Note: This special has ended - Click Here to Request More Information or Call 1-866-450-5794 and ask about current special offers

The number one question on most people’s minds when they are evaluating a fundraiser is “how much will we raise with this program?” The amount that your group can raise with a product sales fundraiser is determined by two things - how much profit you make per item and the total quantity of items sold.

I normally advise groups to seek out fundraisers that offer a minimum of 40%-50% profit. Sometimes you will find programs that offer more or less than that and if it’s something that you can sell a high quantity of, it could be a great fundraiser. Programs that offer more than 50% with high quality and popular products are even better because your group will earn more for each individual sale.

If you have browsed through the candy fundraiser programs that are available such as Hershey, M&Ms and World’s Finest Chocolate, you will notice that 50% profit is the standard. This means that for every $1 candy bar you sell, your organization keeps .50 as profit. Your group will need to sell a high quantity of candy bars in order for this to be a good fundraiser.

Recently World’s Finest Chocolate released a program that is unheard of in the world of candy fundraisers. For every case of chocolate candy your organization purchases to use as a fundraiser you will get one case free. The minimum order for this special offer is just 20 cases.

Note: This special offer ends Friday, September 30th, 2005.

With this special buy one get one free offer, you are substantially increasing the profit your group makes on each and every candy sale.

One of the other unusual aspects of this special is that it applies to the World’s Finest Chocolate brand of premium chocolates. These are not just your usual candy bars that anyone can buy in the grocery store. They are a high quality brand of chocolate, comparable to Russel Stover. This high quality will also foster more sales. The special offer includes the specialty chocolates at the $2 and $5 levels.

$2 Chocolates include Caramel Whirls, Fund Raisins, Mint Meltaways

$5 Premium Chocolates include Continental Almonds, Mint Meltaways, Chocolate Covered Pecans, Caramel Whirls, Majestic Biscuits, Malted Milk Balls, and Peanut Butter Bears.

So now because you’ll be getting a free case for every one purchased, you’re cutting your costs in half and increasing your profits. For example, instead of the usual $1 you’d earn on a $2 candy bar, now you’ll earn $1.50.

Since you will be selling the higher priced items instead of the $1 bars, this will also help your organization earn more. Instead of having to sell 5 chocolate bars at $1 each, you could sell one box of $5 boxed chocolates. Even better, encourage your supporters to buy several boxes of chocolate each. This increases your overall sales!

Most groups such as schools, sports teams or other groups with at least 20 sellers can do really well with this type of program. You can sell the chocolates at school, pep rallies, sports events, grocery stores or just person to person.

Remember, it’s normally 50% profit for these candies, but now you can see higher profits and raise more money than ever before with this special offer. But act fast because the last day to take advantage of this special offer is Friday, September 30th, 2005.

Click Here to Request More Information or Call 1-866-450-5794

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Sometimes I just get an idea and have to run with it. Like today I was thinking about how having an unusual fundraiser idea can really make the difference between a winning fundraiser and a bomb.

Oh I hate to even say it, but yes some fundraisers are duds - they’re no fun, have been done 1000 times and worst of all don’t raise money! No one likes that - it’s so dissapointing.

One way to insure that you have a winning fundraiser is to do something unusual. Choose an event or idea that might sound a little wacky or just hasn’t been tried with your group before.

What are your unusual fundraiser ideas? Post some ideas on the forum - maybe something you’ve tried, read about or heard from a friend.

On September 16th I’ll pick the best submission and award a free copy of my book, The Beginner’s Guide to Fundraising.

Several people have already e-mailed their suggestions, which is great. However, besides just looking for good ideas, the aim of the contest is to encourage people to interact on the message board. Therefore all submissions must be posted on the board in order to be eligible to win the contest.

Go ahead, register and post today. We’d love to hear your ideas!

If you own or work for a fundraising or other company feel free to include a link to your site in your signature and profile, but please do not nominate your own products/services as an unusual fundraising idea.

By the way you can reply to the topic already started or start a new topic. Just include “Unusual Fundraiser: (then your idea)” in the title of the subject.

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Today ForImpact.org released a free report called “The Nine Most Important Ideas to Immediately Change your Organization and Generate more Revenue”

These are nine extremely beneficial tips for every organization. Implementing these ideas will make a huge difference in your organization and its funding.

All of the tips are great, but the one I like the most is #3 - Simplify your organizational message. Being able to communicate your organization’s mission with clarity and in a compelling way is essential to raising your impact. The example used is a “vision card” used by the American Cancer Society. It illustrates in graphical format the “what, why and how” of ACS.

Download, print and share this report today:
The Nine Most Important Ideas to Immediately Change your Organization and Generate more Revenue

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In May of 2004 I began training for the AVON walk for Breast Cancer. The walk covers 26.2 miles over two days with an overnight camp out in a pup tent in the parking lot of a community college. Each participant must also raise $1,800.00 in donations. I had never participated in such an event before, but having lost several family members to cancer, feeling a need to give to society, and honoring the memories of my departed family members, I felt compelled to participate in this walk.

You could say that it was a defining event in my life. I walked 30 miles on September 11, 2004, in 103 degree heat through west LA and downtown Los Angeles with 1400 other people. Typically, the participants walk 26.2 miles over 2-days but my walkies buddies and I decided to push ourselves which is why we walked the 30 miles in one day. The energy and camaraderie I sensed was honestly overwhelming. I met many wonderful people training for the walk and at the actual walk itself.

I also developed a respect for the AVON organization and their commitment to helping fund cancer research and treatment. Mainly for that reason I decided to become an Avon Independent Sales Rep. Since joining AVON I have discovered another benefit. I can help other people with their fund raising needs.

When I participated in the AVON walk the hardest part of the process for me was asking family, friends, neighbors, and workmates for donations. Yes, it was more difficult than walking 30 miles in 103 degree heat.

Would I do the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer again? Yes, I have a daughter and I don’t want her to be effected by this disease. Avon Walk for Breast Cancer is a good cause that effects both men and women. We are in a fast race for the cure and every dollar contributed helps.

About the Author: Eileen Angel resides in Orange County California with her husband of 20 years and two children. She has worked in high tech sales and marketing as well as operating a gift basket business. After successfully completing the Avon walk for breast cancer research, she now helps others raise money for their favorite cause through Avon fundraising programs. For more information on how she can help your organization or individuals fundraise, email her at giftbasketsbyangel@cox.net.

Related Articles:
Susan G. Komen 3 Day Walk
Suan G. Komen Race for the Cure
Find Walking / Running Events by Cause or Location

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As a TNT alum I know what a rewarding experience training and raising money for LLS is. I walked the Anchorage, Alaska Marathon in 2001 and that was one of the biggest accomplishments of my life. I loved the physical training leading up to the marathon, but you know what, I actually enjoyed the fundraising even more! I loved knowing that by raising money I was helping adults and kids with leukemia live with a brighter future.

One of the reasons I started this website was to help fundraisers like you raise money for athletic events. I have heard from TNT’ers who are excited about training for their event, but are nervous about doing all of the fundraising. The minimum amount might sound daunting at first, but let me assure you that it can be acheived.

The fundraising ideas presented on my site come from real fundraisers, just like you. I frequently post stories from my own fundraising drives for various charities, as well as stories from other non profit organizations. You will get the real inside scoop about what works and what doesn’t, saving you lots of time and effort.

Top Fundraising Ideas for Team in Training Participants:

1. Letters- Your mentor has probably already encouraged you to write letters asking for donations. There is a reason that TNT encourages letters as the first fundraiser - they work! All of the proceeds benefit the cause and it’s one of the easiest fundraisers to do. You are simply writing a letter to your friends and family asking them to join you in supporting the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

How to Write a Fundraising Letter

Sample Team in Training Fundraising Letters

2. Raffles - I recommend raffles for TNT participants because I personally raised $800 with a raffle as a TNT participant. Get some of your teammates involved and you can all sell tickets. When you get all of your prizes donated, the costs are next to nothing and all of the proceeds go to LLS!

See How to Organize a Raffle Fundraiser

3. Parties - Throw a party and raise money for your TNT campaign. Let creativity and immagination help you plan a party your friends will enjoy and you can raise funds at the same time.

Here’s several options…

Luau Party Fundraiser
Murder Mystery Party
Trivia Night Event
Ice Cream Social
Pizza Party Fundraisers

Related Links:

The 5 Keys to Successful Fundraising (free report)
Official Team in Training Website

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The people who donate the space get a thank-you letter from the organization (in this case our shelter) for the donation of the space. The owner is then able to take that amount of the storage off his taxes. Win-win for both, because if the empty room is just that, empty, he gets nothing for it, this way he gets at least a tax break.

As the donations come in to the shelter, the volunteers go through
everything and throw away the trash (people love to give you trash,
it truly amazes me, not saleable things, trash.) Then the stuff is taken
to storage. A moving truck (UHaul) is usually lined up (a donation of
course) to haul the stuff to the sale site).

A few weeks before the sale, local business owners are contacted who
have empty buildings. Every year we have been able to use one, as a
donation, a different one each time. You will be responsible to get
the utilities turned on, this again may be a donation. You will also
have to be sure that the shelter or organization has liability insurance.
This is a small town of about 5,000; the people for the most part are
generous. Then your sale items are brought to the location about 1 week
before. Last year I was able to get banquet tables from where I work
(as a donation, of course) to use at the sale. We had over 15 large
tables. The itms are sorted and priced and the volunteers are allowed
first crack at the goodies to buy before the general public gets there
as a thank you for their help. They still pay the same as the public,
they just get first choice.

During the rummage collections, letters and calls are made to the local
radio and tv stations to do a community service announcement for the
sale. These are FCC regulated and HAVE to do community service things,
so they will announce it for you if you get it to them in time. Some
need over a month to get it together.

An ad is placed in the local paper for the days of the sale and in
the “What’s happening” around town. Most papers will have that in the
community offerings sections for free. Be sure to advertise your sale
as Friday, June 15, etc. Then place another one for Saturday, June 16,
etc. They have proven that people will flock to a sale the first day,
but don’t want to go the second as they think the good stuff will be
taken. If you advertise it as two different sales, you will get the
second day people who normally wouldn’t come.

You will also need the local businesses to donate things for you, like
the local grocery store for plastic bags. You will need boxes for people
to haul their treasures away as well as boxes for packing up the things
you did not sell. Be sure to line up a local charity to give them your
‘leftovers’. We have several Animal Groups in the area and one will
take all our leftover books for their annual book sale. They make about
$3000 a year just on used books and the sale is only one weekend! Our
now defunct Humane Society lets us use their clothing racks. Look around,
there will be someone who will let you use things for the sale as long
as they are given back in good condition and you thank them in person
and write letters of gratitude. During our sale, we have a poster with
the names of all the generous people who helped put the sale on. No
one reads it except for the donors, but that is the important part.

When the sale is over, the stuff must be out of the building and the
building cleaned up the very next day. You must make it like you were
never there. Then the letters of gratitude are sent out for tax purposes
and the items are given to the charities. If you are good and conscientious,
you can do it again the next year and use the same people.

Related Articles & Resources:

Garage Sale Riches - Raise funds for your group with proven yard/garage sale strategies.

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Convivo is offering a free teleseminar, “5 Things Every Non Profit Should Know About ECommerce.” Two dates are available - August 18 & 24th.

For more information & to register visit –> Convivo

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The Entertainment Book is a huge book of coupons produced specifically for your local area.

These popular books are published in over 150 city metro areas in the United States and Canada.

Most of the coupons are 50% offers, or Buy one get one Free.

If you like dining out, this book is a must have. There are hundreds of coupons for 50% OFF or Buy One, Get One Free at local and chain restaurants. You’ll find everything from Fine Dining to Fast Food, and any kind of cuisine you could want.

The books also really help a family on a budget with $5 off each and every month at local grocery stores.

We bought the book two years in a row from our church’s preschool who sold them as a fundraiser. Last year our family saved at least $200 using the Entertainment book!

Because I have seen this book WORK both as a consumer and as a fundraiser, I highly recommend it.

Benefits of this fundraiser:

No upfront cost means instant profit—you pay only for what you sell.

Sell in person and/or online

Go from kickoff to wrap-up in as little as two weeks

Free planning and promotional materials

Free prize program to motivate and reward sellers

Provide a great money-saving service to your supporters

More support online at Entertainment.com

These books are normally sold as a fundraiser between September and January.

More Information About Entertainment Books

Order a Single Copy of the Entertainment Book

Entertainment Fundraiser Information

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Would you jump out of an airplane to raise money for a good cause? Personally I would have to say no. But there are people who are eager to jump out of a perfectly good airplane, so why not do it for charity?

Raising money for breast cancer research is the goal of Jump for the Cause, a group of skydiving enthusiasts from Encino, California. Thier goal this year besides raising funds is to set new women’s world record in formation skydiving.

There’s photos of previous jumps and more information on their website at: JumpfortheCause.com

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Shannon Draisey planned a walk-a-thon to raise money for her baby-sitter, Cheryl Markley, who was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer in January.

Unfortunately Cheryl’s condition worsened rather quickly and she passed away on March 11th, 2005. However plans continued for the walk in her honor and the name was changed to the 1st Annual Memory March for Markley2 Mile Run/Walk.

Shannon said, “I used the information from Step by Step Fundraising to assist me in sending out letters to business/organizations asking for their support as a sponsor, in newspaper ads and in the sponsor kit the I created for my walk.”

The walk was April 30, 2005 at a local park. Each participant received a t-shirt with the event date and a picture of Cheryl. Especially since many of the participants were friends or family, the t-shirts were greatly appreciated. Over 100 people attended the walk, and after expenses the event raised $3600 for the family.

There was a special kickoff ceremony with a prayer and balloon release. The balloons were in lavender, which is the general cancer awareness color and ivory/clear, the lung cancer awareness color.

Since the walk was to benefit an individual and not a registered non profit organization, donors were not allowed to consider contributions as tax deductible. However, Shannon didn’t find this to be too much of a problem and had many people including businesses donate money,goods and services.

Shannon sent out approximately 200 letters to local business and organizations which resulted in 28 sponsors. Some of them were monetary and some contributed water, the sign for the walk, a gator to get around the park in, and other supplies.

“I would have to say personal friends of Cheryl made the walk a success. With over 100 people that showed up, all of them knew Cheryl and wanted to help. But by putting an ad in our local newspaper weekly for a month prior to the walk helped to generate some additional walkers.”

Everyone was welcome to come help celebrate Cheryl’s life, support her family and raise awareness about lung cancer. Besides walkers there were also runners, moms with strollers, kids on bikes and grandparents who participated.

When asked what advice she would give to other walk organizers, Shannon replied, “If you want to organize a run/walk make sure you get in touch with someone who has organized one in the past. They have valuable information, tips and do’s and dont’s that will help make your walk a success.”

Next year Shannon would like to expand the walk with a challenge route for those that run or those that would like to walk further. She is also considering starting the walk a little later, maybe 10am, and then have a concessions such as hamburgers and hotdogs available for purchase after the walk. Other activities that she might add would include a
moonwalk or bounce house for kids to jump in to help raise additional money for the cause.

While this year’s walk was for the family of one person effected by cancer, next year’s walk will be expanded to raise awareness about lung cancer prevention in general. With more activities and a larger focus the walk will helpfully draw in people that might come out for other reasons and still help the cause. Shannon would like to distribute literature
to educate about lung cancer and radon levels in the basement, which was the reason the doctors believed Cheryl got lung cancer.

Next year’s walk will benefit radon research or lung cancer research. Shannon is also considering donating a portion of the proceeds to the local cancer coalition and starting a scholarship or humanitarian award in Cheryl’s name.

Congratulations, Shannon on a successful memorial walk event!

Additional Resources:

The donation request and corporate sponsor letters used for the March
for Markley are available in the Sample Fundraising Letters book.

Learn more about charity walk/run events at CharityMile.com

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