Ask any Dance/Drill Team Director or sponsor of most extracurricular activities what they dread most about the start of the "season", and your likely to get the answer: fundraising. Unfortunately, many dance programs today are not included in school district annual budgets, therefore, fundraising becomes ever so necessary to enable directors the opportunity to provide for their students.
GET POSITIVE!
The ATTITUDE we bring to fundraising is what can truly make a difference, starting with the first fundraiser of the year to the last and from the director to the students as well as the parents. Try your best not to treat it as burdensome. Take it seriously and keep a positive disposition regarding the project(s), and so will your students. After all, we are models for their behavior and they tend to absorb our attitudes. If you have a positive attitude toward fundraising, you will most likely see a better response from your team.
PLAN PURPOSELY
First, determine your budget for the entire year and define your needs. Competition fees, costuming, props, music, choreographers, travel and basic budget expenses should be considered. Include your Booster Club on this process even if you have a separate activity account. Once you know how much you will need for the year, you can convey this information to your team and their parents so they will understand the PURPOSE for the fundraising.
SET GOALS
During the planning process, set a "target amount" for each fund raiser that you plan. Keep the size of your team in mind so that your goal is realistic. One example of how to motivate your team to reach the goal is to assign a budget expense to a fundraiser.
Example l: It costs $____ for your team to charter buses to an out-of-town competition trip. If our "target amount" of $____ is met, the team will travel by charter bus…if not, the team will travel by school buses. Several directors I know have tried this approach and they say it definitely motivates! One director even decorated the fund raiser information with school buses to make her point!
Example 2: It costs $____ for the annual end of the year banquet to be held at an upscale area hotel. If our "target amount" of $____ is met, the team will have the banquet at the preferred site. If not, the team will have it in the school cafeteria. This generally will get a positive reaction.
Example 3: It costs $____ for the costumes needed for a certain competition dance. A model (a dummy from a local department store) was set up in the dance room dressed in a plain leotard. As the students worked toward reaching the goal, the social officers or boosters decorated the model more and more to motivate the students to keep going!
Meeting the team goal is paramount, but some parents object to fundraising and would rather donate the appropriate funds to the project. There are differing views on this philosophy…some directors would accept their donation for that particular project, but some directors would rather act diplomatically. These directors simply communicate to the students and parents that they prefer to have the team members take the responsibility of pulling their own weight. Having the student participate rather than just donating the funds will go a long way toward helping them as young adults to stand on their own two feet.
PREPARE AND PROCEED
When determining what fund raisers to set for the school year, keep these tips foremost in your mind.
Know what works for your community and for your team (experiment)
Can it be repeated annually?
Understand you cannot please everyone
Get on the school calendar to avoid conflicting dates or projects with other groups
Start early on fundraising campaigns before all other groups at your school begin for the new school year
Have a plan and publicize it
Take the time to have a kick-off campaign
Set a timetable to complete project
Stay organized - assign a Booster Club parent or Assistant to help you (you are TOO busy and do not need to be overwhelmed!)
Bookkeeping - keep accurate, updated records (all reports should be sent to the Director for review)
Make it fun and provide student incentives
When utilizing a Fund Raising Specialist, you should be provided with a positive experience. Generally they offer the following as a rule of thumb:
High quality product(s)
Nice profit margin (beware of higher profit-sometimes prices are raised!)
Accepts returned merchandise for credit
Professional, informative and motivational presentation for kickoff campaign
No cost for brochures and/or supplies
Unconditional guarantee (customer satisfaction)
Instant credit (no advance payment should ever be required)
No hidden charges (cost of prizes, shipping/handling)
Student incentives
Superior customer service
Supports and attends DTDA and State Dance Team Association Conventions
Provides references
IDEAS, IDEAS AND MORE IDEAS!
High profit brochure sales