3 Key Questions School Fundraiser Sponsors Overlook

What sponsors should be asking but aren't.

So many school sponsors are now selecting their sales programs online. Sometimes a purchase is made without even a phone call to the fundraising company. This is not necessarily bad as long as the sponsor can obtain the information they need from the website. Unfortunately, this isn't always the case.

As a result, there are many questions that sponsors may not think to ask that can end up hurting them. When reviewing fundraiser programs on the web, companies tend to present only the positive aspects. People are often drawn in by the product's appeal with a limited understanding of how everything will work.

For example, companies will entice sponsors by offering free shipping but fail to point out how the product is shipped. We are not saying that these companies are deceptive or even unethical. We are saying there can be shortcomings that sponsors should already be aware of going in.

Thus, ensuring that certain things are offered can help make their sale much smoother. Here are three critical questions that school fundraiser sponsors sometimes don't think to ask before they commit to a company.

1. Are Student Fundraiser Packets Collated?

Some companies will collate your students' promotional materials into envelopes for you free of charge. This means you don't need extra time doing it yourself before you kick off. If you have a larger group of 500 or more students, this can translate into a lot of work even if you can recruit extra help. Student fundraising packets should contain the following:

• A personalized parent letter that outlines the entire process.
• Your sales brochure
• An order form
• The prize program flyer

2. Do They Provide Promotional Kickoff Materials?

Your kickoff meeting with your students is crucial because it allows you to sell your program and get your sale off to a strong start. You'll need promotional resources to help you prepare for a strong presentation. Does the company provide a professional kickoff video or trained sales rep for maximum impact? Your assembly may not have the necessary impact if you don't receive adequate support materials and proper guidance.

3. Is Fundraising Merchandise Shipped Sorted or Bulk?

A company might emphasize the convenience of simply calling in your order. They're not telling you that get ready for bulk delivery. In other words, you'll be left doing the hard part of sorting everything before issuing it to your sellers. This is hard enough for smaller groups but can be overwhelming for a larger one. And the initial joy of not having to pay for the shipping will soon wear off as you deal with the agony of that sorting.

By asking a few simple questions, school fundraiser sponsors can eliminate some difficult hurdles that many of their peers will unfortunately face.

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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.