So you have decided on fundraising discount cards, now what?

This article will give you a brief overview of what it will take to have a successful fundraising discount cards. You most likely will need detailed step by step instructions as you go through your campaign. For this reason it is absolutely vital to choose a company that continues customer service even after the cards are ordered. This brings us to the most important step, choosing a full service fundraising discount card company.

Choosing a full service fundraising discount cards company.
When choosing a card company for your fundraiser there are many items you will want to take into consideration. Most importantly; will the card company get the merchants for your fundraiser card or do they expect you to do the hard work? Getting the merchants takes a bit of skill, if you tried and the merchants aren’t popular or are not offering great deals then the value of the card won’t be as great. A company that SPECIALIZES in fundraising discount cards will be able to gain popular merchants in your area and negotiate great deals. This increases the value of the card and makes them easy to sell. Additionally, gaining the merchants takes a lot of time, between your regular life and volunteering your time, you have enough to do, so leave this up to the professionals. The quality and feel of the card is of utmost importance, a card made of credit card stock with your logo and colors will have a much greater value and will be easier to sell than a generic thin paper card would be. Additionally, make sure support does not end after the order is placed, whether this is your first fundraiser or you are a pro, the experts can give you great tips.

Selecting the optimal number of cards
With most companies you will be able to place quick reorders, this gives you the chance to be conservative with your numbers, but don’t be too cautious!  If you were to order 1,000 cards at $2 each your cost would be $2,000 and selling them would raise $8,000. This great but what if you could have sold 1,500 cards? If you had ordered 2,000 for $1.50 and you sold only 1300 your cost would have been $3,000 but your profit would have been $10,000, even throwing 700 cards in the garbage your group would have raised more funds. If you have a bunch of cards left you can always have a “secondary” campaign to raise even more. With large groups you will want to order 5 to 7 cards per participant (remember if there is a price break you might want to go over that a little). With a small group you can increase the numbers because you will be able to work more effectively towards a common goal. With a 15 person group the local grocer might let you sell cards at their entrance. Greater traffic means more sales.

Creating an incentive for greater sales
The children and parents must have a specific reason for the fundraiser.  “Just to raise money” does not give anyone a reason to put themselves out to sell the cards. However if the fundraiser is specifically to “get new uniforms” or “Pay transportation so the band can march in the Macy’s day parade or compete at Disney” or “buy a concession stand”, you will get much greater results. People want to be part of a cause. If Christopher Columbus had just wanted to go sailing, would he have gotten the funding for a trip that made him world famous? Secondly, motivate the participants by offering a prize, like a Wii or bike to the top seller. The better the prize, the greater the effort.  Think about it, if you could win a brand new car by selling the most Fundraising Discount Cards how much effort would you make? For obvious financial reasons the prize can not be a car. But what if the prize for your little league fundraiser was two tickets to a sold out professional base ball game? How motivated your peewee football team be if they were competing for an autographed football by an all-star from your local NFL team? Be original and work towards a prize that will be the most motivating to your group.

How to distribute the cards
If you have a registration or start to a season or an event where you collect money, the cards should be set up as a “pay to play” sort of situation where everyone pays for their cards in advance of selling them. With a “pay to play” set up you will want to give each person a reduced number of cards (5 is fair) as you do not want to prevent anyone from joining your organization because of the cost. You will want to offer the availability to take more cards without paying for them to try to win the top prize. However, you will want to limit the number of cards given out as extras to avoid fraud and underselling. Give them a number of times that they can turn money in for extra cards, then get more cards to sell. If your organization does not have a formal start or registration, like a church or highschool marching band or you just got a late start, you will want to distribute cards and set a specific date the money is required back in, again extra cards can be gained from turning in money from previous card sales. In general you do not want distribution of cards and money to go through many hands, there should be one or two people that are in charge and allowed to hand out cards and collect money. Don’t give out 100 cards to a coach to distribute to their team and collect the money. They signed up to coach or teach and they are already volunteering for your organization, additionally if they are not motivated or believe in “the cause” the results from that 100 cards will not be as great.

Tracking your progress
If cards are given out in a prepaid distribution (pay to play) you will not need to keep track of those particular cards, and the accounting of the money will be very easy, multiply the number of registrants times your required up front money. In a prepaid distribution tracking need be done ONLY on additional/extra cards. The person(s) in charge of the fundraiser or their assistant will want to track the number of cards that are out for which money has not been received and also the money that has been received. At the very least all remaining cards or money for the cards needs to be turned in before the set deadline. You will find on “turn in day” many will have “lost their cards” or “forgotten them at home” (the old, “dog ate my homework routine”) In these cases you should ask them to pay for the cards and reimburse themselves when they sell them, most people are ok with that, (Note: make sure not to push too hard as some might have some financial hardships). Even if they try to turn in unused cards, remind them of the importance of the fundraiser and the reason for it, then ask them to write a check for the $50 rather than turning in the 5 cards, then they can sell the cards and keep the money.

Fundraising discount cards can be a very easy and profitable way to raise funds for your organization. Once you have a system in place, with help from your card provider, it will run smoothly. You may even decide to swear off other types of fundraisers for your organization.

Mark South
http://www.easyfundraisingcards.com

Another benefit of the cards is that they actually help stimulate and support your local economy. Given the instability of the economy in recent years, it’s always a good idea to keep the money spent in your own local community when possible. Fundraising discount cards offer deals at local merchants, so your customers get great discounts but the merchants gain more business – and possibly new customers.

Now that you know there are more reasons than one to use fundraising discount cards when your church or organization needs additional funds, you may wonder how profitable the cards really are. Compared to other common products used for fundraising, the profit margins are truly amazing. Here’s a quick example:

Suppose you order a small number of cards, maybe 300. As with most products, the more you order the higher the profit margins; even with as few as 300 you earn $5 for every $10 card those participating in the fundraiser sell. This means that your organization gets $1,500 – which is no small change!

Now, imagine how much money your organization could raise if you were to sell 1,000 fundraising discount cards. At a 100% profit margin, you keep $8 for every $10 card sold meaning your group has earned an incredible $8,000! This is considered 100% profit due to the fact that for every 1,000 cards ordered, you get 200 at no cost.

One reason (and there are several) that many churches and non-profit organizations love fundraising discount cards is because they are so easy to sell. Considering that customers can save at a dozen or more local and national merchants for a one year time period after the initial purchase of the card, it’s easy to see why they sell quickly. Who wouldn’t want to save on services and goods for the small price of $10? Savings on eating out, hair cuts, move rentals, family activities, oil changes and other services make it a great deal for the customer.

Some of the merchants you may see offered on fundraising discount cards include DQ, Domino’s Pizza, McDonald’s, Jiffy Lube, Meineke and more. Of course, offers that are offered on the cards vary and depend on which merchants are available in your area. Which brings us to another point. When you choose these cards, the company you order them from will typically contact the merchants for you to secure their participation. This makes it easy!

You can now see that there are more reasons than money to choose fundraising discount cards for your next fundraiser. Selling a product that actually helps people in a time of need really feels good. Why choose other products that do little for the customer and offer profit margins far lower when you can have it all? These cards allow you to help others while helping your own organization – and what could be better than that?

Mark South
Easy Fundraising Cards

Why should you try discount cards instead of those other old stand-by’s you’ve become accustomed to? There are several reasons, a few being that they are an easy sell, offer incredible profits, and are minimal work for your group. Wouldn’t it be great if you had a product that you could simply carry with you everywhere you go, make a sale when the opportunity allows, and not have the hassles of preparing and planning? That’s exactly what discount cards offer – all of the profits minus all of the hard work and preparation.

Exactly what are discount cards, and why do we say they are so easy to sell? These cards offer savings at a dozen or more local merchants in the community where the customer lives. For only $10, the customer can save on food, activities, car maintenance, fitness, and many other products and services over the course of one year. When a customer is getting offered an incredible deal, they know it, which is why this is such as easy sell. Considering the state of the economy right now, it makes the sell even easier because everyone is looking for ways to cut corners and save money.

Imagine not having to carry boxes of candy bars or cookie dough around, or having to lug catalogs around and then go back out to deliver the goods to the customer once the orders come in. This is another thing that makes discount cards such an attractive item for fundraisers! Everyone can easily carry the cards in their pocket, wallet or purse, so carrying the goods everywhere you go is no problem – and you have the product right there when the customer makes a purchase. Add to that the fact that you can have them right there with you when you are shopping, dining out or enjoying a night at the theater, which means you can pull them out at any time and make a sale.

The profits are what will really astound you about discount cards, and we can practically guarantee that you will raise the money you need in far less time than with other products you may have sold in the past. Consider that the average person will sell at least 10 cards, and the more cards you buy the higher the profit margins. Order up to 499 cards, and your group keeps $5 per card of the $10 selling price. Order 500 to 999 discount cards, and your group keeps $7 for every card sold. Once you reach the 1,000 cards mark, you’re actually making 100% profits because you get 200 free with every 1,000 ordered. In a word, incredible.

Churches often hold bake sales, concerts or group singings, car washes and other methods to raise money. Other organizations hold marathons or host special dinners; you may also write letters to various businesses and organizations requesting the donation of money or goods. Discount cards are an easy way to raise funds whether you need just a little money or a substantial amount for a special project.

The great thing about discount cards is that while they are hugely beneficial for your church or organization, they benefit others at the same time. Customers enjoy being able to spend such a small amount of money for a card that offers so much value. In times of economic stress, most people would rather spend $10 for something that gives them the opportunity to save over a full one-year time period than spend $2 for a candy bar that offers no tangible benefit.

You will also find that the offers on discount cards often apply to local merchants, although some are at the national level. This means that if Carol owns a hair salon in town and offers a special deal to those that purchase the discount cards, she may attract new clients. This can be a real boost for your local economy, and it’s always preferable to keep money within your own community when possible.

The biggest benefit to your organization is that discount cards offer much higher profit levels than other products, and they’re easy to sell due to the perceived value by the customer. Imagine how hard your group would have to work if it were necessary to raise $5,000 by hosting car washes or selling candy bars. With discount cards, you would reach your $5,000 goal by selling about 714 cards – and that’s not hard to do, considering each participant usually sells 10 or more cards. If you live in a larger city this could be accomplished in no time at all.

Of course who’s to say that you have to use discount cards on their own? When combined with other products and fundraising activities, you will see that raising money becomes much less stressful. With the popularity of Facebook, you might even find that you have some luck selling the cards to all of your friends. They’re easy to transport due to the fact that they are the size of a typical credit card, so you can take them along everywhere you go. You never know when you may have the perfect opportunity to make a sale!

Now that you realize that discount cards offer far more benefits to those other than your own group, isn’t it time to give them a try? Once you do, you will see that any time you need to raise money in the future you have one product you can depend on to offer amazing results. Whether you are a church, school or other organization you will be pleased when you see just how easy it is to raise the funds you need, all while helping those who buy from you and stimulating your local economy.

Mark South
Easy Fundraising Cards

Maybe it’s because you just didn’t know how fundraising cards work or how effective they are. Or, maybe it’s just because your group is comfortable with doing something they know works, and we all know old habits are hard to break. No matter what the reason, you’ll find the information in this article amazing, and reason enough to give the cards a try the next time you need to raise funds for your cause.

Here’s a little information that will enlighten you about why fundraising cards are the number 1 item to use for raising money today:

1. They’re super profitable. Compared to some of the old standard fundraising items like candy bars, popcorn, jerky and catalog sales, you will be speechless when you realize how big the profit margins are.

Give this a little thought: If you were to sell cookie dough at $12 per box and your group earned $6 profit for each box, in order to raise $3,500 for your cause you would have to sell approximately 583 boxes, and that’s a lot of cookie dough – especially in a time when the economy is in a slump.

Now, with fundraising cards, your group would need to sell 500 cards to raise that same $3,500, but considering that the average person can sell 4 or more cards, this is easy to accomplish. Consider the fact that these cards offer money savings at local merchants for an entire year, and it’s easy to see why customers would much rather spend $10 on a card than $12 on a box of cookie dough. The customer can potentially save hundreds of dollars over the span of one year!

2. Customers love fundraising cards, which make them an easy sell. Even at $2 a bar, many people are not going to buy a candy bar today simple because it’s a waste of money in their eyes, when they can hardly pay the bills or put food on the table. Fundraising cards are different because the customer can save at many of their local merchants, including restaurants and fast food, movie rentals, hair cuts, fitness, auto maintenance and more.

Most people, even those on a tight budget, don’t mind spending $10 on something that will save them a substantial amount of money throughout the year.

3. Everyone benefits, and that’s important. Not only does your church or schoolgroup or organization benefit through fundraising cards, the benefit is actually spread all around. The customer gets a bargain and the opportunity to save money, and the merchants in the local community have the opportunity to gain new business through the use of the cards.

Now you can see why fundraising cards have been around for years! They help your group raise money easier and faster than any other item, customers love them, and the merchants experience a boost to their business. Next time your group or organization needs to raise money, get outside of your comfort zone and do something a little more exciting! Every now and then it’s a good idea to try something new – and you just might be surprised how quickly fundraising cards become that “comfortable and old familiar” method you’re used to.

Mark South
Easy Fundraising Cards

Of course fundraising discount cards aren’t only for schools; churches and other non-profit organizations can easily raise the money for any project without all of the hassles of other fundraising methods. Think about some of the activities and products your group has tried before; candy bars melt when it’s hot outside, and cookie dough doesn’t fare well in hot weather either. Even catalog sales are a lot of work, once you consider the time spent going back out to deliver the orders. With fundraising discount cards, you simply distribute the cards to those participating, make the sale, take the customers money and the product is delivered on the spot. What could be easier than that?

Some fundraising products are designed for use with specific groups of people, but fundraising discount cards work for any group whether it’s the band, cheerleaders, Jaycees, PTA, church youth group, or a sports team. When you are looking for a way to raise money that requires almost no work or hassle and results in incredible profits for your group, this is the best way to go.

What makes fundraising discount cards so easy to sell? In today’s economy, everyone wants to save money and these cards offer discounts at a variety of merchants in the customers own community. Some of the deals and bargains you will find on the cards are for an oil change, haircut, the local pizza parlor or even for eyeglasses or the health club. There is literally no limit to what kinds of deals can be placed on these cards, depending on which merchants want to participate. Which brings up another point.

When you decide to use fundraising discount cards, the company you purchase from will often do the work of contacting the local merchants for you so that you don’t have to. Most merchants are willing to participate because they know it’s good for the community, and it also helps them attract new business. Are you beginning to see why we brag so much about the power of these cards for fundraising? There’s really no other product or activity that compares when it comes to an easy sell, minimal preparation, incredible profits and real value to the customer.

So, what do you think the customer would rather have – a $2 candy bar that will be gone in a flash, or a $10 card that will save them that amount many times over for the course of a year? The customer may be spending $8 bucks more on the initial purchase, but considering they can save hundreds over the lifetime of the card is quite impressive. Now you see why fundraising discount cards are the perfect choice for raising money for any cause; think about this the next time your group needs money! When something makes so much sense and is so easy and profitable, why do anything else?

Mark South
Easy Fundraising Cards

First of all, make certain that the company you purchase the spirit cards from has a good reputation and is dedicated to customer service, even after you order the cards.  If you have never used this product before in a fundraiser, it’s likely that you will need help in order for your fundraiser to be most effective.  A reputable company will help you with any questions you have, providing guidance throughout.

Also, you want a company that is happy to do most of the leg work for you, such as securing the participation of local merchants in your area. Why do it yourself when the company will do the work for you?  An experienced company that deals only in spirit cards will also be able to negotiate the best deals, so that you can offer your customer something of great value.

You always want to think carefully before ordering spirit cards, so that you make the most of your efforts and raise the most money.  Naturally, the more cards you purchase the less you pay; so, if you believe your group can sell 1,500 cards, instead of ordering 1,000 to be conservative, order 2,000 and save .50 per card.  This way, you have the opportunity to raise more because you have more cards, and those that are left over can be used at a future date.  Do the math before you place your order so that you can figure out just what will produce more profits for your organization.

Tell your group specifically what the spirit cards are going to help you raise money for.  People tend to want to get more involved, especially kids and teens, when they know exactly what it is they are trying to raise funds for.  Instead of telling your group that they are going to use spirit cards to raise money, offer a clear explanation such as to help pay for the Youth groups trip to Florida.  When younger people realize that the funds will be for their own benefit or something they enjoy, they will participate and work harder to achieve your goals.

Distributing the spirit cards in the proper manner will help make accounting for both cards and money received easier.  Keep a record of each participant’s name and how many cards were given to that participant.  It’s probably best to distribute only a few at a time, so that if someone loses their cards there won’t be a huge amount of money loss involved.  Stick to just 5 or 10 cards; this way, if something does happen and you paid $2 or $5 each for the cards, you won’t be out hundreds of dollars.

A successful fundraiser involves a successful product, one that offers tremendous value to the customer.  With spirit cards, the customer gets to save money on many of the goods and services in their own area – which makes them much easier to sell than candy bars, especially in light of the current economy.  These “deals” are good for one year, offering the customer the opportunity to save a great deal of money on those things they would have spent money on regardless.

Spirit cards are great all the way around; your group or organization gets the money you need for your cause, the customer gets a great deal, and local merchants experience an increase in business, as well as potential new customers.  When you’re fresh out of ideas on how to raise money for your organization, this method is hugely profitable and easy for all involved.

Mark South
Easy Fundraising Cards

Not only is there little work involved, a discount cards fundraiser is very profitable, probably the most profitable of anything you’ve ever done to raise money.  Depending on the size of your group and how many will be participating, profits can range from a few hundred dollars to tens of thousands.  Another benefit to these types of fundraisers is that they benefit the community as a whole, important in light of economic conditions today.

How does a discount cards fundraiser help get more of your group involved?  Since there are no catalogs to tote around, no boxes of candy, and no 5K marathons to run, it’s just an easy way to raise money.  The cards are much like a credit card, so they’re convenient to carry in a purse, pocket or wallet everywhere you go.  Offer them any time it’s convenient, whether you are with a group of friends, at church, dining out, at sports events – anywhere!  Of course, you can always go door to door, and sometimes the good old-fashioned way works best.

Even in a downturned economy a discount cards fundraiser is the way to go, because of the value offered to the customer.  Imagine today trying to sell a $12 box of cookie dough to someone who has lost their job or is having money problems – it wouldn’t be easy.  On the other hand, discount cards offer big savings on products and services that most people spend money on regularly, and these people need to save money in a big way.  When times are tough, customers are going to choose a card that saves them money on food, car maintenance, hair cuts and other common expenses far more often than they will spend money on non-essentials like cookie dough or candy bars.

When you choose a discount cards fundraiser, you are helping support the entire community in more ways than you realize.  Your organization or group is benefited with the money you need for your project.  The customer gets to enjoy big savings over the course of one year.  All of that is obvious, but there is one more area that the cards benefit, and that is the actual merchants offering the discounts.  Most are local merchants, and they may experience a boost in business simply because someone who purchased a card decides to try out their goods or services – which could mean a new customer for life.

A discount cards fundraiser just makes sense; after all, who in this day and time doesn’t want to save some money?  The profit margins are incredible, the work is far easier than most of the activities you have participated in before, and the selling is a piece of cake.  What would those in your group rather do, try to push candy bars on people who cannot afford them, prepare for weeks for a play, bake sale, marathon or other event, or just go out and sell a few discount cards?  By now, the answer should be crystal clear.  A discount cards fundraiser is the smart way to gather the funds you need for any project.

Mark South
Easy Fundraising Cards

There are all kinds of creative ways you can raise the amount of money you need; marathons, auctions, bake sales, a school play, car washes – the list goes on and on.  The great thing about fundraiser discount cards is that they are super effective whether used on their own or combined with any other product you sell or activity you participate in.  The profit margins are outstanding, and the product offers real value to the customer, which is something you don’t see that much of today.  It is because of this value that fundraiser discount cards are so easy to sell, meaning more money for your cause.

What makes these cards such a fantastic deal for those who purchase them?  There are usually 12 to 15 offers on the back of the fundraiser discount cards, which are similar in size and appearance to a credit card.  These are discounts and buy-one-get-one-free offers that are good at merchants in the customers own local community.  For a one year time period after purchase, the customer will save on goods and services they normally spend money on, such as food, car maintenance, family activities and even hair cuts.

Given the state of the current economy, there aren’t many people who wouldn’t love to spend $10 for a card and get ten times or more that amount in savings.  Penny pinching has become a necessity due to recent job losses and lay-offs, and fundraiser discount cards help those who are financially strapped save money on those things that they need, many of which are necessities.

So, now that you understand why these cards sell so easy, you may be wondering what’s in it for you – incredible profits!  If your group is school or church related, no doubt you’ve been through the drill many times with candy bars, cookie dough or jerky.  Just how profitable are these items, and would they be as easy to sell now that people are saving their money?  Not likely – but fundraiser discount cards WILL sell because of the reasons we mentioned above.

Let’s do a little exercise here; say that you make $1 for each candy bar you sell.  Naturally, you know that if you need to raise $3,500 your group would have to sell 3,500 candy bars.  That’s a lot of candy bars, and a tough goal to reach these days.  Now, how many fundraiser discount cards would your group need to sell to reach that same goal?  Only 500, which is a much easier goal to obtain considering each participant usually sells at least 10 cards.  Why would anyone work harder than they have to, when you can raise the funds you need much easier – offering a product people really need and appreciate to boot?

Now you can see why we say that fundraiser discount cards make every fundraiser a winner – great product, great savings for the customer, and super profitable for you, without all of the involved planning and preparation that can stress you to the limits before you even get started.

Mark South
Easy Fundraising Cards

Although they have been around for years, it’s really surprising how many organizations have yet to see what fundraiser cards are capable of.  When you do, you will be amazed at the profitability and the true value to the customer – and selling a product that makes the customer feel good makes you feel good as well.  Recently, times have been hard for most people due to the economy and loss of jobs.  Fundraiser cards are the perfect item during times like these, because they allow people to save so much money on products and services they would have spent money on regardless, no matter what shape their finances are in.

What makes fundraiser cards so different from other products that are commonly used for raising funds?  The customer receives discounts on a dozen or more merchants in their own local area; this could be for fast food, a hair cut, movie rental, oil change for the car, even flowers at the local florist.  These discounts are good for a one year period, so you can only imagine how much the customer could save over that length of time – and the cards are only $10, just a drop in the bucket compared to the savings they will experience.

Now, what can you expect the perks to be for your group or organization?  There are many, and you’ll love every one of them.  To start, fundraiser cards are easy to sell because of the value we just discussed.  They are easy to carry around with you, because they are the size of a credit card – so there are no boxes or cartons to lug around.  Just put them in your pocket, purse or wallet, and you’re ready to offer a card wherever the opportunity presents itself.

The amazing profits are what really make fundraiser cards such a winner for any organization.  Today, you just don’t find many products that allow you to make a substantial amount of money easily.  To demonstrate how profitable these cards can be, lets suppose that you have 30 people who will be participating in your fundraiser.  On average, one person will easily sell 10 or more fundraiser cards, which means that your group would sell approximately 300 cards.  When 300 cards are ordered, your profit margin stands at 50%, which means you earn $5 per card or $1,500 for your cause!

Now, the more cards ordered, the higher the profit margin so if you were to order 1,000 cards which would be suitable if there were about 100 participants in your group, profit margins would increase to 100%!  Your cost per card for this amount would be $2, but you receive 200 cards free for every 1,000 ordered, so your total profit would ring in at around $10,000 – is that incredible?

Merchants in your local area will benefit as well, as fundraiser cards help send new customers in their direction.  When a customer buys a card, they are highly likely to visit a merchant they have never visited before if they will save money.  This could mean new customers for the merchants in your area, which stimulates your local economy – super important in times like we are now experiencing.  When you really think about it, fundraiser cards really benefit everyone all the way around; the customer gets to save money, the merchants attract new business, and your group or organization can easily and quickly raise a substantial amount of money.

Now can you understand why fundraiser cards should be included in your efforts to raise money?  No matter what other activities you participate in or what products you sell, add fundraiser cards to the mix.  You will never be disappointed with the results, and you will see that there really is a way to raise the money your group needs without the hard work and preparation.

Mark South
Easy Fundraising Cards