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1. Set clear and meaningful goals
"Replace our broken swings and rusty slide with new playground equipment" is a better motivator than "raise $10,000." Divide your overall dollar goal into realistic individual goals (sell a certain number of units, or a certain dollar amount of product). Make sure participants understand both the larger goal, and their personal goals.
Buckboard helps by...
Posting individual, team and overall goals on your web page hosted on our website.
Posting individual, team and overall goals on your web page hosted on our website.
2. Divide your sales force into teams
Competition between teams is another great motivator. Classrooms, sections of a band, girls versus boys - being on a team keeps the fun in fundraising.
Buckboard helps by...
Showing fundraising teams how they are doing compared to other teams in real time, right during the campaign. As orders are logged onto your Buckboard order entry site, our tools automatically create charts displaying money raised and units sold by individual, team and group.
Showing fundraising teams how they are doing compared to other teams in real time, right during the campaign. As orders are logged onto your Buckboard order entry site, our tools automatically create charts displaying money raised and units sold by individual, team and group.
3. Create motivating incentives
Individual participants and fundraising stars deserve recognition. But team spirit can be a better motivator than cheap plastic gimmicks - and it lasts longer.
Buckboard helps by...
Working with you to develop a customized incentive program that will really motivate individuals, sellers and groups. We help identify prizes that are consistent with your mission: discount certificates at local book stores, school supply shops or other local businesses... high school football tickets... pizza parties... donations to local charities of the kids' choosing... principal-for-a-day contests, and the like.
Working with you to develop a customized incentive program that will really motivate individuals, sellers and groups. We help identify prizes that are consistent with your mission: discount certificates at local book stores, school supply shops or other local businesses... high school football tickets... pizza parties... donations to local charities of the kids' choosing... principal-for-a-day contests, and the like.
4. Develop a defined schedule for your campaign
Your calendar should include the obvious: start, end, and delivery dates. When setting a schedule, consider volunteer availability, other donor campaigns happening in your community, tax season, the post-holiday doldrums and other relevant factors. Holidays throughout the year can provide excellent themes around which to build a fundraiser.
Buckboard helps by...
Giving you access to web and email tools that keep everyone involved in your fundraiser up to date - with little hassle. Our online fulfillment system allows orders that come in after your deadline to be processed. And regardless of when you run your campaign, your group's Buckboard-hosted web page will also be available during the holiday gift-giving season.
Giving you access to web and email tools that keep everyone involved in your fundraiser up to date - with little hassle. Our online fulfillment system allows orders that come in after your deadline to be processed. And regardless of when you run your campaign, your group's Buckboard-hosted web page will also be available during the holiday gift-giving season.
5. Make sure adult volunteers understand the basics of tracking, submitting and distributing orders
Some fundraising coordinators underestimate the organization and volunteer hours required with most fundraising campaigns. A system for tallying and cross-checking orders, payments and distribution plans using a team of volunteers is usually necessary. Yet, stress and volunteer burn-out can harpoon your success.
Buckboard helps by...
making it fun and easy for anyone -- including kids and their parents -- to enter an order online, before the coordinator places the final, master order with us. This method reduces order entry and payment mistakes and the error-prone chore of totaling sales. We also track each order by individual seller, pre-sort orders at our warehouse, and deliver them bundled and ready on delivery day.
making it fun and easy for anyone -- including kids and their parents -- to enter an order online, before the coordinator places the final, master order with us. This method reduces order entry and payment mistakes and the error-prone chore of totaling sales. We also track each order by individual seller, pre-sort orders at our warehouse, and deliver them bundled and ready on delivery day.
6. Promote your fundraiser beyond your own organization
Newsletters, flyers home in the school envelope, and email announcements are proven ideas for getting the word out. Extend your audience by sending notices to local newspapers, TV and radio. Get a press release template and how-to's here.
Buckboard helps by...
extending the geographic reach of your campaign across the country. Our easy e-tools let kids and others create e-mail letters to friends and family, linking them directly to Buckboard's online store. Orders from outside your region are shipped directly to the customer. for a login/password to our demonstration site and see how easy it is to use these tools.
extending the geographic reach of your campaign across the country. Our easy e-tools let kids and others create e-mail letters to friends and family, linking them directly to Buckboard's online store. Orders from outside your region are shipped directly to the customer. for a login/password to our demonstration site and see how easy it is to use these tools.
7. Train your sales force
A fundraiser can be a valuable life experience. Encourage your sellers to practice talking about your fundraising goals and the products they are selling. The more familiar and confident they are, the more fun they'll have - and the better profits you'll realize.
Buckboard helps by...
providing age-appropriate sales materials. The Gazetteer brings together product information, true stories from America's past, puzzles, games and resources in a fun, old-time newspaper format. Our sales folder shows customers what our products look like. And our order form provides a quick reminder of everything we sell..
providing age-appropriate sales materials. The Gazetteer brings together product information, true stories from America's past, puzzles, games and resources in a fun, old-time newspaper format. Our sales folder shows customers what our products look like. And our order form provides a quick reminder of everything we sell..
8. Remind everyone of the order closing date
People will procrastinate. During your campaign, send several reminders to your volunteers, sales team and community, urging them to work steadily to meet the fundraising goal. Too often, orders don't materialize when volunteers run out of time and miss the deadline.
Buckboard helps by...
providing email reminder tools and online graphics showing how much you've raised - and how much you have to go to meet your goal.
providing email reminder tools and online graphics showing how much you've raised - and how much you have to go to meet your goal.
9. Plan distribution day carefully, to avoid incorrect orders and wrong deliveries
As much as 15% of large fundraising orders can get confused, lost, short-shipped, or delivered to the wrong person. This can be avoided by minimizing confusion on delivery day.
Buckboard helps by...
taking the error-prone work of matching orders with various products of different sizes and flavors off of your volunteers' backs. We pre-sort orders by individual seller before they leave our warehouse, and deliver them labeled and ready for you to distribute. Orders for out-of-area customers are drop-shipped from Buckboard to the purchaser; your fundraising volunteers never have to touch them.
taking the error-prone work of matching orders with various products of different sizes and flavors off of your volunteers' backs. We pre-sort orders by individual seller before they leave our warehouse, and deliver them labeled and ready for you to distribute. Orders for out-of-area customers are drop-shipped from Buckboard to the purchaser; your fundraising volunteers never have to touch them.
10. Remember to thank your customers!
It's essential to let everyone - parents, volunteers, sales force, local media, and your customers - know how you did in reaching your fundraising goals. Those involved feel more positive about the next fundraiser when they learn of this year's outcome, and are recognized for their part in the effort.
Buckboard helps by...
providing e-mail tools that generate customized thank-you e-mails explaining what the fundraiser achieved, how much customers' purchases contributed, and how the funds will be spent. for a login/password to our demonstration site and see how easy it is to use these tools.
providing e-mail tools that generate customized thank-you e-mails explaining what the fundraiser achieved, how much customers' purchases contributed, and how the funds will be spent. for a login/password to our demonstration site and see how easy it is to use these tools.
