can get more students to participate, sales will increase. Therefore, finding new ways to improve student participation should be a high priority. However, this has been proven to be easier said than done.

Many schoolwide fundraiser groups average less than 20% student participation. Larger schools that sometimes gross up to $25,000 seem excited about the amount raised. However, they often don’t realize how much money they’re leaving on the table because 80% or more simply aren’t selling. Just think what increasing participation by another 20% would do to their sales.

There are a few reasons for this, one being fundraising burnout. There are too many groups trying to have too many sales. In other words, fundraiser quality has become trumpeted by the sheer quantity. Let’s fundraise as much as possible, and we’ll take whatever we bring in.

Another reason is seller complacency. People are simply tired of repeating the same fundraiser and prize program over and over again. So what can you do to improve schoolwide fundraiser participation?

Give More Students Access to Better Prizes

You might think this costs more, but it doesn’t have to. Here are two possible solutions:

1. Big Event Fundraising

For years, we’ve been advising groups to move towards having fewer high-quality fundraisers that will ultimately raise more money. This includes replacing the cheap ‘dollar store’ toys that students have grown accustomed to winning with more unique and worthwhile prizes. This is the purpose behind big event fundraising.

When we initially launched the idea of students trading in their toys to earn their way to a fun school event in 1999, we didn’t fully realize how much student participation would be affected. We found that many students were willing to give up their prizes in exchange for an activity. The results have been overwhelming. Why?

Significantly more students are winning the big prize because, unlike traditional prizes, they understand that it’s easy to obtain. Traditional prize programs require a lot of selling to win better prizes. This discourages most students from even trying. So what’s the big prize? Gaining admission to the big event. For example, to get into our Big Event Magic Show, students only need to sell five items. And even though there are higher prize levels, the big prize is getting to go to the event with all their friends.

Another reason is that parents support this new and refreshing prize program more. They want their students to be able to go to the event, so they’re much more inclined to participate in the fundraiser.

2. Add No-Cost Incentives

How can you add extra incentives that don’t cost any money? It’s simple. Incorporate privileges instead of prizes that students will want to sell for. Here are some examples of free one-day passes that you can offer to students every time they sell five items:

1. Free dress day
2. No homework
3. 1st inline
4. Library card
5. Lunch with the principal

You get the idea. The point is that allowing more students to win will give them a greater chance of selling.

See our additional fundraiser incentive ideas

Create High Seller Enthusiasm

Enthusiasm is contagious, and so is selling. If you can create additional excitement for your prize program, you’ll increase your chances of having more students jump on board. Who wouldn’t want to join in on the fun? You can get the word out by continuously showing off your prizes during morning announcements or at lunchtime. You don’t want your students to forget about your fundraiser once you’ve kicked it off.

You can also increase seller enthusiasm by rewarding incentives during your sale instead of just at the end. This is where your special privileges come into play. And when students see their peers winning, they become inspired to sell too.

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.