How to Keep Students Excited After the Fundraiser Kickoff

How to keep students motivated during the sale.

One of our sponsors recently asked if we had any suggestions on how they should remind their students to sell each day during their school fundraiser. We liked the question because they wanted to take the promotion of their sale seriously.

Too often, the typical announcement that seems to be made during the sale is, "Don't forget to sell!". Some schools don't even do that. They'll remind students to turn in their orders at the end. Some schools prompt their students to sell by saying something generic like, "We need as many students to help with this fundraiser as possible". While this approach reminds the students, most have heard it before and will quickly tune out because it's the same boring message that's been heard before.

Instead, schools should work on getting and keeping their students' attention with inspiring, fun, and thought-provoking messages. In other words, put some work into it and be creative. Your students will look forward to hearing each day's announcement.

Why Creative Fundraiser Announcements Have an Impact

There are three reasons why you should spend time before your sale on creating promotional fundraising announcements:

1. They'll get the attention of your students.
2. By changing the message daily, students are more apt to tune in.
3. They keep students focused on why your fundraiser is essential.

Creative Sales Announcement Ideas

Here are some ideas that other schools have had success incorporating into their fundraiser:

• You can ask questions like, "Who thinks they can sell more items than anyone else?" This will get students thinking about achieving higher sales.
• After the first few days, ask how many students have sold at least a few items. Then, emphasize that those students who start early will usually be more successful than those who don't.
• Pick an item from the prize program and ask how many students are at least halfway to winning it. This will encourage students to keep selling.
• Further into the fundraiser, set an example by asking how many students have reached their sales goal. Then offer praise and encouragement to those who still haven't reached the goal.
• There will always be those students who haven't sold anything yet, so you can ask, "Who hasn't started selling yet?" Then, stress that it's never too late to start.
• Talk about your top-seller prizes. Review again what it will take to win one of these prizes.
• Reinforce the fundraiser's purpose with your students and how they will benefit.
• You should emphasize safety by ensuring students are only out selling with an adult.
• Discuss the importance of family members taking the brochure to work and how having others sell for them will work to their advantage.
• We recommend incorporating prize drawings into your announcements. This is a great way to make them 'come to life'.

And perhaps the biggest reason you should incorporate creative fundraising announcements into your sale is the impact that they can make on the outcome.

What ideas have worked for you and your school?

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.