Successful FundraisersThere are virtually a limitless number of fundraisers out there, and sometimes the hardest part of fundraising is choosing which one to do! Over the years, we have received countless stories from Program Leaders who held phenomenal fundraisers. Before selecting a fundraiser, write down your goals and use the guide below to help select the best fundraiser for your group. The fundraisers included have proven to be successful for hundreds of Program Leaders.
If your goal is to conduct your fundraiser in one day or less:• Volunteertoservefoodatalocalrestaurantinexchangeforsomeoftheday’sproceeds.• Stafftheconcessionstandatyourschooloraminorleaguesportseventfortips.• Baggroceriesatalocalsupermarketandcollecttips.
If you would like to build community awareness and support:• Writeletterstolocalbusinessesrequestingdonations.• HoldaFlamingoFlocking–peopledonatemoneytohavepinkflamingosstuckinafriendor
foe’syard.• Hostacommunityyardsaleintheschool’sparkinglotandrentparkingspotstoeachfamilywhowantstoparticipate.
If you want to give students the independence to fundraise on their own:• SendGiftofEducationE-CardsandLetterstofriendsandfamilymembers.PostalinktoFacebookforfriendsandfamilytomakecontributionsdirectlytoa
participant’saccount.WorldStridestravelershavereceivedmillionsofdollarsindonationsthroughourGiftofEducationprogram!Visitwww.worldstridesfundraising.com to get started.
• Sellgiftcardstopopularretailstoresforapercentageoftheprofitthroughwww.glscrip.com.• Askstudentstodochoresforfamilymembersandneighborsinexchangeforfinancialcontributions.
If you want a fundraiser that creates camaraderie among students:• Holdacarwash.• Celebrateagood-naturedTeacherTortureday.Teachersvolunteertoparticipateinstunts(suchasdressingoutrageouslyorcoloringtheirhair)toraise
money, and students pay to vote for which teachers they want to see tortured.• Hostapancakebreakfastatalocalrestaurantthatistypicallyopenforjustlunchanddinner.• Sellticketstoaschooldance,carnival,talentshow,fieldday,orhauntedhouse.• Sponsoradodgeballtournamentandcollectentryfees.
If you have ambitious fundraising goals:• Considerafundraiserthatallowsstudentstoshowcasetheirtalents.Hostawinterconcertandselltickets.Sponsoraneventforstudentstoentertainata
coffeehouseandservewarmdrinks.Organizeatalentshowandallowstudentstocompetewitheachotherforprizes.• Hostadinnerandsilentauction.Askparentsandlocalbusinessesforgifts-in-kindtodonatetotheauction.Raiseproceedsthroughtheauctionand
dinner.• Applyforgrantsthroughlocal,regional,ornationalorganizations.Visitwww.worldstridesfundraising.comtolearnmore.
Learn More on Our Fundraising Center!Our fundraising website has been enhanced with even more resources to help you planandimplementyourfundraiser!Visitwww.worldstridesfundraising.com to get more information about:
• Questionstoaskathird-partyfundraisingcompany• Wheretoapplyforgrants• Fundraisersthathaveprovenmostsuccessful• OurGiftofEducationProgram–andmore!
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We have made fundraising even easier with theopportunitytopostalinkdirectlytoyourFacebookpage! Visit www.worldstridesfundraising.com togetstartedusingourGiftofEducationFacebookSharingLink.
How Do I Get Started?Select a fundraiser. Before you begin fundraising, it is importanttoconsiderseveralfactors:Howmuchmoneydoyouwanttoraise?Howlongdoyouwantyourfundraisertolast?Whenisagoodtimetoholdyourfundraiser?Refertothefacing page to learn more about these and other guidelines.
Hold a kickoff meeting. This is your opportunity to communicate your fundraising goals with students. If you have ambitious fundraising goals, consider breakingthemintosmaller,moreachievablemilestones.Offeringarewardsystemwillgivestudentseven more motivation.
Request help from parents. Mostpeoplearehappytovolunteeriftheyareasked.Delegatingtaskstocommitteesandassigningdeadlineswillhelpyoubettermanagethefundraiserandensureyourgroup’sgoalsaremet.Sendaletterhometoparentsinformingthemofyourupcomingfundraiserandrequestingtheirhelporinvitingthemtoyourfundraisingkickoffmeeting.
Promote your fundraiser. Yourfundraiserwillbemoresuccessfulifyougetthewordout!Checkouttheboxbelowforcreativewaystopromoteyourfundraiser.
Supervise.Ensurestudentsareconductingthefundraiserinasafemanner(i.e.,nodoor-to-doorselling),andcheckinwithcommitteesperiodicallytoconfirmtheyarecompletingtasksasscheduled.
Provide frequent status updates.Keepparentsandstudentsup-to-dateonyourgroup’sprogress.Hangaposterinyourclassroom,makeanannouncementonyourclasswebsite,orpostastatusupdateonyourMyTrippagethattrackshowmuchmoneyhasbeenearnedandhowmuchmoreisstillneeded.Everyonewillbeexcitedtoseetheprogressthegroupismaking!
Promoting Your Fundraiser• Postsigns,flyers,andpostersaroundschoolandinyourcommunity.Checkwithlocal
restaurants, businesses, libraries, and universities to see if they accept public postings.
• Reachouttolocalnewspapers,andtelevisionandradiostationswithapressreleaseorstorypitch,andaskthemtoincludeitintheircommunityannouncements.
• Goclass-to-classtopresentyourfundraiserinperson.
• Checkwithyourschooltoseeiffundraisingupdatescanbeincludedinparentcommunicationslikeyourschool’snewspaper,e-newsletter,orwebsite.
• Setupatableatschoolsportingeventstopresentfundraisinginformationorsellitemstoraise money.
• Sendaletterhomewithstudentsoremailparentsdirectlytoletthemknowaboutupcomingfundraisersandrequesttheirsupport.
• CommunicatefundraisingupdatesthroughyourMyTrippageoryourgroup’sFacebookpage.
Lookingformorecreativefundraisingideas?Checkout
www.worldstridesfundraising.com for a comprehensive list.
Selecting a FundraiserNotonlydoesfundraisinghelpyourstudentspayfortheirtravelexperience,butitisagreatwaytogetparentsinvolved,buildsupportinthecommunity,andimprovestudents’leadershipskills.Givingstudentsanopportunitytoworktogethertowardsacommongoalwillhelpthemdeveloprelationshipswitheachotherpriortotravelingandcreateagreatersenseofsatisfactionandownershipoftheirtravelexperiences!
Akeypartofimplementingasuccessfulfundraiseris to develop a plan. No matter which fundraiser you choose, it will run more smoothly if you set concrete goals and consider all important factors.
What are your financial goals?Considerhowmuchmoneyyourgroupneedstoraisebeforeselectingafundraiser.Yourfinancialgoals will determine what type of fundraiser is most appropriate for your group.
How much time do you want to devote to fundraising?InourWorldStridessurvey,mostProgramLeadersindicatedthattheideallengthoftimetoholdafundraiserisbetweenoneandtwoweeks.Shorterfundraiserscanfacetroublegainingmomentum,andstudentsandparents may lose enthusiasm for fundraisers that drag on too long.
When is the best time for your group to schedule a fundraiser?Itisimportanttoconsiderwhenotherschoolandcommunityorganizationshosttheirfundraisers.IfthestudentgovernmentsellscandyattheendofMarch,don’tholdyourfundraiserduringthatsametimeframe.Lookforweekswhenotherfundraisersaren’toccurring,andtrytodosomethingoriginal.
Would you like parental involvement with your fundraiser?Parentscanbeatremendouslyvaluableresourcetoanyfundraisingeffort.ManyofourProgramLeadersreportaskingparentsforhelpandassigningvolunteersdifferentfundraisingresponsibilities.Mostparentsarehappytohelpiftheyknowthereisaneed.Considerrequestingassistanceearlybyintroducingyourfundraiseratthefirstparentmeeting.
Do students prefer to fundraise individually or as a group? Individualfundraisingeffortsincludesellingproductsorsolicitingmonetarydonationsfromfamilymembers,friends,orlocalbusinesses.Thesetypesofeffortscanmakeiteasiertoallocatefundstoeachstudent’saccountbecausetheywillhaveraisedspecificamounts.Groupefforts,suchastalentshows,raffles,silentauctions, and car washes, can build camaraderie among the group and increase community support. Both optionsgivestudentstheopportunitytomakeastrongcontributiontowardstheirprogram.
Do you want to organize the fundraiser yourself or use a third-party fundraising company?Fundraisersindependentlyrunareoftenmoreoriginal,andstudentshaveagreaterroleinplanningandpromotion.However,theyareusuallymoreworkfortheorganizerandoftenrequiretheassistanceofacommitteeofparents.Usingathird-partycompanycanminimizeyourtimecommitmentbyallowingapersonalrepresentativetohandlecollectingmoneyanddistributingorders.Athird-partycompanycanalsomotivatestudentsbyofferingpointsandrewards.However,thecustomerserviceexperiencecanvarywidelyamongcompanies–mostofwhicharelikelytokeepasignificantportionofsales.Ifyoudecidetouseathird-partycompany,reviewthehelpfulchecklistintheResourcessectionofwww.worldstridesfundraising.com.
WehavesurveyedhundredsofProgram Leaders with years of experienceleadingWorldStridesDiscoverNow!programs.Allofthe
suggestions in this guide are based ontheirfeedbackaboutwhat’s
workedwellforthemovertheyears.You can also browse
www.worldstridesfundraising.comfor ideas on how you can
successfully fundraise for your educational travel program!
