Preschool Fundraiser: What Are the Details?

[tabailey]

So I have finally booked a fundraiser for my daughter's preschool. They're looking for late February /early March. I'll probably use the new spring catalog to get as much interest as possible.

A few questions:
1) Where to be shipped? Probably the preschool (our church also)??

2) Who should people make checks out to? I DO NOT want to deal with bouncing checks from people I do not know. For the Sally Foster fundraiser this past fall we made checks payable to the preschool PTO. Should I do the same? Or other suggestions?

3) How many catalogs and order forms should each child receive? I'm thinking one catalog (there are 180 students) and five or six outside order forms.

4) How should the fundraiser be set up online? By each student's class? Or just by the general preschool name? How would an online order be attached to a certain student?

5) Suggestions on small prizes-- the preschool director does not like using prizes for fundraisers but I would like to give each child something who collects above a certain amount, and not do first place, second place, etc. If this fundraiser is successful, 1) it gives me a lot of DISNEY points and 2) it could lead to a lot of new business and hopefully repeat fundraisers with them in the future.

Thanks so much!
Tara
Going to Disney, Level 3 in '10

 

[scottcooks]

Suggestions...
1 - ship to whomever will sort the product. If you have space, it could be 12-16 boxes. Otherwise, be a friend to Preschool and be there the day boxes arrive to start sorting. Get some help - it takes a while!2 - to you. Part of being a consultant is caring for your customers enough to assist them in proper payment. The preschool PTO isn't doing the fundraiser, are they? If so, then you could do that. As customers write a check to you, though - they associate you with the product they'll be receiving... just a thought.3 - send mini catalogs with a sticker "Full Catalog Available At School or From Tara at 555-5555" home with each kid, and have stacks of regular catalogs stuffed with 5 order forms each available on PC recipe day (you bring in a recipe at the END of preschool for parents & toddlers to sample - something like tuxedo brownies or veggie racecars (carrot is car, olives are wheels, etc...)4 - setup the fundraiser online under First name: XYZ Last name: Preschool. Make up an order form ahead with that info on it.5 - small prizes could be things from a dollar store (that don't compete with PC products) or how about popcorn or helium balloons? Not lots of coin for big toddler rewards.I'd really suggest a culminating show to collect all orders and have a "final deadline". Also, you need someone on site who will be a PC liason. It could be you - as long as you don't foist yourself on staff or parents - just make yourself Very Visible (PC Apron on with catalogs & smile in the main hallway, holding door for other parents, etc.)Good luck; let us know how it goes!

 

[Bluiydangl]

good suggestions- I like the apron door holding mom image in the school