A Quick Guide to Planning and Promoting

Your Fundraiser

GuideFundraisingSuccessful Fundraisers

There 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 you 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.• Stafftheconcessionsstandatyourschooloraminorleaguesportseventfortips.• Baggroceriesatalocalsupermarketandcollecttips.

If you would like to build community awareness and support:• Writeletterstolocalbusinessesrequestingdonations.• HoldaFlamingoFlocking–peopledonatemoneytohaveapinkflamingostuckinafriendorfoe’syard.• Hostacommunityyardsaleintheschool’sparkinglotandrentparkingspotstoeachfamilywhowantstoparticipate.

If you want to give students the independence to fundraise on their own:• SendGiftofEducationE-CardsandLetterstofriendsandfamilymembers.PostalinktoyourFacebookpageforfriendsandfamilyto

makecontributionsdirectlytoyourtrip.Nearly2,000studentshaveraisedalmosthalfamilliondollarssinceNovember2010. Visitwww.worldstridesfundraising.comtogetstarted.• Sellgiftcardstopopularretailstoresforapercentageoftheprofitthroughwww.glscrip.com.• Askstudentstodochoresforfamilymembersandneighborsinexchangeforfinancialcontributions.

If you want a fundraiser that creates camaraderie among students:• Holdacarwash.• Celebrateagood-naturedTeacherTortureday.Teachersvolunteerwhatstuntstheywillparticipatein(suchasdressingoutrageouslyor

coloring their hair) to raise 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.Sponsoraneventforstudents

toentertainatacoffeehouseandservewarmdrinks.Organizeatalentshowandallowstudentstocompetewitheachotherforprizes.• Hostadinnerandsilentauction.Askparentsandlocalbusinessesforgifts-in-kindtodonatetotheauction.Raiseproceedsthroughthe

auction and dinner.• Applyforgrantsthroughlocal,regional,ornationalorganizations.Visitwww.worldstridesfundraising.comtolearnmore.

Learn More on Our Fundraising Center!WorldStrideshasenhancedourfundraisingwebsitetoprovideevenmoreresourcestohelpyouplanandimplementyourfundraiser!Visitwww.worldstridesfundraising.comtofindallofthisinformation and more!• Questionstoaskathird-partyfundraisingcompany• Informationonwheretoapplyforgrants• Fundraisersthathaveprovenmostsuccessful• GiftofEducationE-CardsandLetters• GiftofEducationFacebookSharingLink

© WorldStrides 02/12 PO# 333753

Be sure to visit www.worldstridesfundraising.com

WorldStridesishappytointroduceourGiftofEducationFacebookSharingLink.Wehavenow

made fundraising even easier with the opportunity topostalinkdirectlytoyourFacebookpage!Visitwww.worldstridesfundraising.com to get started.

Selecting a FundraiserNotonlydoesfundraisinghelpyourstudentspayfortheirtravelexperience,butitisagreatwaytogetparentsinvolved,buildsupportinthecommunity,andimprovestudents’leadershipskills.Givingstudentsanopportunitytoworktogethertowardsacommongoalwillhelpthemdeveloprelationshipswitheachotherpriorto travel and create a greater sense of satisfaction and ownershipoftheirtravelexperiences!

Akeypartofimplementingasuccessfulfundraiseristodevelopaplan.Nomatterwhichfundraiseryouchoose, it will go more smoothly if you set concrete goals and consider all important factors:

What are your financial goals?Considerhowmuchmoneyyourgroupneedstoraisebeforeselectingafundraiser.Yourfinancialgoalswilldetermine what type of fundraiser is most appropriate for your group.

How much time do you want to devote to fundraising?InourWorldStridessurvey,mostProgramLeadersindicatedthattheideallengthoftimetoholdafundraiserisbetweenoneandtwoweeks.Shorterfundraiserscanfacetroublegainingmomentum,andstudentsandparentsmay lose enthusiasm for fundraisers that drag on too long.

When is the best time for your group to schedule a fundraiser?Itisimportanttoconsiderwhenotherschoolandcommunityorganizationsholdtheirfundraisers.IfthestudentgovernmentsellscandyinMarch,don’ttrytodothesameinFebruary.Lookforweekswhereotherfundraisersaren’toccurringandtrytodosomethingoriginal.

Would you like parental involvement with your fundraiser?Parentscanbeatremendouslyvaluableresourcetoanyfundraisingeffort.ManyofourProgramLeadersreportaskingparentsforhelpandassigningvolunteersdifferentfundraisingresponsibilities.Mostparentsarehappytohelpiftheyknowthereisaneed.Considerrequestingassistanceearlyonbyintroducingyourfundraiseratthefirstparentmeeting.

Do students prefer to fundraise individually or as a group? Individualfundraisingeffortsincludesellingproductsorsolicitingmonetarydonationsfromfamilymembers,friends,orlocalbusinesses.Thesetypesofeffortscanmakeiteasiertoallocatefundstoeachstudent’saccount,becauseyouhavefirmnumbersonhowmucheachstudentraised.Groupefforts,suchastalent shows, raffles, silent auctions, and car washes, can build camaraderie among the group and increase communitysupport.Bothoptionsgivestudentstheopportunitytomakeastrongcontributiontowardstheir program.

Do you want to organize the fundraiser yourself or use a third-party fundraising company?Independentlyrunfundraisersareoftenmoreoriginal,andstudentshaveagreaterroleinplanningandpromotion.However,theyareusuallymoreworkfortheorganizerandoftenrequiretheassistanceofacommitteeofparents.Usingathird-partycompanycanminimizeyourtimecommitmentbyallowingyouapersonalrepresentativewhohandlescollectingmoneyanddistributingorders.Athird-partycompanycanalsomotivatestudentsbyofferingpointsandrewards.However,thecustomerserviceexperiencecanvarywidelyamongcompanies,andmostkeepasignificantportionofsales.Ifyoudecidetouseathird-partycompany,reviewthehelpfulchecklistonwww.worldstridesfundraising.com.

How Do I Get Started?1. Select a fundraiser. Before you begin fundraising,

itisimportanttoconsiderseveralfactors:Howmuchdoyouwanttofundraise?Howlongdoyouwantyourfundraisertolast?Whenisagoodtimetoholdyourfundraiser?Refertothefacingpagetolearnmoreabout these and other guidelines.

2. Hold a kickoff meeting. This is your opportunity to communicate your fundraising goals withstudents.Ifyouhaveambitiousfundraisinggoals,considerbreakingthemintosmaller,moremanageablegoals.Considerofferingarewardsystemtogivestudentsevenmoremotivation.

3. Request help from parents.Mostpeoplearehappytovolunteeriftheyareasked.Delegatetaskstocommitteesandassigndeadlinesfortasks.Sendaletterhometoparentsinformingthemofyourupcomingfundraiserandrequestingtheirhelporinvitingthemtoyourfundraisingkickoffmeeting.

4. Promote your fundraiser. Your fundraiser will be more successful if you get the word out!Checkoutthegreenboxbelowforcreativewaystopromoteyourfundraiser.

5. Supervise.Ensurestudentsareconductingthefundraiserinasafemanner(nosellingdoor-to-door).Monitorcommitteestochecktheyarecompletingtheirtasksontime.

6. Provide frequent status updates. Keep parents and students updated on your group’sprogress.Postavisualinyourclassroomoronyourwebsitethattrackshowmuchhasbeenearnedversushowmuchisstillneeded.Everyonewillremainenthusiasticwhentheycantracktheirprogress!

Promoting Your Fundraiser• Postsigns,flyers,andpostersatschoolandaroundthelocalcommunity.Checkwithlocal

restaurants, businesses, libraries, and universities to see if they accept public postings.

• Writeapressreleaseorstorypitchandsendittolocalnewspapersandtelevisionandradiostationsto post in their community announcements.

• Goclass-to-classtopresentyourfundraiserinperson.

• Checkwithyourschool’snewspaperore-newslettertoseeiffundraiserupdatescanbeincludedinparentcommunications,orpostthemonyourschool’swebsite.

• Setupatableatschoolsportingeventstopresentinformationorsellitems.

• Sendaletterhomeoremailparentslettingthemknowaboutupcomingfundraisersandrequestingtheir support.

• CommunicatefundraisingupdatesthroughyourMyTrippageoryourgroup’sFacebookpage.

Lookingforcreativefundraisingideas?Foracomprehensivelistof

successful fundraisers ourProgram Leaders have held, visit

www.worldstridesfundraising.com!

WehavesurveyedhundredsofProgram Leaders with years of experienceleadingWorldStridesDiscoverNow!programs.Allofthe

suggestions in this guide are based on theirfeedbackaboutwhat’sworkedwellforthemovertheyears.Review

this guide and browse www.worldstridesfundraising.com

for ideas on how you can also successfully fundraise for your

educational travel program!