Unique Fundraising Ideas We've Got Them

By: Mart Fundraise

Times are tough and almost everybody can use more money, especially groups and organizations. The old go to method to find cash for your organization is to have a fundraiser, but most are doing that. You will need to get some unique fundraiser ideas. Not every fundraiser will achieve success, but if you plan it out right, yours will be. This guide will help you sort out what you should in the end go with for your fundraising requirements, and ultimately, come up with some unique fundraising ideas.

The fundraiser you select depends a lot on your group. Are you searching for fundraising ideas for schools, or are you looking for fund raiser ideas on the whole? You may not want to use coffee for an elementary school fundraiser, but it could be an excellent high school fundraising idea. It is usually an excellent idea to utilize an internet search engine and be as specific as possible with your search query.

Think core values. What exactly is it that matters to you or your organization? If you care about social justice then you may want to think about a fundraiser using Fair Trade products. Do you care about the ecosystem? Then you will want to encourage an environmentally friendly choice. Taking into consideration you or your organization's core values is a healthy first step in focusing on a proper fundraiser.

Be original! You do not want to do what everyone else is doing. Find something which will really make your cause stand out.

Where is your association located? It could be there are local companies that can provide fundraising services. If you are located in the middle of nowhere chances are you'll need to find an internet fundraiser.

Do you intend to follow the herd? Simply because everyone seems to be jumping off a bridge, I do not suggest you do the same. If there are a lot of local fundraisers from schools, churches and other organizations people may me sick of fundraisers. Make sure you are creative and don't go way of the cookie dough fundraiser. Cookie dough? Please! You may think to sell chocolate bars, since that's what's been pitched at your door since your were born, but that doesn't mean it's the best way to go.

You have to bear in mind why you're doing this, to raise funds! You need to look at the profit, or margin of the product you are selling. Another good thing to consider is not just the percentage markup, but the actual dollar amount profit per item sold. As you well know, a great deal of groups use candy bars for fundraisers. Many of these candy fundraisers have margins as low as 40%, so from your sale of a $1.00 candy bar you are only making 40 cents! As an alternative consider using Fair Trade organic coffee for a fundraiser. The margins are usually around 40% resulting in a profit of over $4.00 per bag.

Remember to focus on you or your group's core beliefs. Do you really want to sling candy bars? If you don't then don't.

Always be creative! If you follow your passion and break away from the pack you can come up with a really enjoyable and moneymaking fundraiser. Organic Fair Trade coffee is an option that I've seen work time and time again. Pretty much everybody drinks coffee and going organic is environmentally conscientious and Fair Trade is socially responsible. By selling organic Fair Trade coffee you are not only helping your cause, but helping hard working farmers throughout the world.

Next, you will need to consider your upfront outlay. A number of fundraising businesses require that items be bought upfront. Other agencies will allow you to use order forms to take pre-sales orders before your buy. There are numerous fundraising companies which will allow you to take pre orders, but you'll need to know if you have to deliver payment before shipment.

One thing people do not consider is shipping expenses. Some fundraising companies will absorb shipping costs, while some charge an arm and a leg. Maybe you have considered this factor? Do they offer free shipping on orders over a certain dollar amount? If you're not meticulous shipping costs may gobble your earnings. No free shipping isn't always a deal breaker. There are many companies offering extremely discounted shipping. Just make sure you check around and verify your margins.

Take into account the time lines involved, especially if you're going to be taking pre orders. you'll want to have a assured delivery date for your customers. You'll need to know how long ahead of time your fundraiser company needs to process your order and how long it will take for your order to reach your destination. You then need to research the logistics of distributing the items to the recipients. If this is a school fundraiser you might want to have people pick up the items at the school on a certain day.

Finally, ensure you make it enjoyable. Constant worry can kill everything, so try to make it as enjoyable as possible. As long as you have a product you can believe in plus a fundraising company that is responsive, you and your association will do well.

Article Source: http://yourfinance.co.za