Custom Resources Fundraising

TO:  CTSO Advisors Nationwide

FROM: Tara, Owner @ Custom Resources Fundraising, former DECA Advisor

RE: Selecting Good Fundraising Programs For Your Group

DATE: Now!

If your student organization's budget is like my DECA chapter's budget was, you can always use a little more money. My DECA chapter did approximately 2-3 large fundraisers each year, and at least one cash & carry quick seller, so when it came time for the trip to the national competition (ICDC), the mountain of financial need wasn't so overwhelming for those who qualified. One year we had been so successful I was able to give each of 11 students who qualified for nationals an extra $100 for personal spending money plus pay all other expenses! Travel to state and national competitions is getting more and more expensive so the ability to leverage all your members sales power is a wonderful thing? All my students collectively fundraised in the fall and again in the spring. Random pizza parties and other perks gave everyone a reason to be involved. 

For fundraising, success for me was about one thing ... getting my students motivated. I wanted fundraising to be like every other aspect of my program ... fun and rewarding! I kicked off each fundraiser with incentives and challenges that I came up with on my own. You're a teacher, so I know you, too, have this ability! My incentives weren't always grand, some were in the form of simple acknowledgement and praise! I always used goal charts for each class and with my competitive nature, I usually created some fun rivalries among the classes. The result meant I could continue planning things for my DECA chapter without having to always stop to fundraise for the moment. I planned ahead and my students knew what their opportunities for the year would be, and the option was theirs to be involved with the large fundraisers to build our chapter's financial cushion for the year!

Brochure and Pre-Sale Programs

I recommend that you find a sale from the pre-sale brochure programs that we have and make at least one of these your group's annual fall or spring sale, emphasis on "your group." When "your group" stakes a claim to a particular type of product sale your community, the teacher's in your district, your supporters, and even your administration know, "Hey, they sell _____ every fall." Your adminstration will know to protect your sale, and your supporters will look forward to supporting your sale, especially if its food or beverages (Little Caesar's Pizza Kits, gourmet desserts, or Boston's Best coffee) or something they use and like to buy annually (jewelry, flowers, candles.)

Browse the site for all our no-money-upfront brochure programs, request pdfs of the brochure's you're interested in, and when you're ready ...

Get started with a brochure sale: Fill out the online form and you are on your way to a profitable fundraiser!

Quick Sellers

I highly recommend our lollipops but we have several other options in our Quick Seller category of products. Lollipops typically sell for .50 with your group's profit being 50%, but you can combine these with a Candy Gram project or bundle them to boost the price and earn more. Most other products like the Jack Links beef jerky sell for a buck. These easy sellers are perfect as a cash-and-carry sale and for school stores, too. Most of our quick-seller items only have a 1-case minimum, and free shipping so they are perfect for groups who want to start out testing the demand for a new product or who cannot store large amounts of inventory at one time.

Custom Resources Fundraising will work with you to determine which fundraiser may be best for your group. Shop now or call Heather today at 660-885-5635 to create a plan for your year and the coming years with "your group's choice in fundraisers."