The Keys to Successful Non-Profit Fundraisers

Fundraising ideas with proven results
You need to raise money for your small group, cause or charity. With time constraints and budget needs always a priority, it’s important to focus on fundraising ideas that produce proven results and won’t bankrupt your time or meager resources. Whether the money you raise is to promote awareness of breast cancer, support research, or finance your non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, the right approach is key to your success.
The best nonprofit fundraising ideas are the simplest ones
Perhaps you have some creative ideas of your own to raise money, but if you have never run a fundraiser or your fundraising campaigns have gotten stale, it’s time to take a fresh look at your approach. Here are some quick ideas and things to consider before you embark on your fundraising:

1. Product vs. Event Fundraisers. One of the main differences in fundraisers is whether you sell a product or put on an event. Often an event can achieve great interest and good results in the first year, despite the time and up-front cost to put it on. But fatigue—for both volunteers and supporters—can set easily set in after the initial excitement. Product fundraisers usually have the advantage of a selling system already in place with little or no upfront commitment.
2. The Unhealthy Food Debate. There was a time when nearly everyone was eager to chip into a cause by buying candy bars, cookies and other non-nutritious “food” items. With the emphasis now on health and fitness, unhealthy food is increasingly becoming a tough sell. So maybe it’s time to just say “no” to that tub of cookie dough or calorie-laden candy and other unhealthy fare that’s sold for fundraisers. For the sake of your supporters and the success of your fundraising.
3. On-Line vs. Catalog Sales. Forget the debate, you’ll have more success with a combination of catalog and on-line sales. Catalogs are a great tool for selling in person, while on-line sales broaden the reach of your fundraiser immensely. Successful fundraisers make use of both these important tools.
4. Set a Fundraising Goal. It may seem like an obvious piece of advice, but setting goals for how much money you want to raise and what that money will fund will dramatically increase your success. Are you raising money for a specific project like a playground or to finance a team’s trip to a special tournament?  Let your supporters know the details. And your whole team should be aware of how much money you’re trying to raise. Everyone performs better with a specific goal in mind.
5. Sell the right product at the right price. People are tired of supporting fundraisers that offer products that are over-priced and that they can purchase at a local retail outlet for much less. When you offer high-quality, value priced, branded products that are backed by a name that is trusted, your supporters will be more eager to buy.
6. Enjoy big profits. Just looking at percentage of profits is a narrow-minded approach. You might receive 90% profit on a $1 item, but have to sell dozens and dozens to creep toward your goal. Or, by earning $10 on the sale of one Yankee Candle, you’d only have to sell 10 to reach $100 profit.
7. Let the website do the heavy lifting. One of the easiest ways to raise money is through a website your supporters can order from no matter where they live. If you are raising money using Yankee Candle Fundraising, you are in luck—the work of preparing a website is already done. Yankee Candle Fundraising’s website is in place, ready for supporters to shop for your cause. They can order directly and easily from there and the profits go straight to you.