February 2005
Monthly Archive
Top 5 Easter Fundraising Ideas
by Sandra Sims on 28 Feb 2005 | Categorized as: News
So does your organization have any Easter fundraisers planned? There are lots of great Easter fundraising ideas that are easy and can be planned rather quickly.
1. Easter baskets — Create large easter baskets, not just kids baskets but some that grown ups will like too. Hold a raffle or silent auction for the baskets.
4. Easter Luncheon — Have a Spaghetti or other type food luncheon.
5. Easter Egg Hunt — Hold an Easter Egg Hunt for children in your community. This is a great way to build PR within the community with a fun event.
Important Last Step:
To really create a great fundraiser, choose at least TWO of the above fundraising ideas. You will get much more participation and raise more money with a combination of offerings.
For example, hold a free egg hunt after the luncheon. Our church does this every year. On Palm Sunday after regular services there is a Spaghetti lunch. Tickets are sold for at least two weeks prior to the lunch. Many people stay for the lunch, especially families with small children. When the lunch winds down, the Easter Egg hunt begins. It’s always a fun time and the kids love it.
So how else can you combine these ideas to raise money for your non profit organization? How about an Easter Basket silent auction at the lunch or breakfast event? Here’s another idea…sell World’s Finest Easter candies, and give away tickets to the Breakfast with the Easter Bunny to the top earners. Have your prize award ceremony at the breakfast.
Events such as these appeal to people’s desire to celebrate the holiday. Make it fun for them and they will give more back to your organization, this year and in years to come.
Avon Fundraisers
by Sandra Sims on 25 Feb 2005 | Categorized as: News
Eileen Angel recently told me about her experience walking 30 miles to help fund cancer research. You can read about her inspiring story in the new article: AVON walk for Breast Cancer.
After participating in the two day walking event sponsored by AVON, Eileen decided to become an AVON representative. Now she helps others who want to fundraise by offering AVON fundraising opportunities. With an AVON fundraiser, 40% of the revenue goes directly to the non profit organization within 2 weeks of launching a project.
Eileen commented, “It is so much easier to ask someone if they would like to purchase a product (shampoo, deodorant and more) they normally buy, at a reasonable retail price, and telling them that they will also be helping a worthwhile cause.”
Valentine’s Date with a Pig
by Sandra Sims on 24 Feb 2005 | Categorized as: News
Recalling my single days, I can think of a few bachelors that the label ‘pig’ might have fit quite well. But for three teachers at a San Diego high school, their Valentine’s date really was a pig!
Find out about this fun and unusual fundraiser, and see a photo of the famous pig: Kiss a Pig Fundraiser
Unusual Fundraisers
by Sandra Sims on 23 Feb 2005 | Categorized as: News
Looking for some unusual fundraising ideas? How about camping out on a rooftop to raise money for a school? One elementary school principal did just that to challenge the PTA fundraiser to reach thier goals.
Here’s a really weird fundraising idea…cow bingo. What in the world is cow bingo? Find out about this and other Unusual Fundraisers.
Easter Fund Raiser
by Sandra Sims on 17 Feb 2005 | Categorized as: News
Click here to see all Easter fund raiser chocolates
Or Call the Toll Free Customer Service Line at 1-866-450-5794
Cookie Dough Fundraisers
by Sandra Sims on 16 Feb 2005 | Categorized as: Cookie Dough, Food, Products & Sales
Cookie dough fundraisers have long been a staple of school fundraising programs. A variety of other youth related groups such as band, clubs, PTA, sports teams and other groups can plan a cookie dough fundraiser to raise funds.
Many people enjoy the taste of cookies and often have thier own favorite flavors. Whether it’s chocolate chip, sugar cookies, peanut butter or one of the many new innovative flavors available in cookie dough, your supporters will almost surely be able to find one or more flavors that they like.
While cookie dough fundraisers may have been around a long time, there have been several new cookie varieties created in the past year or two that will make your sale even more profitable for your group.
- Pre-portioned cookie dough that’s easy to bake one cookie at a time
- Gourmet flavors such as Triple Chocolate Chunk or Chocolate Macadamia Nut
- Reduced fat and reduced sugar varities like Reduced-Fat Chocolate Chip and Triple Berry Breakfast Cookie
Like any fundraiser, a cookie dough sale has to be profitable for the group. Many companies offer cookie dough at 30-55% profit to your group. Often this is an stepped scale so the more you sell the more money you’ll make on the fundraiser. If you have a large group or can partner with another group and can hit that top commission level that will give you the most success.
When looking at the options available for a cookie dough program also look at the fine print. Since cookie dough is a refrigerated item it is often sold in bulk and there may be a minimum order required. Be confident that you can meet this minimum before signing up for the program. Another “fine print” thing to watch out for is shipping. Again with such large orders the shipping charges can really add up. Check to see if you can get Free Shipping as that could literally save your group hundreds of dollars.
eFundraising has a great selection of cookie dough fundraisers - 5 Different Catalogs to be exact. They include both pre portioned cookies and cookie dough tubs. In a wide variety of flavors. Here’s a summary of each catalog.
Sweetest Selection Chippery Cookie Dough
(Pre-Portioned and Tubs)
- 12 delicious flavors
- Largest variety of flavors; both tubs and pre-portioned
- Retail price: $12 for tubs and $14 for pre-portioned
- 30-55% Profit
Wholesome Chippery Cookie Dough
(Pre-Portioned and Tubs)
- 4 flavors: Reduced Fat Chocolate Chip, Reduced Fat Oatmeal Raisin, Triple Berry Breakfast Cookie and Apple Raisin Cinnamon
- 30-55% Profit
Gourmet Cookie Dough (Pre-Portioned)
- 12 popular flavors available
- 48 (1 oz.) pre-portioned cookies per box
- Retail price per box: $12 to $15
- 30-50% Profit
Gourmet Premium Collection Cookie Dough (Tubs)
- 14 great flavors included
- 96 (1/2 oz.) or 48 (1 oz.) cookies per tub
- Retail price per box: $11 to $14
- 30-50% Profit
Ultimate Collection Cookie Dough
(Pre-Portioned and Tubs)
- 16 flavors featured
- Largest variety of flavors; both tubs and pre-portioned
- Retail price: $11 to $15
- 30-50% Profit
Call Toll Free 1-866-450-5794
or Fill out a request form for more information
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Team Fundraiser
by Sandra Sims on 15 Feb 2005 | Categorized as: News
There are many great ideas available for team fundraisers. Whether you are with a sports team, a dance team, or a Relay for Life team, there are many team fundraising ideas that work. As a team you have have the advantage of working on this fundraising project with a dedicated group of other fundraisers.
Here’s a list of resources to get you started:
High School Football Team Fundraisers
Quick Tips for Event Planning
by Sandra Sims on 10 Feb 2005 | Categorized as: Fundraising Events, News
I recently came across a good quick tip sheet on how to plan a fundraiser, posted on the website of California Alumni Association at UC Berkeley. I especially liked their description of developing the fundraising plan. It reminded me of the many intangible aspects to choosing the best fundraiser, including the attitude and availability of the group’s members, competing events, and even the date of the event.
While sometimes our inclination is to pick an event that “sounds good” to us, it is wise to take our time in the initial planning and get as much feedback as possible. It’s very important to take in consideration all of the influences that could make or break the fundraiser.
Easter Bunny Fundraising
by Sandra Sims on 09 Feb 2005 | Categorized as: News
I admit, I’m a chocoholic. Just about every holiday presents a new opportunity to enjoy a piece of heaven on earth. Easter is no exception, with Easter bunnies, and many other chocolates. One of my favorite treats has always been the Peanut Butter Eggs by Reese’s. So when I saw this Easter fundraising program from World’s Finest Chocolate, I was instantly intrigued!
Besides the eggs, this fundraiser also has Easter Bunnies, Almonds, Caramel Whirls, Easter Mint Meltaways and Pecan Clusters.
All chocolate items on the sheet sell for $5 each. The price to your non profit group is just $2.50, so your group makes 50% profit on this fundraiser!
Call the Toll Free Customer Service Line at 1-866-450-5794 for more information.
Getting Corporate Sponsors
by Sandra Sims on 08 Feb 2005 | Categorized as: Letters, News
In the February newsletter, sent last week, I talked about how to go about getting corporate sponsors. Here’s a exerpt:
WHO to Ask for Corporate Sponsorships
Always consider how your fundraising event or program will benefit the business. If a business does not have some kind of vested interest in your organization or event, it will not be likely donate. Their interest may be either because of matching interests (they support your cause), they see value in the advertising or marketing opportunity you offer them, or both.
Businesses receive many requests for charitable contributions each year (some receive hundreds or even thousands.) They need a compelling reason to donate to your specific group.
HOW to Ask for Corporate Sponsorships
The most common way to ask for a sponsorship is through a letter. Donation request letters are a balancing act between showing the benefit to the sponsoring business and describing the reason you are asking.
I recently came across a great article that gives more detail regarding both who and how to ask for sponsorships. You can view this article at Nonprofits.org.
