Ensure a Successful Fundraiser Turn in Day

Simple ways to get money turned in on time.

Your primary objective is to reach your money goal as quickly as possible. Giving your students more time to raise additional money doesn't usually work. This philosophy can work against you. More extended sales typically lead to seller complacency and procrastination. Most sales take place during the first 3-4 days anyway.

Therefore, a two-week selling period is usually optimal. During the first week, you're working to generate sales momentum, while a good portion of the second week is spent reminding sellers that their end date is fast approaching.

Here are some things you can do to ensure a successful fundraiser turn-in day.

Focus on Your Sales End Date

Make sure your end date is set in everyone's mind. This includes reinforcing the date with your school staff and parents. You will also want to announce it at your kickoff and throughout your sale. Make sure your end date is in your parent's letter. You can always post updates on social media as well. We provide our larger school-wide customers with a school fundraising guidebook which includes parent reminder notices. Your goal is to emphasize when order forms and money are due.

Have Consequences for Late Orders

You are bound to have stragglers, so be ready for them. If you accept order forms after your end date, let people know how much time they have. We ask our sponsors to mail their order forms for processing one week after their end date. This allows time for them to collect and account for late orders. You should fax in any late orders after sending your immediate order within a few days. Any orders that come in after that are not guaranteed to ship with the original order.

Stick with the Fundraising Plan

No matter how tempted you might be to make exceptions, avoid doing so if possible. If people see that you enforce your policies consistently, they'll be more apt to follow them. The old saying, "Give an inch, take a mile," applies here. On the other hand, there are reasonable exceptions that can be considered. Just consider each issue on a case-by-case basis.

Ensuring a successful fundraiser turn-in day means informing people what you expect in advance.

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.