How to Organize a School Fundraiser

Are you in charge of raising money for your elementary, middle, or high school? Stumped about how to begin? Follow these steps to organize a school fundraiser.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Decide on the kind of fundraiser you want to hold. Some possibilities are:
   
   Selling something
   Offering a service
   Holding an event

2. Once you've decided on the type of fundraiser, get more specific:
   
   Sales: selling cookie dough
   Service: holding a car wash
   Event: holding a walk-a-thon

3. Once you've gotten specific, create a step-by-step overview of the process. For example, if you've chosen selling cookie dough you need to:
   
   1. Choose a cookie dough fundraising company to work with.
   2. Get the supplies (order forms, etc.) from the company.
   3. Educate your sales force (the kids and their families).
   4. Take orders for the cookie dough.
   5. Collect the orders and submit them to the company.
   6. Distribute the cookie dough when it arrives.
   7. Collect the money for the cookie dough and pay the company.

4. Enlist help. Get a volunteer to oversee each item listed in Step 3. Hold an organizational meeting and then release each volunteer to organize his or her part of the fundraiser.

5. Keep tabs on the overall process, checking in with each volunteer to see that his or her part is running smoothly. As the overall organizer, be prepared to deal with issues as they come up.

6. When the fundraiser is complete, evaluate the level of success you had. Did it meet expectations?

7. Document all your information about the fundraiser for the next organizer who is put in charge.