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The Journey
A newsletter for chapter advisors, chapter officers, and
regional officers.
February/
March 2003
Issue
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The
Bottom Line on Fundraising
By
Shannon Mathis, International Vice President, Division I
Facing Budget Cuts?
Trying to Raise Money for Convention?
Whether your chapter
has one major fundraiser or many throughout the year, careful planning
is the key to success. In planning your chapter’s fundraisers, there are
five questions you should ask.
- How much money do we need to raise?
- What has been successful in the past?
- How soon do we need the money?
- Does the price of our fundraising product or service match the income
level of the consumer?
- Does the fundraiser adhere to college and community
guidelines?
After answering those
five questions, follow these basic guidelines:
- Target the Consumer: Whom are you looking to serve? Meeting
the unique needs of a specific community, rather than having the same
year-after-year fundraiser, keeps your “audience” interested. Sample
target audiences include college students, faculty/staff, children,
senior citizens and the community at-large.
- Timing is everything: Give yourselves time to plan and be
sure to set deadlines to keep your project on track. Also, make sure
your fundraiser doesn’t conflict with other major fundraisers on your
campus or in the community.
- Creativity Pays Off! Volunteers, as well as consumers, get
tired of the same fundraisers. Consider these questions to make it interesting:
What will the chapter members enjoy selling? Does the college or community
have any special needs in which our chapter may assist? What unique
talents do our members possess?
- Establish Committees: This approach will lessen the burden
of your members. Examples include the following:
Advertising:
This group is responsible for creating, posting, and removing advertisements
for the event. A list of donors/sponsors should be included in your
advertising.
Set-Up: This team arrives early to ensure
everything is in place.
Event Volunteers: If possible, schedule members in shifts
so that more people can participate without having to give up their
whole day.
Clean-Up: Assign members who are not already overworked.
Follow-Up: It’s very important that your chapter follow-up
with written thank-you notes to all those who helped make your fundraiser
a success. Take pictures at the event, especially of any banners
or posters that list your sponsors. Send a “thank you” letter to
those donors along with the pictures.
- Get help! Chapter officers throughout the Society share ideas
on fundraising - and other hot topics - at the Chapter Officer Conference
Center. If you haven’t registered yet, sign up now at forums.ptk.org/~chapoff.
You’ll also find fundraising ideas at the following websites: www.ptk.org/chapters/resources/fund.htm
www.justfundraising.com,
www.fundraisers.com
- Have FUN! This factor seems to be overlooked by many chapters
while they are planning money-making projects. When other students and
Phi Theta Kappa members see you having fun, they become curious and
want to become a part of your fun. Keep an optimistic attitude and always
remember to SMILE during the process.
You are now prepared
to See The Green!
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