Here's the thing most fundraiser advice skips: the profit percentage barely matters if hardly anyone joins in. What actually fills the account is how many families take part.
You're better off keeping half of a fundraiser everyone joins than most of one nobody does.
So the real question isn't "which program pays the highest rate?" It's "how do we get more families in on it?" Five things that move that number.
- Give kids a goal they can picture"Help us get new playground equipment" pulls families in far better than "let's raise $15,000." Make the goal something a 7-year-old can see in their head, and the selling gets a lot easier.
- Kick it off live, in personAn assembly that gets the kids laughing and cheering does more for turnout than any flyer sent home. Excited kids go home and actually ask, which is where most of the money comes from.
- Make it easy to say yesA great product and/or online donation platform beats a complicated packet every time. Every bit of friction loses you dollars.
- Tell families what's coming before it startsA quick heads-up a week out, with the goal and the dates, warms everyone up. Schools that launch cold leave a lot of participation on the first day.
- Keep it short and celebrate along the wayA two-week push with daily updates and a little friendly competition holds attention. Thank people as you go, and share how close you're getting.
Want a hand getting your families fired up?
I'm James, and I help schools around Dallas and Collin County run fundraisers families actually get behind, including live kickoff assemblies that get the kids excited on day one.
Let's talk about your next one. Call or text 214-546-5769, or reach me through the contact page.