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Rollin' In The Dough!
Phoenix, AZ, October, 2002 - From cookies to credit cards, fund raising is a whole new game.
If you're working in a school setting, nobody has to tell you how challenging - or - necessary - school fund raisers are. However, often times it feels like helping students to raise money comes at the expense of your sanity. Even if you're working at the high-school level, you can encounter elementary problems that only time-or experienced advice-can guard you from.
Directing students in raising money involves enough stress without having to worry about basic problems sabotaging the experience. Unfortunately, sponsors aren't able to foresee every bump in the road. Small tips-such as providing students with Ziploc bags to collect money in, or keeping a copy of their completed order forms-can make a huge difference.
These five reminders can also help your campus organizations get the best returns:
1. Even if a company doesn't require payment up front, have students collect-and-turn-in -the money.
Several brochure companies and even the Girl Scouts fill orders before receiving payment. Collecting money at the time of the order is your best assurance against last-minute cancellations.
2. Know your market-and its limitations.
Choose products that are a good fit with your community. If your athletic teams are struggling and school spirit is a bit lower, then don't order hundreds of school-logo seat cushions hoping to raise it. Also, make sure students-and temperatures-will accommodate food sales such as chocolates, frozen foods or perishables.
3. Kids are kids
There are advantages and disadvantages in working with students to raise funds. The main benefit is most are easily motivated and many of today's companies offer built-in sales incentives. The main disadvantage? Some students are better than others at handling money and products. When possible, look for ways to take the pressure off these kids. Pair them up with a buddy or involve a parent more heavily in their duties.
4. Do you homework
If a fund raiser seems too good to be true, it just may be. Make sure you've researched any potential hidden costs, including taxes or shipping. Check with the Better Business Bureau to see if any complaints have been filed.
5. Organization is mandatory
Fund raising is not for the ill-organized. Make sure the company you work with provide clear organizational tools, including individual order sheets for each student and an easy method of separating products once they arrive. Getting a box of merchandise that has been ordered by product number can make for delivery nightmares.
Out Of The Box
More than ever, schools can raise funds-or earn equipment and supplies-through non-traditional means. Although some programs stipulate participation is only for non-profit organizations, others will make exceptions to include for-profit schools, so long as the benefits support student programs. When checking this, also investigate the need to register your school for participation. Otherwise, even donations made in your school's name might end up elsewhere.
A small sampling of innovative offerings include:
Grounds For Giving
With more than 164 million coffee drinkers in America, hand-roasted, gourmet coffee is a natural sell. Grounds For Giving offers a pre-sell program yielding a 40-percent profit-and the potential to effortlessly can earn an additional 25-percent profit if customers independently place future orders.
The fund raiser offers gift-boxed sets of four 1.75-ounce packets, each making eight to ten cups. Available in regular or decaffeinated, current offerings are: dark roast Black Velvet; lighter roast Brown Silk; and flavored sampler of Hazelnut Cream, Cinnamon Streusel, Crme Brule and the company's most popular blend, Jamaican Me Crazy-featuring Kahlua caramel and vanilla.
Schools earn $4 from each $10 box, which includes future ordering info for customers who enjoy the product and want to continue supporting the school. These orders, typically for $9, 12-ounce bags-whole beans or ground-are shipped directly to the customer with no additional effort by the school. Each month, schools who have earned from passive sales receive a check in the mail.
SmART FUNd
Scrapbook Design offers a unique way to raise money while encouraging the artistic endeavors in students of all ages. Interested schools simply use a postage-paid mailing label to send in original student artwork-from paintings and drawings to photographs-which is then posted on the www.scrapbookdeesign.net website. Students are given flyers (to take home or send to relatives) that direct them to the site. There, visitors can purchase high-quality 8" x 10" reproductions of the artwork for $20 per print plus $5 shipping/handling. The original artwork is returned unharmed to the school, as is a check for 100 percent of the profit-that's a full $20 for every print sold. While the company would like to see the money go towards the school's art program, the school can spend the funds as it wants.
BoxTops for Education-Clip program
An easy, year-round campaign is collecting box top coupons from hundreds of eligible grocery products, such as Totinos® frozen pizza, Cheerios® and Hamburger Helper®. General Mills will send the school a check representing 10 cents for each BoxTops coupon redeemed. Friends and relatives-even those in other states-can also contribute their box tops to your school.
Recycling
Cartridge Recyclers dba Recyclers USA
Collect empty inkjet printer cartridges and mail, postage-paid for a guaranteed payment of 50 cents to $4.50 apiece, depending on the model-up to 130 types are accepted. The company says it distinguishes itself by paying for cartridges, even if they are cracked or damaged.
Schools can also direct supporters to purchase the company's restored, recycle cartridges at 30 percent to 50 percent below the cost of brand new. The company will donate a percentage of the sale price back to the school.
Both programs can be maintained year-round, with payment checks mailed on a monthly basis.
Funding Factor
Schools collect and send in empty printer and fax cartridges and cell phones. Accepted models are assigned a point value based on specific market value. The company supplies postage-paid mailing materials. Points can go towards the company's catalog of recreation and technology equipment and/or cash.
ONLINE SHOPPING
BoxTops for Education Shop program
Offers more than 100 online vendors, such as Amazon.com, EddieBauer.com, and Officemax.com. Up to 10 percent of each qualifying purchase is donated to the school, for a maximum of $20,000 annually.
Schoolpop
Offers rebates through hundreds of brand-name stores, catalog and online merchants, grocery stores and magazine subscriptions. Sample stores include Old Navy, BestBuy.com and Verizon Wireless.
VISA®
BoxTops for education Charge program
The BoxTops no-annual-fee-credit card earns schools 1 percent of each purchase.
Schoolpop
All Schoolpop Visa® purchases earn a 1-percent rebate. When the card is used to pay Schoolpop merchants, schools earn an additional 1 percent of their shopping totals.
Target
Many store have their names on charge cards for use in their establishment and elsewhere. Schools earn 1 percent when Target's card is used for Target or Target.com buys, and one-half percent for all other purchases.
SuperScrip Card
National scrip Center offers a multi-merchant store-value card accepted nationwide. Schools purchase the card-in increments of $25, $50 and $100-at a 5-percent discount per card. They then sell the cards at face value and keep the profit. The cards can be used like cash at more than 200 brand-name stores or their online counterparts. Participating merchants include Pottery Barn, Williams-Sonoma, Borders Books & Music and Linens n' Things.
Cards can be marked as gifts-or an easy way to help schools while doing one's own gift shopping-during holidays.
-- Karen Butler
This story appeared in Private School Business, Phoenix, AZ - October, 2002.
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