Cheerleading Fundraising That Actually Works

Cheerleading is perhaps the most expensive group on any high school or middle school campus. With camp, camp outfits, uniforms and regular cheerleading supplies it is already up into the $500 - $800 range. Add to that gymnastics training and trips to competition for the elite squads and you are looking at $1,200 - $2,000 very quickly. Choosing the right fundraiser for a group with that kind of need is a very important one to say the least.

Many of the cheer squads I work with actually use the fundraiser for another purpose. Because when we work with them it is usually the first thing the team does together after tryouts, the cheer coach can actually turn the fundraiser into a team building event. Kind of like a "Ropes Course" only not as scary!

Listed below are ideas to help you get started with your fundraising that accomplishes two goals. One is raising lots of money for the girls, the other helping them to work together for the first time as a team.

1. Do the fundraiser as soon after tryouts as possible. I hear (jokingly) that it is the only time of the year that they actually listen to the sponsor! More importantly, it is the exact time of the year when they have the most expenses in front of them and they are still "jazzed" about making the squad. That means their excitement level is still a the peak. With the high cost of cheerleading, even their parents are motivated to help in the fundraising efforts.

2. Do pick a product that has a fairly high retail value. You don't want to take a bunch of very motivated students and their parents and give them a product that they have to sell a million gazillion to make a few bucks with. In fundraising language that's like taking a Porsche and putting a lawnmower engine in it. Cookie dough is what we have found to be best. Your opinion may differ, but that's the facts.

3. Do not tell the cheerleaders how much to sell. Don't tell them what their goal is going to be. You'll probably always give them a goal that is far short of what they would set for themselves. What we do, is tell them how much they make on each item sold and equate that to what uniform parts and camp cost will be and simply ask them how much of that do they want to raise? You'll be amazed at the number of them that want to go for a major portion of it on their fundraiser and more often than not actually hit their goal.

So what ever idea that you choose, make it sure it helps you get closer to your goal and at the same time is accomplishes the main purpose of the fundraiser... That is, it makes lots of money!

School Fundraising Warning! Why Traditional Fundraisers Aren't Working

If you are in charge of raising money for your school then you need to read this article. Traditional fundraisers like gift wrapping paper and cookie dough sales have seen a dramatic decrease recently due to the economic recession. If your school depends on these types of fundraisers to raise money, then you are probably all too familiar with the decrease in sales. Couple that with reduced funding from state and local governments, and your school could be in for some serious cutbacks.

So your school has two options: accept the cutbacks as status quo and deal with them, or you can become innovative and find a way to raise the money you need. I don't know about you, but I'm not up for the former and will show you how to focus on the latter. Unfortunately, most schools don't think outside the box enough when it comes to fundraising and will often have a hard time transitioning to something new.

So what's the problem...

One thing you need to realize is that the problem is not with your sellers or parent involvement, instead the problem is the same as any other product that is for sale... the customer's need. In the past, your school could get away with, "We're raising money for _______," and they would buy what you had to sell. Now, you have to go after their need, "We're selling this __________ that will benefit you by (saving you money, saving you time, etc.) and the proceeds will go to help us raise money for ______."

Do you see the difference? By providing something that will benefit them, you are helping them meet a need or a want, which takes the focus off them parting with their money for something they don't know if they want.

So what's working...

At this point, all that is left is to make sure you are providing something of value...something that's a "no-brainer." As someone who has been involved in fundraising for years, I can tell you that I've never seen more interest in Discount Card Fundraisers than ever before. At the end of the day, the benefits FAR outweigh the cost to the buyer that they have no problem forking over $10 or $20 bucks because they know they'll save 5 times that with the savings.