Selling Products: A Growing Trend Among Local Community Fundraisers

What usually comes to mind when you think of a local community fundraiser? A bake sale, walk-a-thon, benefit dinner, a show or party... There's no question that these are great ways to raise funds for a cause, but they can involve a considerable amount of planning, and are usually best suited for organizations with a lot of volunteers. Smaller charitable organizations and local community groups have typically resorted to the old tradition of soliciting donations. Some will go door to door, others set up in a local mall or circulate a collection box at work.

But many charitable fundraisers are discovering another way to raise funds for local charitable causes as well as for local chapters of large non profits. For many years, schools and sports teams have been raising funds through the sales of a wide variety of items. If this works for schools, teams or scouting groups; why shouldn't it work to raise funds for a local chapter of a non profit or a national charity? Donors respond more with their wallet when they know that the money is going to support a cause. Of course, just helping out is a reward in itself, but getting something in return can fuel even more generosity. After all, we are all consumers at heart. It's only natural that fundraisers will have an easier time reaching more of us by selling products.

I recently came across several interesting examples of this, showing that selling may be a growing trend among local community fundraisers.

K-6 Students Help Tsunami Victims

Following the Tsunami disaster, JustFundraising.com encouraged local community groups to raise money for Tsunami relief. The company donated their Victory scratch cards to groups of any size with the condition that 100% of funds raised would go to the cause. Scratch cards, a new way to raise funds, are pocket-sized booklets with scratch off dots. They are a simple and effective concept... An individual approaches friends, family, co-workers and neighbors with their scratch card in hand. Then they ask the donor to scratch two or more scratch dots to uncover dollar amounts underneath. The donor agrees donate the sum of the amounts, for example $2 + $3 = $5 a total donation. Some scratch cards come with coupons that are given to the donor as a ‘thank you’. The coupons provide good value with savings from popular merchants.

Mrs. Sandy Davey and her K-6 students of the Lewis Center for Educational Research in Apple Valley California, graciously participated in this opportunity and collected funds for the American Red Cross Tsunami Relief. “Our elementary students were moved to do a fundraiser for the unfortunate victims and survivors of December's devastating Tsunami in south Asia. Our elementary student council got the idea from JustFundraising.com and used scratch off cards during the month of February 1st through 25th.” Their K-6 student population of 196 raised a total of $1042.40 for the American Red Cross Tsunami Relief.

Fire Academy Sells Cookie Dough For Local Charities

Some schools and sports teams are turning to frozen cookie dough fundraising to raise funds for books and sports equipment. It’s not surprising that this is a popular product, since most people can’t resist the thought of delicious home baked cookies. Supporters will eagerly buy many tubs of cookie dough at an average price of $14 a tub. Typically, fundraisers keep between 40–50% profit to support their cause. The 133rd Fire Academy in Tustin CA raises funds every year and donates a portion to local charities. Recently, they chose to raise funds with cookie dough. "My Fire Academy did a cookie dough fundraiser, and we had a great time! We will give a portion of the $4,218 raised to two local charities”, said Jason Aiello, of the 133rd Santa Ana Basic Fire Academy.

Wrestling Club Helps Wrestler With Leukemia

Fundraising efforts can have an even more direct effect. With medical costs going through the roof, families are having a hard time making ends meet when it comes to serious illness care. This was the case for a wrestler from Beulah, North Dakota, who is fighting a battle with Leukemia. His wrestling colleagues, the Beulah Miner Wrestling Club, rallied to help ease some of the financial burden that comes with serious illness. They raised funds by selling scented candles. Cyndie Dschaak from the wrestling club said, "We did the candle fundraiser, and we raised $1007 in profit. The candles were great and they were easy to sell. We even came up with our own advertising slogan 'Light a candle for Chris.'"

So what can we make of all this? It's good news for all kinds of groups, because it demonstrates that there are more fundraising options than there have been in the past. Selling products for a cause is not a new idea, but aside from colored ribbons and wristbands, many charities have not taken advantage of the possibilities. Local community fundraisers are learning a lesson from their local school, sports team or scouting group... the power of Products For The Cause.

For more information on Scratchcards, see Skratchers.com

For more information on Cookie Dough, see Gourmet Cookie Dough Fundraiser

For more information on Candles, see JustFundraising.com Candles