Guidelines for a Successful Fundraiser for your Church Youth Group
You may have done it before. Lined up all your volunteers and youth group kids and set out ready for your best fundraiser ever. Then flop. Your fundraiser does little more than get your church youth group parents and a few grandparents to show up. What went wrong? Most likely it was a few common and easy to make mistakes that kept your fundraiser from being a huge success. With the following guidelines in mind your youth group will be able to fundraise, have fun and show community involvement.
Your essential guidelines for youth group fundraising success;
1- Advertise. It is not enough to stay with in your congregation or youth group families when you are publicizing a fundraiser. In order for your fundraiser to be a true success you will need to expand your horizons and look beyond your own back door. Often time’s local Christian radio stations will have free advertising space or may offer discounted advertising for your youth group fundraiser. You can also contact your local newspaper. With a little fines you may be able to negotiate a great price on advertising for your fundraiser. Finally do not forget the ever important flyers and posters. If your budget is low, set your youth group to making flyers and posters for your fundraiser. This will both save you money and show great participation by your youth group.
2- Gather Volunteers. Your volunteers are crucial to the success of your fundraiser. It is the rare youth group that can pull off a fundraiser with out any assistance. Start with the parents and grandparents of your youth group members, and ask them to help with your fundraiser. Then spread out to other members of your congregation. If you have clear cut goals for your fundraiser members are far more likely to participate. You will also want to have a designated and organized leader for your fundraiser. All your fundraising volunteers need to know who to go to for help and they need to feel that your fundraiser is on track and doing great.
3- Location, Location, Location. If you are having a simple cookie dough fundraiser then selling in your church’s fellowship hall will probably suffice. However if you are holding a community wide fundraiser where you are opening yourselves up to all the community to attend you will need to pick a well know location. Ideas for locations are large parks, highshcool or junior high football fields or community college concert halls. With proper planning you will be able to accommodate a large number of community members and pull off a successful fundraiser.
Follow these guidelines and your youth group will take fundraising from a lack luster event to your most amazing fun and profitable fundraiser ever.