There are four key elements to successfully raising funds. They consist of:
1. The person designated as "The Fund raiser"
2. Members of a Team or organization needed to ask for donations, sell products or sell services
3. Products or services to be sold.
4. Customers to buy the products or services or make donations.

Why is it that no one wants to be the designated fund raiser? The simple answer is that most people just want to be involved in the primary activity of the team or organization. That us why they joined the team or organization. Parents just want to watch their kids.

• Enthusiasm for the job is the most important requirement.
• The Fund raiser should have sales skills.
• The first rule of sales is believing in the product or service you are selling.
• Fund raisers have to ask for sponsorships or donations.
• Fund raisers have to ask children or adults to participate in fundraising activities.
• Fund raisers have to encourage children or adults to sell products

It has been my experience that team or organization members want to support the activities of the team or organization. They are willing to be lead but are reluctant to be the leader. Many of them have time constraints that inhibit them from being the fund raiser but they sincerely want to help. This positive attitude makes the job of the fundraiser easier. However, the fundraiser needs to be aware that not everyone is going to be good at handling money and selling products. Some people will need more managing than others.

Most fundraising products are from sales kits. Many of these sales kits contain merchandise of such poor quality that no one really wants to buy the merchandise.

Edible merchandise is eaten the packaging is discarded and the organization is soon forgotten. Edible items can also be risky to handle.

Non-edible merchandise that lacks team or organization identity is used or stashed away and forgotten. The merchandise being sold has absolutely no relationship to the team or organization and the buyer soon forgets where they got the item.

Many fund raising promotions fall short of their goals due to the merchandise for sale.

As a fundraiser I found it difficult to ask members to sell stuff I did not believe in to people they did not know.

I found that customers would only buy a small amount of merchandise as if it were a cash donation since they did not need or want the merchandise available for sale.

TGIS will help you to design a fundraising program that fits your specific needs. We will supply you with custom made products that fit the image of your team or organization. Your team members will be proud to sell these products to their customers.

Successful fund raising campaigns develop perpetual support and a rapport with the local community. This is called the sticky factor.

Customers look forward to some fund raising campaigns. Girl Scout cookies are an example of a successful campaign where customers ask for the product. The only problem with Girl Scout cookies is that once they are eaten and the box is thrown away, customers forget about the Girl Scouts for the remainder of the year.

You don't want your customers to dread your fund raising campaigns. You want your customers to welcome your offers and continue to support your fundraising campaigns with donations and by purchasing the products you sell for many years.

TGIS will consult with your organization to develop a campaign that fits your image and will help to achieve your fund raising goals with quality products and programs.

| ABOUT TGIS | HOME |