When organizing a fundraiser you need to look at all the costs involved in it. Not only the costs to the group but also to the members, and the parents.

Here's what I mean:

Costs to the group include:

• The product itself
• The cost of someone organizing the fundraiser
• The cost of promoting and advertising the fundraiser
• Shipping costs of the product from supplier

Costs to the members include:

• Cost of time spent
• Cost of unsold product or tickets

Costs to the parents include:

• Costs of donations
• Costs of time spent
• Costs of travel and gas used
• Cost of money spent on products to support the fundraiser

It is surprising that many groups don't know why they have problems getting people to volunteer and why there fundraising success diminishes as the year goes on. Here's a hint, if the costs of being involved in the fundraiser in both time and money outweigh the benefits of running the fundraiser it will be hard to find people who are willing to be involved.

When organizing a fundraising campaign ask yourself these questions:

1. What is the commitment?
2. What is it going to cost the group, members, and parents?
3. Is there a mandatory number of items which must be purchased?

Add up the costs and see if it wouldn't just be cheaper for everyone to pay 20 bucks into there fundraising accounts instead of spending $10 on gas, $15 on a donated item, another $25 on unsold tickets. Fundraisers should make it easier financially for the members of the club not harder. So organize fundraisers which are helpful not hinder some and you will find people much more willing to be involved in your fundraising campaigns.

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