Even though it still feels like summer, it’s time to gear up for the bustling fall fundraising season. While we soak up the last days of summer, fundraiser organizers across the country are already setting their sights on fall events!
Our data from Force4Good has revealed a key trend in fundraiser seasonality: fundraisers align closely with the academic calendar, peaking in early fall and spring while dipping significantly during the summer months.
With the start of the new school year, organizations will soon convene for their initial meetings, and fundraising plans will be a hot topic. Many nonprofits plan more than one fundraiser at a time, meaning that getting in the door now is even more important.
So, how do you make your restaurant a top choice for these groups? To ensure your establishment stands out, we’ve compiled a list of the top five ways to prepare for a successful fall fundraiser season.
Tip 1: Strategize Your Fundraiser Availability
Fundraisers can significantly boost sales, but hosting one every day might not be feasible. Review your restaurant’s calendar and sales reports to determine the best days for these events.
Already a Force4Good Fundraising partner? On the Force4Good platform, you can easily manage availability: simply use the Force4Good calendar to block out or open dates for fundraising partners to apply.
Pro Tip: Many restaurants opt to host fundraisers on their slowest days, providing a sales boost without overwhelming the team during peak hours. Ensure you include a few weekdays, as many nonprofits prefer these times for their events.
Tip 2: Develop Effective Marketing Materials and Start Advertising Early
To ensure a busy fall season, begin promoting your fundraiser program now. In-store signage is a simple yet effective marketing tool.
- Create info cards or one-sheets: These highlight your program and how nonprofits can sign up. Include the percentage your restaurant will give back, instructions on how to sign up, and the point of contact to get a fundraiser started.
- Create a display: Consider dedicating a menu board or window space to a fundraiser poster. The poster should include the same information: the percentage your restaurant will give back, instructions on how to sign up, and the point of contact to get a fundraiser started.
- Make the information accessible: Place info cards at the register or point of purchase (POP) for customers to take. Including these cards in to-go bags or catering orders can also spread the word. These can be a smaller version of the poster and one-sheet.
- Spread the word: Ask your team members to name three nonprofits they are connected to that they think would be interested in fundraising with Force4Good (e.g., a team member who says her daughter’s elementary school would be a good candidate for fundraising). Then, give each team member one of the one-sheets or info cards to take to those contacts.
For those already partnering with Force4Good Fundraising, we offer customizable templates (which can include your logo and brand colors) for all of the above materials. Simply contact your Force4Good rep to get access and then fundraise away!
Tip 3: Engage with Potential Fundraiser Partners Already in Your Restaurant
Look inside the four walls: your future fundraising partners might already be dining with you! Engage with your regular customers who might be interested in a fundraiser.
- Identify opportunities: Look out for parents with kids in sports uniforms or teachers picking up catering orders.
- Educate existing guests: Give them one of the above-mentioned info cards and say “Hey, you already love our food. Did you know we do fundraising too?”
- Look back to move forward: Check out to last year’s successful fundraisers and reach out to the organizers to see if they’d like to repeat a fundraiser this year.
For those already partnering with Force4Good Fundraising, we offer one-sheets containing all of the above materials you can easily share with your team. Simply contact your Force4Good rep to get started.
Tip 4: Prepare Your Restaurant and Train Your Staff
Ensuring your team is well-prepared for fundraisers is crucial. The saying “You only get one chance at a first impression” is especially true here. If nonprofits have a great experience fundraising with your restaurant from the get-go, they’ll be back for future fundraisers and tell everyone about their experience.
- Start with the why: During a team meeting, explain why fundraising is important to your team. Not only does it connect your restaurant with the community, it also brings in more sales, more foot traffic, and new guests.
- Offer talking points to your team: Provide an elevator pitch about what they should say when guests ask about fundraising. For example, “Yes, we are pleased to offer fundraising! We offer X% back. You can get started by contacting (detail process).”
- Communicate early and often: Make sure your whole team is familiar with your fundraiser program and upcoming events. Prior to (and then again on the day of) an event, incorporate reminders into your team communication (whether that’s emails, back of the house bulletin boards, or in-person meetings). If the team is unaware of a fundraiser, it could harm your relationship with the organizer; they might feel their event isn’t important to you or worry that sales aren’t being accurately counted.
Already partnering with Force4Good Fundraising? You guessed it, we’ve got this covered too. Our platform sends automated emails to restaurant management and fundraiser organizers, ensuring everyone is informed about upcoming events.
Tip 5: Identify and Address Friction Points in Your Program
Before launching full-steam ahead into fall fundraising, take a moment to reflect on past fundraisers and identify successes and areas of opportunity. Common opportunities include:
- The team being unaware or unprepared for fundraisers.
- A restaurant being understaffed during events, leading to service issues.
- Event sales not being accurately tallied.
- Difficulty for guests in navigating the event.
Don’t overlook asking your team for their feedback too. Since they’ve been a part of so many fundraisers, they may have guest feedback and insights to share.
Ready to Rock the Fall Fundraising Season?
Preparing now will set you up for a successful and stress-free fall fundraiser season. We hope these tips help you get ready for a busy and profitable year.
Interested in making fundraising easier on everyone involved? Contact us or schedule a demo to learn how Force4Good automates 97% of the work involved in running an effective give-back fundraiser program.
