Five Simple Tips To Successful Fundraising (NAPSA)—Manyschools and nonprofit groups depend on fundraising to round out their operating budgets. The difference between a so-so and a successful fundraiser can be five simpletips. 1. STATE your goal plainly. Whether your goal is revamping a playground or providing your school with funding for the arts, be specific about what you hope to achieve. 2. PROVIDE added value. Rather than just asking for money, find a fundraising partner and offer your potential donor an item with high-perceived value. 3. OFFER convenience. Today’s busy consumervalues convenience. Make your offer easy to explain and use—your volunteer salespeople will appreciateit, too! 4, PARTNERwell. Choose a fundraising partner company with a track record of success and a product that is fresh and appealing. Chairpersons like an established program that reduces their headaches—andleadsto big sales! 5. RECOGNIZEyourdonors. Publicize donor namesin letter to the newspaper andpost thelist at your school or headquarters. And be sure to send a thank-you letter—it will help in future fund drives! SALES APPEALis the key to makingit all work. For exam- ple, one of the most popular fundraising lines is Sally Foster and its gift wrap, gift items, gourmet chocolates, books and homedecor items. Sally Foster has a new approach that adds convenience to its sales appeal: Donors Fundraising by selling gift cards offers more convenience for those raising funds and for those making a donation. purchase gift cards and make purchasesonline. In the new program, donors can order whenever they want and have the products shipped directly to their door. For schools, this approach is simpler and less labor intensive than traditional fundraising. In the past, once the sales drive was complete, the school still had to receive and distribute the items to donors. With the gift card system, the fundraisers simply submit their record of sales and receive their funds. An organization like Sally Foster has been in the fundraising businessfor a long time, too. It can share its knowledge and experience, and provide fundraisers with the tools and support they need. In addition, schools can receive additional revenue if a gift card buyer makes more purchases at www.sallyfoster.com beyond the valueof the initial gift card.
