Otis Delivery at the Garfield Elementary

Vincenza Sullivan of Fundraising to the Max! makes school fundraising
both simple and lucrative! Before, during, and after each fundraiser
we've done, Enza was extremely helpful! I've never met a fundraising
consultant like her. She's at the school to help us organize, collect,
sort, and distribute orders to families. She's with us every step of the
way, every time! We're always amazed at how smoothly each fundraiser
goes due to Enza's hard work, dedication, attention to detail, and
fabulous customer service! As a staff member and PTO Treasurer at
an elementary school in an urban district with over 800 students,
I know we’ve been able to raise funds to buy materials, send students
on field trips as well as bring in educational programs that the students
wouldn’t otherwise experience thanks to Vincenza Sullivan. We will
continue doing our fundraising through her and we highly recommend
her to other area schools!

-Candace Conley, Math Coach/PTO Treasurer, Garfield Elementary,
Revere, MA (*and life-long Saugus resident)

Engaging the Community

How To Plan For Your Fundraiser

Written 19 Dec, 2011by Mary Conroy

When you are planning a fundraiser for the very first time, it is easy to feel a bit overwhelmed by all that needs to be done. That is normal, and as with anything you do for the first time, you will learn as you go. But there are some things that you should be aware of before you get started, and here at Otis Spunkmeyer we are happy to share our expert fundraising knowledge with you. To ensure that your first fundraiser is a great success, there are six things you should be aware of:

1. Product

Choosing a good fundraising product is crucial to the success of your fundraiser. Make sure you choose something that will inspire your potential donors to be generous. Of course, they may help you even without the presence of a fundraising product, but being able to offer them something in return for their donation increases your chances of success by tenfold. Our Otis Spunkmeyer cookie dough products are the perfect example of effective fundraising products you can use.

2. Location

The location at which you will hold your fundraiser may not seem to be a very important factor in your planning, but the right location can make all the difference. Which location is best for you will depend on who you are targeting with your fundraiser. For example, if you are targeting parents at your child's school, you might want to consider holding it at the school itself.

3. Come up With a Theme

Having a theme can make your fundraiser come alive. Take into consideration the time of year and any special holidays going on around the time of your fundraiser. For example, if the fundraiser will be held towards the end of November, you could plan a Halloween themed fundraiser, and other seasonal themes throughout the rest of the year.

4. Set a Budget

Although, hopefully, you won't have to spend too much money on organizing your fundraiser, there will always be some expenses. If you don't have enough money set aside before you begin organizing your fundraiser, you will not get very far. Luckily, when you use our fantastic Otis Spunkmeyer cookie dough fundraising products, you won't have to pre-order, as we will deliver the cookie dough once you have already taken down the orders from your donors. Check out our fundraising profit calculator to help figure out just how many tubs each of your volunteers needs to sell.

5. Find Volunteers

Ensure that you have sufficient volunteers for the entire duration of your fundraiser. It is unlikely that your volunteers will want to stay at the event all day, and even if they do, they will need time off throughout the day. Also make sure you have back up volunteers in case someone calls off at the last minute.

6. Advertise

Although this is last on the list, it is no less important than the other points we have mentioned. Without proper advertising, no one will know about your campaign and all your hard work will go to waste. Try to figure out what method of advertising will work best for you. Maybe you want to pass out flyers, or use word of mouth advertising. Social media also presents a great avenue for advertising your fundraiser, you could make a Facebook page for your fundraiser and share it with those you think will be interested.

Help Motivate Parent Volunteers for Your School's Fundraising Effort

The Importance of Volunteers

Written 16 Nov, 2011by Jen Johnson

Every day organizations across the country struggle to fill the needs of their communities.  They sell, they serve, and they pound the pavement to raise awareness of the challenges faced by individuals and cities alike, and every day they would fail if it weren’t for the dedication of an army of volunteers.  In 2010 more than 62 million people in the US volunteered their time to one organization or another, working for free, selflessly doing whatever was needed.  Their time in just that year added up to an estimated $173 billion dollars in man hours, and these numbers only include those whose efforts were formally documented. 

Without these kind and generous individuals to help organize, promote, and facilitate events, we would be completely lost.  For Otis Spunkmeyer cookie dough fundraisers, volunteers help to motivate sellers, they double check and distribute orders, and they facilitate incentive events, among so many other things.  They make every step of the process possible.  No fundraising cycle can reach its full potential without them.  Good volunteers are the glue that holds any fundraiser together, and the donation of their time is invaluable to coordinators and organizers everywhere. 

                  It is easy to think that volunteers work for nothing, but that is untrue.  The fulfillment that comes from giving of yourself and working to improve the lives of others is more than words can describe, and the satisfaction of knowing that you have helped your community grow stronger and more self-reliant is a source of endless pride.  But there are other, more practical reasons to volunteer as well.  Giving your time to a needy cause is also a great way to learn a new skill and gain valuable experience.  It allows you to meet new people and to see the world from a new perspective.  There are countless reasons that lead people to volunteer their time, but the joy of giving will always be at the top of the list.

Thanks to numerous individuals giving their time freely (62 million people in 2010), organizations across the country are able to meet their fundraising goals.  This means that the baseball team gets new uniforms, the soup kitchen has enough hands to pass out a meal, and so much more.  The time spent helping out at a local shelter, or playing a game of bridge at a hospice facility, or collecting warm clothes for those who winter hits the hardest makes us all better off.  Whether you or your loved ones directly benefit from these small victories, the entire community is stronger for the gift of those volunteers. 

Volunteerism is also a way for individuals to take ownership of the problems in their own little corner of the world.  Getting involved in an organization allows people to see just what challenges are faced, and what steps are being taken to overcome those challenges.  It is a way to take leadership, to help form a vibrant and engaged society and build powerful bonds that tie a community together.  It is a simple and rewarding way to create, to contribute, and to give.  

Organizations that utilize volunteers also get a lot more than free labor.  Reaching out to community members to recruit volunteers is a wonderful way to create partnerships, and to show members of the public the importance and the difficulty of the work your organization does.  It is the ultimate in public relations.  When people from outside of any group come in to volunteer their time, they’re also volunteering to learn about the goals and hopes of that organization.  They’re volunteering to educate themselves and their friends and family, and they’re volunteering to support that organization, to tout its mission and its methods throughout the community, sharing through word of mouth and through their social networks the significance of civic action, and the potential impact of just one or two more volunteers; they demonstrate the power of ordinary people accomplishing extraordinary things.

We all want to live in a community where every individual is safe and has what they need to live a happy and productive life.  We all want a place where opportunity is available to all of our neighbors, where no one goes to sleep hungry, and where no dream dies for lack of funding.  Unfortunately, the world isn’t perfect yet.  But volunteers refuse to accept the idea that one person can’t change those facts.  They insist that they can help, that we can all help, and that even one small change is important.  And they’re right.  Every time they show up to lend a hand they make someone’s life better.  Some small dream is achieved, even if it’s just the hope of a warm meal or a safe place to sleep.   

They’re out there, even now.  In the rain, in the snow, in the dark, alone and in small groups, they’re out there, putting up flyers, ladling soup, picking up trash, diligently working for the benefit of their friends and neighbors, doing whatever it takes to help their communities raise enough to reach that goal; to achieve whatever changes and improvements are needed.  These champions of modern life work unpaid, giving up their precious free time in the belief that small actions can have huge impact.  The truth about the value of volunteers is that they are priceless.  You can value your volunteers by the dollars it would cost to employ them, the hours they give to your cause, but we can’t truly measure their effect.  We can only imagine how bleak things would be without them, how many goals we wouldn’t reach; how much relief and joy would be missing from the faces of those you strive to help.

As the Holiday Season really gets rolling, and fundraisers all around the country dive knee deep into the sometimes chaotic world of community organizing, let’s all remember to take a moment to thank the volunteers in our lives, those silent superheroes who quietly donate their time.  Whether it is community outreach, event planning, or just helping fold the chairs after the party has ended, we must not forget the value of our heroic volunteers.

Motivating Kids for the Fundraiser!

Taking part in a fundraiser can be a rewarding and educational experience for kids no matter what their age group. Fundraisers are fun for kids to help organize and get involved in as they get to deal with a product they like while raising funds for a good cause.

Before you get started, however, remember that kids, like anyone, need motivation in order to be productive. The following twelve tips will help you give your group the incentive and inspiration to make your fundraiser a great success.

1. Rally Your Team

Before you organize anything, get your fundraising team together and have a good discussion about the fundraising event. It could be like an open forum where everyone shares ideas and thoughts on what they would like to get out of the experience.

2. Set Realistic Goals

It is important to have a target amount that you would like to raise at the fundraising event, or if you are selling cookie dough, you could set a certain number of packages that each kid is aiming to sell. Just make sure that you don't set the goal too high or you will set your kids up for a disappointment.

3. Set up a Rewards Program

If you have set up goals for each child to reach, like a certain number of cookie dough packages per child, then you can organize special prizes for those sell the most.

4. Teach Them the Ropes

Make sure that you take some time to go over possible scenarios and practice ways to present the  fundraiser. This will boost confidence and help them get excited about the process of helping.

5. Divide Tasks Equally

Giving each child a responsibility is also a good motivator. As an example, one or two children could bake cookie samples for the delivery day, while two others could hand out flyers that could be put up at local merchants.

6. Set a Deadline

Even though the real deadline is the day all of the order forms are turned in there are opportunities to create mini-milestones. At half-way through have the kids share how many they have and offer encouragement for their accopmlishments.

7. Organize a Raffle

This is another great way to motivate your fundraising group. You can set up milestone which everyone should strive to reach if they want to win a prize. Then every time that someone reaches a milestone, their name is entered into the running for the raffle prize. Make this milestone something like one-half (or one-quarter) of the childs total goal. That way everyone that makes the goal has a least two entries.

8. Settle for One Main Fundraising Activity

Having too many events or fundraising incentives will be confusing to children. Pick one thing and focus all your efforts on that.

9. Make Your Fundraiser Unique

Copying another school's fundraiser is not as motivating as coming up with a fresh idea. Discuss ideas with your group and settle on a completely original, tailor-made plan.

10. Organize Individual Prizes for Each Child

While a bit of friendly competition can be fun and motivating, make sure the kids understand that everyone's effort is appreciated, whether or not they sold the most. 11. Encourage Team Work

Encouraging teamwork is a good way to motivate everyone to pull together towards the end goal.

12. Reward Your Young Volunteers

When all is said and done, everyone likes to be appreciated for their hard work, even kids. So set up a party or special outing to end the fundraising venture on a positive note.

Following these tips will make sure that your kids are focused and excited to achieve great fundraising success.

Promoting Your Fundraiser

It's that time of year again: time to plan, market and host a fundraiser for your school, dance studio, or local sports team. With so much competition for donor funds, you may be searching for more effective ways to market your event. Effective fundraising today is "hyper-local," which simply means it needs to be tied to a local event in the donor's community. Successful fundraising is an ongoing process; previous donors are periodically updated about fundraising efforts, know when to expect the next event and are kept informed about how the raised funds are used to help the organization or designated charity.

Use several media outlets to promote your event

You may have the most attractive and entertaining fundraiser in town, but this makes little difference if the community doesn't know about your event. We've worked with organizations that have used innovative marketing techniques such as YouTube videos for their fundraisers. Marketing a fundraiser could include sending out Tweets and talking about it on Facebook. Many organizations have a mass notification system using phone calls or text messages. Ask those in charge if you can use the system to send out fundraising updates and reminders. If this isn't available, you could ask volunteers and previous donors if they would send out a group email to their contact list.

Write an attention-grabbing and straightforward message

You need to craft your message so that it is clear, uncomplicated and stands out from the barrage of information people receive each day. Describe your event including the journalistic basics of who, what, when, where and why in the first few sentences. Keep your message short and specific. If your marketing communication is well written, can be copied easily and sent as an email or posted on a website, it's much more likely that it will be used and read. It may seem obvious, but be sure that you have included the name of the contact person, an email address and a phone number so people can call or email to get more information.

Keep it local, simple and relevant

Marketing a fundraiser successfully involves developing a consistent and easily understood message. With carefully chosen words and use of several media outlets, you can generate enthusiasm throughout the community, increase local participation and raise more money for your organization.

Tradition vs New and Unique

The ABCs of Successful School Fundraising

Creative Ways to Promote Your School Fundraiser