Organize a successful bring and buy sale by securing a free/low-cost, high-traffic venue, setting a date that avoids conflicts, and promoting it through local, social media, and school channels. Recruit helpers, sort items (toys, books, clothes) by category, and price goods clearly. Finally, set up an attractive display, offer a last-hour discount, and ensure you have a secure cash float.
Sort goods donated into types – books, CD's, DVD's, video games, clothes (men's, women's and children), toys, bric-a-brac etc. Set up a stall for each kind to make it easy for shoppers to find their interests. Buy small repeelable purple stickers to price goods as you sort them.
You can sell second hand items like books, toys, games and clothes (as long as they are in good condition and still working), but also homemade cakes and biscuits and handcrafted items like cards! We even have some ideas at the bottom of this page to help you get started.
The most lucrative fundraisers often involve high-engagement, large-scale events like gala dinners, auctions, and sports tournaments, or leverage digital platforms for peer-to-peer campaigns, crowdfunding, and text-to-give, especially when coupled with corporate matching programs, while viral challenges like the Ice Bucket Challenge show massive short-term potential. Low-cost, high-profit options include raffle drawings, bake sales (online & in-person), and selling donated items (like in a rummage sale), while unique ideas like shoe drives offer high returns with minimal upfront cost.
The 80/20 rule in fundraising (Pareto Principle) states that roughly 80% of your donations come from just 20% of your donors, with some modern interpretations suggesting it's even more skewed (90/10). This principle highlights that a small group of major donors drives most revenue, so nonprofits should focus resources on identifying, nurturing, and building strong relationships with this core group, without completely ignoring smaller donors, to maximize fundraising success.
The 3-to-1 fundraising rule has two main interpretations: either aiming to raise $3 for every $1 spent (a return on investment benchmark for events) or, in donor stewardship, making three meaningful touchpoints (cultivation/engagement) before making a fourth ask for a donation, preventing donor fatigue and building relationships. For PTAs and similar organizations, it also means three non-fundraising activities (programs, education, advocacy) for every one fundraiser, keeping the focus on service over selling.
The 3-3-3 rule in sales isn't a single fixed formula but refers to several strategies, most commonly a systematic follow-up (3 calls, 3 emails, 3 social touches in 3 weeks), or focusing on content engagement (3 seconds to hook, 30 seconds to engage, 3 minutes to convert), or a prospecting approach (3 contacts at 3 levels in an account) to broaden reach and streamline communication for better results. It emphasizes being concise, relevant, and persistent, whether in content creation or communication.
Communication Skills. Communication skills encompass the ability to convey information, ideas, and feelings in a clear, concise, and effective manner. ...
The 2-2-2 rule in sales refers to a customer follow-up strategy: contact a prospect or customer after 2 days, then 2 weeks, and finally 2 months, providing value at each touchpoint to build relationships and secure future business, often focusing on gratitude, feedback, and needs exploration. Another, less common "2-2-2" is for prospecting: find 2 pieces of info in 2 minutes before a call, or a "2-second rule" for powerful pauses on calls.
Ground your story with a combination of your unique value proposition, provocative insights, and relevant marketplace research . Use data and compelling client examples to illustrate your point. Executives are big picture thinkers but they want to know that there are real outcomes and rewards behind your claims.
32 All of the 5-Ps (pride, pity, PR, personal interest, and pleasure), showed to be statistically significant, being the pleasure of giving the strongest criterion, a fact that leads us to consider it the underlying motivator in the decision to donate as other research has shown; the inclusion of household income and ...
According to The Complete Community Fundraising Book, any good fundraising plan should rest on seven pillars: donations, grants, community–business partnerships, membership/alumni/friends, special events, earned income, and crowdfunding.
The Five T's of philanthropy—time, talent, ties, testimony, and treasure—represent a holistic approach to giving. Each “T” offers a unique way to contribute meaningfully to causes you care about.
Donors are more than ever before, in control of their donation process. Nonprofits that allow donors to participate in the giving process as they seek fit, will give on an ongoing basis. A GiveGab blog provided four P's of being a great fundraiser. Their P's are passion, persistence, philanthropy and people-focused.
The 80/20 rule suggests that a small portion of your actions (20%) will generate the majority of your results (80%). In investing, Buffett uses this principle to focus only on the most valuable opportunities, rather than spreading his efforts across numerous investments.
The 1-2-3-4 cake is based on one simple recipe equation: 1 cup butter + 2 cups sugar + 3 cups flour + 4 eggs = one flawless cake. Easy to remember and a cinch to pull together, the beauty of the 1-2-3-4 cake lies not in only its simplicity but also in its versatility.
The Two Cakes Rule asserts that while the artist may judge themselves against the best in the field, the audience is usually glad to see an increased number of offerings. It is an expression of how audiences appreciate art, even when it seems less fancy than other art.
Buttercream can be made ahead and stored in an airtight container in the fridge. It will harden in the cold, so when you're ready to use it, bring it to room temperature then briefly whip again with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Buttercream icing freezes brilliantly.
