Location, Location, Location!
There are few things that are more important than location. It not only
applies to real estate, but to fundraising too. Here are some tips to
expand your horizons when trying to maximize your fundraising efforts.
Traditionally, fundraising efforts are concentrated on:
-Friends
-Neighbors
-Relatives
-Co-workers
Besides the usual suspects, there is a whole lot of money in other places
right under your nose.
You have to go where the money is!
Top "Banking" Targets
The big money in fundraising is being located where people are shopping.
They are out and about with cash or checkbooks in hand.
There's no better time than that for offering a quality fundraising product
at these locations:
-Drugstores
-Home Improvement Stores
-Grocery Stores
-Shopping Malls
Drugstores - Nice entry-level sales spot. Generally have good
sidewalk space available.
Home Improvement Stores - Big weekend traffic spots. Lots of
do it yourselfers diving in to their next project.
Grocery Stores - Prime hunting grounds for product fundraisers.
A small, high-quality food item does real well here.
Shopping Malls - Hard to get approval for outside space, but a
location near the food court is golden.
And don't forget the 800-pound gorilla:
Wal-Mart - The Holy Grail of fundraising locations.
A day spent fundraising in front of this high-traffic retailer is like being in
fundraising heaven. You'll have more potential prospects than you can
shake a stick at.
Because of the sheer volume of Wal-Mart shoppers, you'll
need
oversize signage to get your fundraising message across quickly before
your prospects hurry on in.
Casing the Joint Ahead of Time
You want the best location for your weekend fundraising table. Scope
out the lay of the land. Check which entrance gets the most foot traffic.
Find out who is in charge at this location. Often it's the store manager,
but occasionally it might require approval from the regional manager or
shopping center management.
Don't expect them to drop everything to speak with you. If necessary, set
up an appointment to seek permission.
Be prepared with a two-minute overview of:
Who - Tell them who you (and your group) are.
What - Describe what your fundraiser involves.
When - Have a primary date and an alternate one picked out.
Where - Identify the exact spot you'd like to use.
Why - Give the specific reason you are raising funds.
How - Summarize your proposed activities at their location.
It's a good idea to have everything written up in a well-prepared letter.
Stick to the basics as described above.
If you have group letterhead, use it!
Make sure that everything will go smoothly. Ask for the name of the
contact person for your chosen date.
Get permission, preferably in writing, just in case the weekend manager
didn't get the memo.
Setting Up for the Big Job
After you've cased the joint, you want to be prepared to pull off your
fundraising "bank job."
Location - There is often a separate set of entrance doors. You
want to stake your claim right there. There should also be plenty of room
for people to get by.
Signage - Look for good places to hang your signs and posters.
They should be bright & bold with wording visible from thirty feet away.
Highlight major benefits of the product and be sure to identify your
purpose!
Table Space - You want a large folding table, preferably 36x72.
Place folding chairs on the side away from the door. Use a full-sized
tablecloth to improve presentation.
Staffing - Schedule your fundraising teams with overlapping
adult/child pairs. You want two adults and two children covering each
90-minute shift. Stagger the start/departure times by 30 minutes to
avoid resource shortages.
Pulling It Off
To really break the bank, you have to have everything well planned.
Timing and presentation are everything.
You only have 30 seconds to capture your prospects attention and
convince them to stop. Your fundraising should be well thought out in
these areas:
Product - Make sure to choose a high-profit, cash & carry
fundraiser. Fast food discount cards are excellent. So are quality food
items such as cookies and gourmet treats like fudge. Sales items should
be small, highly portable, and attention getting in their own right.
Samples - Product samples should be well-displayed and readily
offered to each prospective client. In the case of food items, plates or
trays of small nibble-sized morsels should be offered by the children
involved.
Presentation - Sell the sizzle, not the steak! Accentuate product
benefits, not features. Would you rather have a juicy, mouth-watering,
flame-broiled Whopper or a hamburger?
Sales Patter - Talk a good game! Work from a loose script. Write
down your best talking points as itemized bullets. Keep it short and
simple. Tell them about your cause and be sure to ask for their help!
Location Wrap
As you've seen, a great location delivers hundreds of potential customers
right to you. All you have to do is stake your claim to the prime turf
and go for it.
Don't wait for your next fundraiser to suddenly grow wings.
Plan ahead and pull off your own "bank job" instead.
Maximize your fundraising success with location, location, location!
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