How to Plan a Fund-Raiser to Buy Marching Band Uniforms

Planning a fund-raiser to help the marching band buy uniforms can be a fun event. With plenty of group participation, it is an easy way to earn funds for all the band's needs. By looking through what kind of fund-raisers are available and talking to those who've been in charge of these events in the past, you can quickly find a program that works for you.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Request brochures from various fund-raising companies to help you decide what kind of fund-raising event the marching band should participate in. You can look online for advice and tips on what works and possibly find companies with products specifically geared toward marching band fund-raisers.

2. Talk to people who've organized fund-raisers in the past to see what worked well for them or what events to avoid because of poor results. If a certain fund-raising company's products have always sold well in the past, then consider using this method and save some time brainstorming on what "might" work.

3. Schedule a planning session to include all the marching band members and parents, students and other school personnel who will be helping with the fund-raiser. Give them all the details about what they will be selling, when to begin and end selling, how to collect for items and when the items will be available for delivery.

4. Promote the fund-raiser throughout the school and community. Ask local businesses to place posters announcing the fund-raiser in the windows, and be sure there's contact information on these posters. Put photos of the band in previous uniforms on the poster so people will understand how the money from the fund-raiser will be used.

5. Start the marching band's fund-raiser on the appropriate day, making sure everyone has the proper forms, collection envelopes, brochures or products they need to start selling the first day. Get everyone excited about the fund-raiser by holding a kickoff rally and inviting the town to attend. Basically, do whatever it takes to make sure as many people as possible know that the fund-raiser to buy marching band uniforms is going on.

6. Monitor the success of the fund-raiser daily. If the program isn't going well, see if there is anything you can do to promote the event better and continuously encourage the band members to try harder and not give up. A band is not the same without their uniforms, so don't hesitate to remind the public that the money is going for good cause.

7. Collect forms and payments for items ordered on the final day of the fund-raiser. Tally your numbers and let the marching band members know if they earned enough to buy their uniforms. If they did, congratulate them on their success, and if they didn't, let them know they did their best and have alternative methods lined up to earn the difference. This may mean holding another, different type of fund-raising event.

8. Place and pay for the band's order and have people lined up on the day of delivery to hand out products to the band for them to deliver. Be sure band members thank each customer politely for their order to strengthen support for the marching band.

Tips & Warnings

• Parents especially like buying products geared specifically toward the school. When thinking about a fund-raising event, consider items with the school logo on them to have a more successful event.
• Ask parents to take a brochure to work with them to help promote your fundraiser.
• Make sure students know how to figure taxes on their individual orders, if taxes need to be collected. Check with your state's tax commission to find out about tax obligations, or the fund-raising company may be able to answer these questions for you.
• If you're selling door-to-door, always use the buddy system. This will help ensure the safety of all marching band members.

Who Can Help:

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Resources

• School Fundraisers
• All Fundraising Companies Directory
• Marching.com Fundraising Ideas
• Fundraising Zone