Steps To Launching Your Project

01) Set A Goal
02) Selecting A Project
03) What Are Your Resources?
04) Planning Your Fundraiser
05) Holding a Pre-Fundraiser Kickoff Meeting
06) Managing Your Project



1. SET A GOAL

1.1 This is the time when you decide the most crucial information for your project.  Depending on your intentions, you may do this by yourself or with a committee.  You will need to determine answers for three very important questions: How much money do I want to make? When am I going to start and end this project? How can I make a lasting impression? These questions will continue to come up through the course of your planning and having the right answers will help make the planning a breeze.

2. SELECTING YOUR PROJECT

2.1 Think back to the last question in Step 1, "How can I make a lasting impression with my project?" What you are offering is undoubtedly the most important part of your project. United We Stand for America provides you (or your group) with a long lasting impression that can be enjoyed by everyone who participates. Our apparel will remind people about your group's last fundraiser each time they proudly wear their shirt.

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3. WHAT ARE YOUR RESOURCES?:

3.1 How are you going to get the word out? Do you have enough members in your group to reach the goal and, if not, can you solicit more volunteers? Promoting your endeavors is often the most overlooked aspect and can be the most devastating. Consider the best ways to get the word out. There are many ways to do this, including getting it placed in organizational newsletters, websites, and placing posters and flyers around your meeting areas.  It is best to start promoting what you are doing at least 2 weeks before your launch date. Remember to ask permission from the appropriate people prior to advertising.  Besides being appropriate and responsible, this will ensure that you receive the best acceptance possible from the people who frequently are the ones that can make your endeavor the most successful.

4. PLANNING

4.1 It's now time to recall your answer to the question in Step 1 regarding your organization's financial need. You will use this information to set and monitor individual and group goals. To determine the number of items your group needs to sell to reach its goal, simply divide the goal amount by the profit per item your organization has chosen. For example, if your group goal is to raise $1000 to offset costs for mission expenses and the profit margin chosen is $10 per item, your group needs to sell a total of 100 shirts. Assuming your organization has 20 members and they each accept an equal portion of the goal, each member needs to sell just 5 items to reach the $1000 in profits. For a group similar in size and with similar goals as to our example, we suggest that you run the fundraiser for 2 to 3 weeks. This allows ample opportunity for the members of your community to visit your fundraising area, but it is also short enough to keep the enthusiasm of your group high and their minds' set on the goal.

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5. HOLDING A PRE-FUNDRAISER KICKOFF MEETING
5.1 Depending on the size and nature of your organization, we recommend Depending on the size and nature of your organization, we recommend holding a Kick-Off celebration with your group before the fundraiser begins. Things to cover in this meeting are the goals, times and dates the fundraiser will run. Discuss in-depth the goal of the fundraiser. Provide the necessary information that your members will inevitably be asked by your customers: What are you raising money for? How long will it be before they receive their items? These questions need to be answered in the same manner by all members of your group.

For this reason, it is best to have a short, clear response. Our suggestion is: "Hello my name is ___________. America is suffering a devastating crisis in employment. In order to make a difference, I am doing my part to help put America back to work!"  You should have at least one catalog and order form, and of course, the sample shirts if you chose to order them. The Kick-Off meeting is a perfect time to pass around the shirts, catalogs and explain the correct way to fill out an order form. This allows your group to touch and see the quality and design of the product they will be offering.

Start with family and friends and then move to neighbors, coworkers, classmates and others who they feel would be interested in supporting your cause. Remember this is your sales force and having them start with family and friends will make them more comfortable when it comes to discussing the fundraiser with members of your church and community who they might not be as familiar with.

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6. MANAGING YOUR PROJECT
6.1 Once you have put the ball into motion, it is important for you to properly manage your project. This includes not only financial management, but also keeping your group motivated throughout the event. If you maintain constant encouragement, communication and feedback with your group about the results, you will be keeping the enthusiasm level high and their eye on the goal.

Ask questions of your group constantly to see what techniques are working best in specific situations. Communicate those lessons to the rest of the group so that they can try them too. Some ideas for these meetings include a pizza party, pot-luck meal or other theme event. While you might need to spend a little money to have these meetings, the enthusiasm of keeping your group motivated will outweigh the cost of the meeting by increasing fundraising sales. Typically, the sales efforts of just one group member are more than sufficient to fund the kick-off meeting, wrap-up meeting, and sidebar meetings.

Finally, Incentives, Incentives, Incentives! Anybody who has run a successful fundraiser will tell you that incentives play a big part in the outcome. Try things such as raffle drawings for a new bible or gift card to a restaurant. Let everyone know at the kick-off meeting that each shirt they sell will earn them one ticket for the drawing.

 

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