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Published January 6, 2023
One thing we probably remember well from our days in school programs is the fundraisers we’d have to do. Some of us loved doing them, while others avoided them at all costs. Despite your feelings about them, now you’re in charge of them, meaning all the pressure is on your shoulders.
There’s no need to stress out about it, though—we’re here to help. This list of common school fundraiser mistakes you should avoid will help ensure your own runs as smoothly as possible.
Not Organizing It Well Enough
Before you even present your upcoming fundraiser to your students, you must ensure that you’ve planned and organized everything down to the smallest detail. Once it comes time to explain what your group will be doing to raise money for your program, whether it’s the school band or the basketball team, you need to have a clear strategy.
If you come to the students with half of an idea, it won’t be easy to get them interested. Even if they take hold of your plan and try to raise some funds, your lack of organization will make keeping track of sales and money very difficult. This can lead to many other problems as you go.
Neglecting the Overall Purpose
Even if you organize everything, failing to present the overall purpose of the school fundraiser to your students is another common mistake you should try to avoid. If they don’t know why they need to make sales or bring in donations, they likely won’t feel motivated to do so.
That’s why you need to state the purpose of the fundraiser clearly. For example, if the goal of your basketball fundraiser is to buy new uniforms and equipment, you need to make your players aware of that. Knowing they’ll be getting new stuff if they bring in enough money should help inspire them to be proactive during this process.
Failing To Inspire Students
Of course, simply helping out the team or program may not inspire all students to participate in a fundraiser. We all remember what it was like to be young. Sometimes, kids and teens need a goal that benefits them on a more personal level. That’s why you should create some goals outside of what the group will do with the money.
Some common examples include throwing a pizza party if the whole group hits a specific donation target or free gifts to those who reach certain sales quotas. It’s entirely up to you what you plan to put on the table for your students, so don’t be afraid to get creative in what you want to offer them.
Having Poor Sales Scripts
Now that your students have multiple reasons to get out there and sell or collect donations, you must prepare them. Not all kids and teens are natural-born salesmen. Sure, they’ll be able to convince their family, but what about others they might try to sell to?
It’s never a bad idea to give everyone a script to follow when trying to convince someone to help with your program. Be sure to take the time to teach them how to sell as well. You don’t want them to sound like drones out there. With the right script and some training, they’ll be bringing in money in no time.