New Fundraising Chairman? Wait to Rock the Boat.

So, you're the new fundraising chair. You might not love the fundraisers that you have traditionally done, but before you change them, think twice.

Any fundraiser that has brought in money in the past is a successful one. So, while you might be tired of cookie dough, you probably have people around you who have done it before and can help you along the way with logistics, collecting money, distributing the goods, etc.

Once you've got your feet wet, you've run a successful campaign and you have the respect of the group you are leading, that's when you come in with a new and exciting idea.

If you rock the boat too soon, people will push back. But as an experienced veteran of the game, you will be able to rally the other participants to new heights.

We suggest coffee! ;)

Auctions, Events and Coffee

A lot of schools do multiple fundraisers each year and they need every penny. It is a good idea to mix it up and vary the fundraising efforts. If your school does an auction, perhaps adding a sales-oriented fundraiser can help. If your school already does a sales fundraiser then try throwing an event.

We believe that the key to successful fundraising is to look at it through the way that in enriches the community at large. Selling cookie-dough and then selling wrapping paper and then selling candy doesn't do much to enrich the lives of the customer (the person who you are going to for money). It is a constant barrage of products.

The great thing about an auction or an event is not that you can raise money - it is the camaraderie and sense of shared mission that you bring to the group from whom you are trying to raise money.

You can remind people of the shared mission by creating custom labels on our Coffee. Not only does it satisfy a daily need for your customers, but by creating a custom label you can instill a daily reminder of their connection to your organization, be it a school, a cheering squad, a church group, or a sports team.

When people recognize their connection to your group, they are much more likely to help.

Trader Joe's Loves Tarrazu Coffee!

Need evidence of the great taste of Costa Rican Tarrazu Coffee? The upscale grocery store Trader Joe's is singing the praises of the fine Costa Rican coffee in their quarterly newsletter the Fearless Flyer. About Tarrazu Coffee they say:

"The microclimates of Costa Rica are well known for contributing unique flavors to their coffee bean crops... Coffee beans grown at higher elevation, such as these, are known for their flavor complexities. And this coffee is no exception. This medium dark roast coffee yields a bright, well-balanced cup with a smooth finish."

What they don't mention are the chocolatey undertones of the coffee and the faint sweetness. These are most prominent in the highest grade bean, Tarrazu #1, that we purchase special directly from the local cooperative of which we are a member. Most Tarrazu in the US is sold as a blend of some #1 and the lower grade, less expensive grades. We stick with the #1 and the fundraisers hear the benefits as people ask "When are you going to sell coffee again?"

High class supermarkets are starting to pick up on the high quality of Tarrazu Coffee. Your organization can reap the benefits of this fine product as well.

Continuous Fundraisers with Gourmet Coffee

Parents don't like to do sales. That's nothing new. Many of them would rather give a donation or make a small purchase themselves rather than flog lousy products to their friends.

For the fundraising coordinator who has seen this problem in the past, gourmet coffee can help you bring people back for more than a small donation or token purchase. Some of our clients have run continuous fundraisers that bring in funds each month. Because people drink coffee regularly, many families would be willing to purchase a monthly bag or two (some families might purchase 3 or 4 - especially those Northwest folks).

Running a fundraiser that sends a couple bags of coffee home with a child the first week of each month provides a benefit to the parents and the school. And with custom labels, your school can brand the coffee and maintain a connection to the parents that they remember with their morning ritual.

In short - profits without sales, a continuous stream of funds, and happy parents drinking great coffee. Could be a great program for your school.

No Flavored Coffee – But a Great Solution!

For everyone who really wants to do a fundraiser but wants flavored coffees - We're Sorry! We don't have them. Not yet at least. Why not? Cost of equipment.

We're a pretty small company in the mountains of Costa Rica. The company mission is to try and create local jobs in our area so families aren't forced to split up as they seek work elsewhere. We have a roaster, but we can't use it for flavored coffee because once you put the flavoring in a roaster it is difficult to clean - all of the coffee comes out tasting like one flavor or another. So, before we can produce flavored coffee we need another roaster. Maybe next year!

In the meantime we have an idea! Instead of offering flavored coffees you could offer them flavored coffeemate to be delivered with the coffee. You can buy it in bulk from Sam's Club or Costco and sell it for a profit. It's one more product that you can offer potential customers to round out their order.

If nothing else you've still got rich, delicious coffee with chocolate overtones and a clean finish. A wonderful flavor in itself!

Encourage Parent Participation with 2-Hour Power!

Are you struggling to convince parents to devote time and energy to your fundraising activities? It is a problem that many organizations have. So many parents have been burned by getting involved - they agree to help out and they then find an endless stream of meetings that extend of over weeks and weeks. The easiest way out for a parent - do nothing.

PTO Today has a great idea to overcome the hurdle. It is a program called 2-Hour Power. It helps organizers bring in a larger group of parents by encouraging, and even celebrating, small contributions!

To learn more about 2-Hour Power click here.

Fundraising with Small Groups can mean Big Profits

Often people with small fundraising groups think that they don't have enough manpower to raise significant funds. Well, we've found that small groups have a big advantage - the ability to organize! When the whole group feels invested in the mission and the team works together with a plan they can do BIG things.

Not only is it easier to communicate with a small group but the members of the group often feel a much greater responsibility to the cause. Setting goals and keeping track of progress can spur people to act AND can increase the fun of the program.

Got 5 - 10 people? Get together with a couple pizzas and your cell phones and call down a list of friends (or parents friends). See who can sell the most in 60 minutes. A few sessions like that and you can surpass your fundraising goals. Keep track, make it fun!

Do you have success stories about how your small groups have turned big profits? Leave a comment!

Gourmet Coffee - A Great Fundraiser

We think that there are three primary reasons why coffee is a great fundraising product.

1. Everyone Drinks Coffee. Well, nearly everyone. Especially the people who end up spending money on fundraising products - the PARENTS! Sell to the real customer - the parents and show them that you care about their needs.

2. It's In The Budget. I buy coffee every couple weeks. I don't miss my daily pot. So, if a fundraiser comes to my door with coffee and a good cause, I am more likely to buy it than candy or a tub of cookie dough (there goes my new year's diet).

3. Great Coffee = Repeat Customers. How often do you have fundraisers where the customers request the solicitors to return? Our gourmet Costa Rican coffee is so good that the fundraiser has become a regular offering of many organizations - and their customers are happy.

Welcome!

Hi there and welcome to the CAFECOSA Coffee Fundraising blog. We get a lot of questions about how or why to do a coffee fundraiser. The CAFECOSA Coffee Fundraising blog will provide you with information about how your fundraising group can break out of the cookie dough and wrapping paper fundraising prison and try something new - something that your customers drink everyday - coffee!

The great thing about coffee fundraising with CAFECOSA is that it is a product that people are going to buy anyway. And since so many people drink coffee, it is not hard to find customers.

But the best part about our coffee fundraiser is that it is great coffee. Costa Rican Tarrazu coffee is world-renowned and has been criticized for being "too perfect". Customers will remember the great taste and will be glad to purchase on your next fundraiser.

Feel free to leave your comments and stories about your fundraising efforts. If you have tips on how to rally a large group effectively or anecdotes about selling products we'd love to hear them.

Learn more about CAFECOSA Fundraiser at www.cafecosa.com.