How to Run a Successful Fundraiser

As school gets back into session, we enter one of the biggest seasons of the year – fundraising season. We will be participating in fundraisers for Josh’s school, Scouts, sports and band. Most parents cringe when they hear that word, but I’m thrilled to be partnering with our sponsor Butter Braid® pastries to share some ways to make your fundraiser wildly successful.

Our Past Fundraising Successes

We are no strangers to successful fundraisers in this house. For two years, I chaired the PTA Auction at Josh’s elementary school. This was the biggest fundraiser of the year and we (and I mean WE – it was truly a team effort) raised over $25,000 in profit for the school. Josh also participates in fundraising for his Scout activities. One year a trip to Disney World was offered to anyone who sold over $10,000 in popcorn. Josh set his sights on the trip and sold over $12,000!

People have asked over and over again what our fundraising secrets are. They are actually no secrets – just a few things we put into practice to help make our fundraisers successful.

Top Tips for A Successful Fundraiser

These are our tips for running a successful fundraiser.

Explain what the funds will be used for. This may seem like common sense, but you’d be surprised how many kids show up on our step with a fundraiser for their school or team and have no idea what the money will be used for. And yes, I do ask! When Josh was selling his popcorn door to door, he didn’t wait for people to ask – it was part of his little sales pitch. He talked about using the money to pay for a week-long summer camp where he would earn badges and learn skills. People are much more likely to support a fundraiser when they understand where the money will be going.

Make your fundraiser different than all the others. Just as we will likely be participating in four fundraisers this year, most families are being hit up by multiple organizations for fundraising as well. Having something different than the typical wrapping paper or cookie dough offerings will make your fundraiser stand out and make people more likely to buy from you.

A great thing to offer is Butter Braid® pastries. Why? First off, they are amazingly delicious! What makes pastry in a bakery ten times better than what you can buy at the supermarket? The fact that it is baked fresh and is still all warm and flakey. This is exactly what makes Butter Braid® pastries so amazing.

You receive them frozen and then thaw and bake them yourself. When they come out of the oven, they are warm and gooey inside and perfectly flakey and light outside. Butter Braid® pastries are hand-braided with a sweet dough base containing over 25 layers of light, airy dough and 100% real butter.

Another thing that sets Butter Braid® pastries apart is that they aren’t sold in stores. And, despite being around since 1991, it’s not being sold by every other kid fundraising on your street. They are super easy to work with since they have local company representatives and a quick turnaround time. Your organization will earn 40-45% profit on all sales and they practically sell themselves – especially once you’ve tried one! They make a great freezer staple for when you are expecting overnight guests or doing some holiday entertaining! Be sure to grab one of each variety for yourself so you can decide which is your favorite:

· Bavarian Crème (Returning Flavor this Fall)

· Cherry

· Cinnamon

· 4 Cheese and Herb

· Strawberry and Cream Cheese

· Blueberry Cream Cheese

Pop down to the bottom of this post for more information on Butter Braid® pastries and to enter to win one of each of these Butter Braid® pastries for yourself!!

Let people know about the fundraiser as soon as possible. If you are introducing a new fundraiser to your team, organization or school, let people know about it as soon as possible. Many fundraisers utilize things that people may be already buying and knowing about it ahead of time will allow them to use your fundraiser to stock up. Josh’s band will be selling movie tickets and gift cards and I’ll be stocking up for a year’s worth of entertainment! I’ll be planning ahead to the holidays and using Butter Braid® pastries for when we have guests staying overnight and I want to have a “fancier” breakfast than cereal and donuts. I love the Four Cheese one as a side to make pasta seem a bit fancier as well!

How to cook Butter Braid® pastries:

Your Butter Braid® pastries will arrive frozen. You can pop them right into your freezer until you are ready to prepare them. Take one out the night before, put it on a greased baking sheet and cover with plastic wrap. Pro tip: lightly spray the plastic wrap with cooking spray so it won’t stick to the braid.