For more than 40 years, Entertainment Publications has offered fundraising solutions that are profitable, easy & smart.  Last year alone, Entertainment helped local schools, churches, temples, and adult and youth groups across North America raise over $90 million!

 

 

It is our pleasure to share our fundraising planner with you to help make your fundraising efforts successful.  If you aren’t currently working with Entertainment, we hope we can discuss how this checklist and our other proprietary fundraising tools that can help you raise the funds you need.  Click Here to Learn More.

 

 

 

Planning is Key to a Successful Fundraiser

 

 

Getting Ready

q       Set goals for your fundraiser. When members/supporters understand what they are working toward, they are more motivated to support your mission.

q       Select a co-chairperson and recruit volunteers to help make your fundraiser a success.  Many hands make quick work!

q       Set a date to kick-off your fundraiser and confirm with your fundraising representative so that product arrives on time.

q       Take advantage of a Planning Meeting with your fundraising representative who has the expertise to help you meet your fundraising goals.

q       Decide which sale methods you will use. Some options include:

·        Send product home with every member/student

·        Offer products at group/school events

·        Do a weekend sale at a grocery store or other place where a lot of people go.

·        Ask retail locations to display and sell product on behalf of your group/school

·        Do a telethon

Your representative has  step-by-step “how-tos” for any method you choose, so implementation is a snap for you.

q       Decide how you want to promote your fundraiser.

·        Posters (provided free of charge)

·        Signs at member’s workplaces announcing fundraiser

·        Flyers

·        Mailings

Customizable templates are available to make promoting your sale as easy as filling in some blanks and photocopying!

 

 

 

q       Contact your community newspaper to publish information about your fundraiser.
Be sure to provide the dates, reason you’re raising money and who to contact.
Ask your representative for prepared press releases, newsletter articles and ads that you can easily customize with your group’s information.

q       Consider contests and motivational promotions to keep sellers motivated.
Ask your representative for ideas; and if you’re raising money for an elementary school be sure to ask about the free prize program.

q       Ask your group/school webmaster to place a customized link to our online store on your website to make offering the opportunity to support your cause a snap for out-of-town supporters.

q       Count and verify the product upon delivery. Save boxes to return any unsold product.

 

Kick-off Your Fundraiser!

 

 

During the Fundraiser

q       Distribute product and informational/promotional flyers to members/students

q       Ask each member/student to ask 5 people they know to support your fundraiser.
If you’re working with children, be sure to remind them not to talk to strangers and only sell to people they and their parents know.

q       Call adult members who missed the kick-off meeting and ask for their support.

q       Be sure to provide sellers with updates throughout the sale.

·         A progress chart (like a thermometer) posted in a visible location is a great way to keep members/students motivated to keep selling.

·         If you’re fundraising for a school ask the principal to include updates in school announcements and the parent newsletters.

q       Distribute additional product as orders and money are turned in.

 

After the Fund-Raiser

q       Sale ends and final payments are due from members.

q       Distribute additional product as orders and money are turned in

q       Contact members who have outstanding product or money.

q       Prepare a thank you notice for your local newspaper and your group’s newsletter, thanking people for their support and telling them how much money was raised.

q       Pay for sold product and return all unsold product

q       Keep your Profits!

 

 

Not all fundraising companies support each step of the sale as outlined in the above fundraising planner.  That’s why before you select or renew your fundraising partner, you should be sure that the company offers the support you’ll need to work through all of the steps noted in the fundraising planner.

 

Entertainment has fundraising solutions for every type of group and all age ranges. And, we provide everything you need to plan and run a smart, easy and profitable fundraiser. If you would like to learn more about fundraising with Entertainment, please click here.

 

Good Luck!