Planning a School Fundraiser

Planning a school fundraiser

“An hour of planning can save you 10 hours of doing.” Dwight D. Eisenhower.

For most of us, planning a  school fundraiser is an additional event in our already busy lives. Truly, a well-devised plan can make the most of your time when extra hours are in short supply, .

First and foremost, start planning a school fundraiser well in advance of your intended event.  Give yourself as much time as possible to round up resources. The more time you can give people in advance, the more likely they will be available to volunteer. If you intend to ask local businesses to sponsor your event, you may need a few weeks to get that lined up. By the way, the more specific the details of your cause, the more likely people are to support it. Community members may be more positive about “raising money for the award-winning band to march in The Rose Bowl Parade” than “raising money for our school”.

Here is a list of items to consider when outlining your school fundraising plan.

  1. Expenses – What are the nitty-gritty needs? How granular can you get?
  2. Monetary Goals – How much money would you like to make?
  3. Budget – How much money is available to spend preparing for and promoting your event?
  4. Team Demographics – Who is on your selling team? What are their strengths?
  5. Resources –Who can you ask to support your event? Who can donate physical products or supplies?
  6. Time Restraints – When do you need the funds? When is the best time to execute your fundraiser?
  7. Location – Where will you hold your fundraiser? How will you distribute products to the team?
  8. Product – What is the best product for your group? This article provides helpful information on how to make this choice.

Planning a school fundraiser demands an additional level as your sales force may be kids. Successful school fundraisers base their product choice on them. What do they like, what can they get excited about, how sophisticated can the product be? For instance, cookie dough is much more approachable for elementary school kids than candles. You may consider an incentive for youth sales teams. Converse with local business’ to explore donating a coveted prize, such as a gaming system. Or incentive the group with a fun event when you reach your sales goal. Such as, field days, pizza parties or a free day off from school.

Finally, design the event to fit the cause. Meaning, if you would like to receive large donations for a major project, selling candy bars is not the most effective course of action. Or say you need a small amount of money to send your group to a state competition. In this case, setting up and hosting a casino night is too complicated and unnecessary.

The initial school fundriaser planning stage helps determine your goals. From there, devise an outline to support achieving those goals. The more details you can include, the better. Don’t worry if you miss an item or two. A good fundraising foundation allows you the freedom to pivot, ensuring you don’t miss a step towards your ultimate objective.

Yummy Hearts Lollipops

Our Yummy Heart Lollipops virtually sell themselves leading up to Valentine’s Day. But they are also appropriate any time you want to show your supporters love. There’s a 1 case minimum, shipping is free and you will make 50% profit on each Yummy Heart Fundraising Lollipop sold. Each case comes with 640 Yummy Heart Lollipops.

What You Should Know

Yummy Heart Lollipops are the same as all of our other lollipop fundraisers. You will make the same profit no matter how many cases of lollipops you purchase or sell. Sell the lollipops for twice what you pay for them. In other words, you will always double your investment. Here is a quick profit chart for you to review:

Profit and Cost

  • In-hand products
  • Free shipping
  • Start in under a minute
Cases Bought Cost Per Case Profit %
1 min $320.00 50%
Buy Now Send Me Info More Info

If you are looking for a holiday season fundraiser, our Home for the Holidays Candle Fundraiser is it.  With their cheery labels and seasonal scents, these candles make a fantastic gift. There’s no upfront cost, so this fundraiser works for any type of group.  We provide everything you need to get started and there’s no obligation.

What You Should Know

Candle fundraising is different than other fundraising programs. Easy Fundraising Ideas gives you a 50% profit on each candle you sell. The only additional charge you may incur is a $65 shipping fee if your group sells less than 150 candles.

Each candle sells for only $20 each.

Profit and Cost

  • No upfront cost
  • Free brochures for your participants
  • Free shipping (orders of 150 items or more)
  • Start in under a minute
Items Bought % Profit Free Shipping
150 plus 50% YES
1 to 149 50% No
Start Now Send Me Info More Info
Custom Discount Fundraising Cards

Raise money by creating your own discount card fundraiser. Sign up between 8 and 12 local merchants to advertise on the back of your fundraising discount cards. We will custom design the front for your group. These fundraiser discount cards make terrific annual fundraising tools.

What You Should Know

Custom Fundraising Discount Cards offer some of the highest profits possible. Take a look at the profit chart below to estimate what your group can earn with this outstanding program:

Profit and Cost

  • In-hand products
  • Free shipping
  • Start in under a minute
Cards Bought Profit Cost per Card
2500 90% plus Call for Pricing
1000 90% $1.00
500 80% $2.00
250 70% $3.00
100 min 60% $4.00
Buy Now Send Me Info More Info
Better Baking Fundraiser

Our Better Baking fundraiser is a great option for all types of groups. We offer 9 of the most popular baking mixes that appeal to everyone.  Our premium baking mixes are easy to use and taste great!  Everything you need to bake cookies, pretzels, cinnamon rolls, funnel cakes, and bread. Easy fundraising starts with a Better Baking fundraiser.  You will not be handling a frozen product.  The $15 price makes it a fun and easy fundraising idea.  Like our Candle Fundraisers, our Better Baking Fundraiser has a 50% profit for your group.

What You Should Know

Like our other popular $15 programs Easy Fundraising Ideas gives you a 50% profit on each and every item you sell. The only additional charge you might incur would be a $65 shipping fee if your group sells less than 150 items.

Profit and Cost

  • No upfront cost
  • Free brochures for your participants
  • Free shipping (orders of 150 items or more)
  • Start in under a minute
Items Bought % Profit Free Shipping
150 plus 50% YES
1 to 149 50% No
Start Now Send Me Info More Info
All Sports Scratch Card

If you want an easy fundraising idea for all sports, scratch card fundraisers are just what you are looking for. If you can not find your specific sport in our collection of scratch off graphics,  All Sports Scratch Cards are your best option. You can make up to 95% profit.

What You Should Know

Here is an example of the coupon page you can give to the people as a “Thank You” for participating. You can also create a custom coupon hand out with your town’s unique businesses.

The lowest profit percentage you will make from using scratch cards for fundraisers is 85%. However, the more cards you purchase the higher your profit potential for each card, due to volume price breaks. The profits and profit percentages shown are based on successfully having all 50 dots scratched off on your scratch card.

Profit and Cost

  • In-hand products
  • Free shipping
  • Start in under a minute
Cards Bought Cost Per Card Each Card Raises Your Profit $ Your Profit %
100 $5.00 $100.00 $9,500 95%
25 $7.00 $100.00 $2,325 93%
10 $10.00 $100.00 $900 90%
1 min. $15.00 $100.00 $85 85%
Buy Now Send Me Info More Info
School Fundraiser

School Fundraising Made Easy

If you feel that selecting the best school fundraising idea is a daunting task, don’t worry! Since it seems the gap between school budgets and funding required for extracurricular programs is getting larger every year, the need for profitable school fundraisers is growing.

Sports Fundaising Ideas

Sports Fundraising Ideas That Win

Sports fundraising goes hand-in-hand with playing sports. Whether you are a basketball, football, soccer, or cheerleading organization, we have fundraisers that will score big money for your team.

Church Fundraisers

Church Fundraisers Move the Spirit

Top Church Fundraisers by Group

Non-profit fundraisers

Non-Profit Fundraising for Charity

Top Non-Profit Fundraising Ideas by Group

More Interesting Reading:

Christian Fundraising Ideas

Christian Fundraising Idea

Churches and faith-based schools often come to us asking for good Christian fundraising ideas. Whether they are looking for mission trip fundraisers, school fundraisers or fundraising ideas for other needs, we always suggest they consider a candle fundraiser. This candle fundraiser offers a wonderful selection of options.

Read more »

Your Christian organization may be starting the best fundraising program the world has ever seen. You may be raising money for the most worthy cause on earth. But if nobody participates, the fundraiser is a failure. You are left asking yourself where you went wrong; reevaluating your motives and questioning your judgment. The answer? you probably did not advertise.

Read more »

Great high school fundraising ideas

High school marks a transition in a lot of things for students. They are discovering who they are and more specific interests. Autonomy and personal responsibility increase tremendously. As a result, the types of fundraisers students enjoy also change. Great high school fundraising ideas engage participants, motivating them to sell.

Read more »

adoption

Parents of young children learn about fundraising very quickly as their kids enter elementary school. It does not take long before your student comes home with fundraising information. What you do with that information is more important than you think. Unfortunately, many parents simply take the fundraising packet and toss it in the trash. Other Read More »

Read more »

goals

The one thing many people fail to do in their fundraising effort is to inform their supporters about their efforts. We have learned that the more people know about you and what you do the more willing they will be to support your organization. Assuming, then, that you have done a good job at developing Read More »

Read more »

Many PTA groups have responded to the severe lack of funding for schools by organizing a school PTA fundraiser because it is a great way to bring in some much-needed cash. There is some organizing to be done with a school fundraiser, of course, and it’s not all going to be a walk in the park, but hosting a PTA fundraiser can be a rewarding experience in more ways than one.

Read more »

Your church is one of the most important places in your community. You attend services there, everyone gets together there, the youth group uses it as a meeting place, and any number of activities and club functions happen there. In fact, the church is such an important part of our lives that we want to do whatever we can to help out when the church is in need.

Read more »

If you are facing up to a large church fundraising effort, chances are you want to attack the issue from all sides. If you need a significant amount of money, say for a new building or refurbishment of a current one, then obviously it won’t be enough just to sell a few chocolate bars and Read More »

Read more »

Church Scratch Cards

If you’ve been trying to think of church fundraisers that work, it’s likely that your top concern is how much profit you can make, and how quickly you can make it. There are many roads to the same destination, but if you’re looking for some church fundraising ideas that work, here are some great choices. Read More »

Read more »

Everyone who gets put in charge of organizing a sports fundraiser goes through a phase where they want to be original, innovative, and doing something that no one else has thought of before. That’s fine, there’s nothing wrong with breaking new ground, but remember that your chief goal is to raise money for the team, and often the best way to do that is to take a formula that has worked well in the past and to stick with it.

Read more »

What Our Customers Say:

Flower Bulb Fundraising

We received everything as promised! Thank you so much for your excellent customer service! ...

Author: Troop 6619 BSA

Gourmet Cookie Dough Tub Fundraiser

I wanted to follow up and say how easy and efficient this fundraiser was. We definitely will be using this in the future. Tha...

Author: Carolina Crusaders

Earth Candle Fundraiser

You guys must be naturally kind. I enjoyed working with you and look forward to many other fundraisers with your organizatio...

Author: Bermuda Institute

Flower Bulb Fundraising

I look forward to doing this fundraiser again next year. It was a big hit. You have been so great to work with. I won't be ...

Author: SFHS Girls Soccer Team

Gourmet Cookie Dough Tub Fundraiser

I just wanted to report that the cookie dough fundraiser has been a HUGE success! Everything was perfect and I am so pleased!...

Author: Class of 2020 Hickman, KY

Earth Candle Fundraiser

Good Gosh!!! This was the easiest fundraiser EVER!!! Thank you so much! Saved to Serve, Amy ...

Author: Cornerstone Baptist Church

Earth Candle Fundraiser

I appreciate all of your assistance, as this was my first fundraiser. You really helped make the experience smooth. I look f...

Author: Brooke Bailey Dance Academy

Earth Candle Fundraiser

We LOVE the candles!! And I think last year they were here like 2 days after we submitted the order. Crazy fast!...

Author: Meadowview Elementary

Coffee Fundraiser, and Tea Too!

The sale went over with a bang and people are asking for more. Thank you, Evelyn Mealy ...

Author: Port Allegany Music Boosters

Magic Melts Wickless Candle Fundraiser

Everything arrived a-ok...many thanks for another great fundraiser....we will do this again in the Spring.... Angela...

Author: Dora High School

Snackin in the USA Fundraiser

I just wanted to say thanks for getting the items shipped out so quickly. The kids enjoyed this fundraiser. Everything was ea...

Author: Ashleigh Berggren

Journey of Faith Candle Fundraiser

Thank you for all your help with the fundraiser. I was very pleased from start to finish. We paid on Thursday and the candle...

Author: Overflow Student Ministry

Heritage Fundraising Candles

I would like to thank you for answering all my questions. We love the candles, and I will be doing more fundraising through ...

Author: Jones NHS

Yummy Lix Round Lollipops

Just wanted to say thank you for going above and beyond to make sure I had my order in time. I really appreciate it and I loo...

Author: Montrose Little League

Magic Melts Wickless Candle Fundraiser

I loved this fundraiser. It was easy and convenient. They gave me no problems when I needed to change the end date of my fund...

Author: SHOC Club

Gourmet Cookie Dough Tub Fundraiser

The cookie dough was delivered today and everything was perfect. Thanks again for doing this fundraiser with my class. Sam Bu...

Author: Hammond Central School

Premium Cookie Dough Fundraiser

I got our shipment and I am very appreciative and thankful for how easy this was for our team to generate funds. Your service...

Author: Sac County Bandit Baseball

Gourmet Cookie Dough Tub Fundraiser

We would like to thank you and your company so much for making our fundraiser a success. Thank you, Lakeesha Garrett...

Author: Lakewood Varsity Mighty Mites

Gourmet Cookie Dough Tub Fundraiser

Thank you so much. The fundraiser was wonderful! I received my delivery and everything was correct. Looking forward to doi...

Author: Uniquedivas

Gourmet Cookie Dough Tub Fundraiser

Thank You! I was a little nervous, having never lead a fundraiser, it was so easy with your company! I hope to use you agai...

Author: Northeast R-IV High School

Gourmet Cookie Dough Tub Fundraiser

My order was correct and I want to thank you again for helping us get a kick-start raising money for uniforms. I am very plea...

Author: Royal Heat

Gourmet Cookie Dough Tub Fundraiser

Thank you so much, You have helped me a lot and I will for sure come back when we do another fundraising event. Jessica ...

Author: 11U I.E Rough Riders Baseball Team

Earth Candle Fundraiser

Thank you for everything. That is great that I will receive the candles soon. It has been great working with you I will make...

Author: No Mind Gets Left Behind

Earth Candle Fundraiser

The order arrived yesterday and it was perfect. Everything we ordered was there. The candles were beautiful and very fragrant...

Author: VFW Auxiliary Post 6740

Earth Candle Fundraiser

I wanted to say thank you so much for all of your help with our fundraiser! The candles arrived crazy fast. Michelle ...

Author: Grantsburg Royalty

Earth Candle Fundraiser

This is my first fundraiser as a teacher and an adviser for National Honors Society. I am very pleased with the whole process...

Author: Grundy County High School

Journey of Faith Candle Fundraiser

Thank you so much for your help. My cousin was very happy. I recommended your company to 2 other people. Very satisfied and...

Author: Team Lissy

All Sport Scratch Cards

Everything looks great, we are a water polo club with some kids who cannot afford to pay for their dues so we think this is a...

Author: ASA Aquatics

Custom Discount Fundraising Cards

Perfect!! Thank you for everything...quick and painless as always. You have a great weekend too. Nancy L. Ro ...

Author: Woodbridge Band Boosters

Gourmet Cookie Dough Tub Fundraiser

Thanks for your help. This truly was easy fundraising!! Have a great day! Becky ...

Author: East Laurens Primary

Yummy Lix Round Lollipops

Thank you so much for the quick shipping. We sold out in only two days! The students had a blast and I would do it again. D...

Author: Neosho Middle School

Popcorn Fundraisers make Profits Pop!

The popcorn was great, delivered timely and the order was correct. Our fundraising consultant was very helpful. Will definit...

Author: One Foot Project

Journey of Faith Candle Fundraiser

This program got me out of a lot of financial binds! I tried other types of fundraisers. Nothing came close to being this suc...

Author: ReNew SciTech Academy

Trail mix fundraiser

I received the trail mix on Saturday. The whole process was so smooth from beginning to end. Thanks so much for all of your...

Author: Murray High School Swim Team

Flower Bulb Fundraising

We got the bulbs, sorted them, and distributed them yesterday. The shipment was perfect and everyone is thrilled. ...

Author: SFHS Girls Soccer Team

Earth Candle Fundraiser

Thank you again for all your help with the candle fundraiser! The candles smell amazing. We were so impressed how prompt your...

Author: Kappa Epsilon

Heritage Fundraising Candles

Everyone is very happy with the candles! Fantastic fragrances. Very nice product!!!!...

Author: Armstrong Homeschooling