When planning out your fundraiser, you may feel overwhelmed. You’re in charge of many moving pieces and you want to make sure nothing gets neglected. Where should you start?

In our Boy Scout Wreath Fundraising Guide, we at Evergreen Industries break down the four phases of a fundraiser and what to expect with each. Be sure to download the guide [click here], but we’ll also lay out these four steps briefly below:

Phase 1: Plan

Beginning with a clear plan is the best way to start a fundraiser. When will it occur? How many people are involved? How much money are you hoping to raise? Who is your primary demographic, and how will you reach them?

Phase 2: Promote

You may have done all the planning you could, but now is the true test – how will you get people to know about it? Better yet, how do you get them excited to take part?

Think about aspects like: What’s unique about the area you live in? Are there upcoming events you could have a table at? Is there a neighborhood hangout where the owners would help you fundraise? Thinking about those details can sometimes help ideas spring right up.

Phase 3: Train

Although your troop may have many wonderful and trustworthy members, it’s always a good idea to discuss expectations for how they should fundraise. Besides advising them on proper behavior and general wording they could use, consider writing up a guide for them to follow on best practices for phone calls, emailing and door-to-door fundraising.

Phase 4: Conclude

You’ve done the majority of the work! Now how do you finish strong? You’ll need to send out reminders to your Scouts on how pick up works, encourage your scouts to thank their donors, assess your finances, and debrief and ask questions.

Find out more about each of these points by downloading the guide here!

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED: APR 26, 2022