School Band Fund Raiser

If Professor Harold Hill had used today's marching band fundraising ideas, he would have been more successful in getting the 76 trombones for his boy's band without conning the residents of River City. The fictitious Professor Hill of the 1962 Oscar-winning film, The Music Man, used some fast talking to convince townspeople to buy instruments for a non-existent marching band, but today's fundraising efforts offer surefire ways of accomplishing goals without compromise. Ethics and education should go hand in hand, and one of the greatest life lessons teachers and parents can teach children is to always deal honestly with others. "Let us walk honestly; as in the day; not in rioting or drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying" (Romans 13:13). A well-trained core of honest students can help defray the cost of uniforms, instruments, and out of town travel through ethical and profitable marching band fundraising efforts. Community leaders and local business people will gladly support a fundraising campaign that is conducted with decorum and a great school spirit!

The high cost of instruments, uniforms, travel, and competitions can break the budget at most schools. Educational institutions rely on an annual or semi-annual school band fund raiser to obtain the necessary funds to support activities and purchase expensive attire. Marching band fundraising is an all out effort to gain community, corporate, and private financial support for local secondary and middle grade schools. Students, parents and teachers participate in sales of food items, such as cookie dough, cinnamon rolls, coffee cakes, and cheesecakes; Christmas flowers and centerpieces; discount gift cards; or engraved or monogrammed specialty items. Community groups and local businesses sometimes sponsor fundraisers by cooperating with local media to advertise special sales and events. Companies that specialize in helping schools raise monies lend support for moneymaking efforts and split profits with fundraising groups, which can be quite lucrative as much as 50% of total sales, less returns.

A successful school band fund raiser will begin with an organizational meeting of faculty and music department heads to discuss financial needs, define the goals of each fund raising effort, and select a good sales product. It's a good idea to bring several suggestions for products to the first organizational meeting, along with proposals for setting financial goals and gathering support from the community and the student body. After goals and objectives have been established, committed students and faculty organize a rally to inform the community and other sectors of the student population about the fund raiser and gather support. A good school spirit and a desire to outfit the marching band, which represents the school at competitive events in and out of town, will motivate parents, students, and teachers to put make an A-plus effort. Local businesses can get in on the act by not only buying fund raising products, but also offering discounts for customers who support the school.

After a kick-off rally, marching band fundraising begins with participants picking up fundraising sales kits to take orders for specific products. Door-to-door sales, bazaars, sports activities, church suppers, football and basketball games, car washes, dances, plays, musicals, and gospel concerts are all great ways to raise money for the cause. At each event or venue, sales kits, samples, and order forms should be in abundant supply. And students should not take no for an answer. For every no, there is bound to be a yes and a customer who will exceed expectations by financially supporting the team effort.

The school band fund raiser will gain momentum as participants reach their goals. Nothing motivates students, faculty, and parents more than quickly selling fund raising products. The fastest way to a man's heart and wallet is his stomach, and food items may sell faster than specialty items such as T-shirts, caps or mugs. Other great selling items are accessories that individuals find useful or items that are seasonal. Flower bulbs are a hot selling item just before the spring gardening season. Christmas centerpieces or flower arrangements are best sold a month before the holidays; while chocolates, cinnamon rolls, coffee cake, and other edibles are year 'round winners. Gift cards for pizza, steak sandwiches, ice cream, or other tasty treats will also sell any time of the year, especially to high school and college students. Schools can also qualify for non-profit programs and discounts through some companies. Fundraising professionals can offer the best advice regarding the suitability of each product, along with its potential earnings. If problems arise, most reputable fundraising companies will gladly assist participants in resolving issues or providing replacement orders.

Campaign organizers should pay close attention to deadlines and due dates for taking orders, collecting money, and delivering products. A firm deadline for order taking should be established, and once students have met the deadline, a scheduled pick up date to collect and distribute fund raising products should be decided upon. Participants should turn in all monies by the deadline to ensure that the band or school doesn't have to wind up compensating fund raising companies for orders that are unpaid. Companies should have a policy for damaged goods, returns, and insufficient orders. A school band fund raiser works on the honor system. Participants are duty bound to turn in monies, customers are on their honor to pay monies at the time orders are taken, and fund raising companies are on their honor to provide quality products, on time, in good condition, and as close in appearance, taste, and quality as the advertised merchandise. If everyone upholds their end of the bargain, marching band fund raising is a cake walk!

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