Guide to Fundraising

 

Decorated Wreath

Garland

Undecorated Wreath

How to make the most of your fundraising efforts.

• Plant your fundraising activity well in advance. The more time the better. Spring is not too early to start thinking about an evergreen sale for the following holiday season, especially if you’re new to the program.

• Select a leader. A group member with solid motivational and organizational skills is the best candidate to set up and run a successful sales drive.

• For big profits, secure a business buying partner. Businesses look for holiday gifts that are unique, reasonably priced and easily purchased in multiple numbers. This makes them an ideal partner for your fundraising efforts.

• Organize your sales drive as early as possible. Prepare “New customer” and “Repeat customer” phone lists now. Allow group members the time they need to take advance orders.

• Sell a balanced mix of products. There is more profit potential in selling a variety of evergreen items because customers may be inspired to purchase more than one. We suggest two sizes of wreathes and one size of garland.

• The telephone can be a great sales tool. Generating sales by phone is a good way to save time and legwork. It you’re new to the program, focus your phone efforts on friends, relative, business colleagues and neighbors. Save all sales generated by phone for future reference.

• Divide up your sales area. Give each group member a geographic area to cover to avoid overlap. Every home is a potential customer. Have your members report all the sales call they make so that missed homes can be re-contacted.
  
  Advertise your event.
  
  Chances are, people in the community are more than willing to help your organization succeed. They key is awareness. Bulletin boards, newsletters, mailing lists and announcements at gatherings are all terrific to spread the word and generate interest as well as advanced orders.
  
  Develop creative ways to motivate your people.
  
  Putting the “fun” in fundraising is one of your biggest challenges, especially if you’re working with kids. Spend some time brainstorming affordable, easy to implement rewards for top sales people. You’ll be glad you did!
  
  Organize and retain fundraising information.
  
  Creating a customer spreadsheet will help tremendously with your ongoing fundraising needs. Keep in mind that past customers are usually repeat customers. Maintaining a current spreadsheet is an easy and effective way to reach them.

  ---

  Here’s a sample letter used by a church:
  
  Dear Members,
  
  The holidays are fast approaching and we wanted to let you know that to raise money for our Families in Need fund drive, we will be selling fresh evergreen wreaths and garland.
  
  Choose from freshly decorated wreaths and garland. All are reasonably priced and will benefit this worthy cause. Place your order now and the evergreens will arrive fresh and fragrant in time for the season’s festivities.
  
  Thank you for your support!
  
  Please contact ________________________ to place your orders today. And remember, holiday greens make great gifts for business associates and friends.

  
  Back to Top

  ---

  Nick’s Landscaping has helped groups just like yours raise much needed funds.
  
  We at Nick’s have been working with non-profit groups for over 30 years. Along the way, we’ve learned a few things that might help you fundraising efforts. In a typical year, we manufacture over 25,000 wreaths and garlands.
  
  One of the keys to fundraising is maximizing your efforts. Many groups elect to do two or three smaller fundraising events every year, while others choose to organize their time and energy around a single program that will yield higher earning. Nick’s evergreen program is jut that. It’s an effective, no-risk, high profitable way for your group to raise money.
  
  HAVE A SUCCESSUL, PROFITABLE SALES DRIVE!
   

Back to Top