If you’re looking for a creative and easy way to fundraise, selling discount cards may be the perfect solution for you! These cards offer great value to customers, and they’re a fun and easy way to support your favorite cause.
But how do you go about selling them? Read on for tips to get started. Here’s everything you need to know about selling discount cards as a fundraiser.
Discount Cards as A Fundraiser - What Are They and How Do They Work?
Discount cards are a type of fundraiser where businesses offer discounts or specials to cardholders. The proceeds from the sale of the cards go to support the cause or organization selling them.
How does it work?
Businesses partner with the fundraising organization and agree to provide a discount or special offer to cardholders. The organization then designs, prints, and sells the cards.
The cards can be sold year-round or offered for a limited time only, like during a holiday season. They usually cost around $10-20, and the discounts can range from 10-50% off.
Local businesses and restaurants are the most common examples of businesses partnering for such causes, but almost any type of business can participate.
Why do discount cards work well?
The reason behind their success is simple; the rewards or discounts incentivize people to buy the cards, and then they use them at their favorite businesses. It’s a win-win for everyone involved!
Customers get special discounts while also supporting a cause they care for. On the other hand, businesses get new customers and the good feeling of supporting a worthy cause.
Preparation: What Do You Need to Do to Get Ready to Sell Discount Cards?
Before you start selling discount cards, you’ll need to do a few things to get prepared.
- You need to have a team of volunteers. They won’t only help you sell them but can also lend a hand in other business aspects. For example, they can help you recruit businesses, maintain data, and print or distribute cards.
- Have a planner to note important details like the businesses you will contact about partnering with you, the discounts they’re offering, and other information. This will help you keep track of everything and ensure a smooth-running fundraiser.
- You also need to choose a sales strategy. There are many ways to sell discount cards, so choosing the one that will work best for you is important. For example, you can sell them online, door-to-door, at local storefronts, or at events.
- Have a website or Facebook page to look more professional. It will also make it easier for you to spread the word and sell the cards.
- Calculate your break-even point to ensure you don’t get into a financial crunch. Figure out the number of cards you need to sell to cover your production and distribution costs. Then, choose a higher sales target to maximize profits for for the fundraiser’s goal.
Now that you know what’s needed to get started let’s move on to finding businesses to partner with you.
Partnering Or Recruiting Businesses: How to Find Businesses That Will Partner with You for Your Discount Card Fundraiser?
Now you’ll need to find businesses willing to participate in your fundraiser. You can do this by reaching out to local businesses and asking if they’d be interested in offering a discount to cardholders.
Local restaurants, grocery stores, retail shops, and service providers are all great options. Be sure to ask each business what type of discount they’re willing to offer before you finalize anything. You’ll need to be proactive and have a list of potential businesses ready before approaching them. This will help you in two ways:
- You can have your volunteers visit them on your behalf and easily keep track of partner businesses.
- You and your team members can be prepared to answer any questions these businesses might have.
Tip: Try and get a variety of businesses on board so cardholders can get multiple benefits from your campaign. The key is to appeal to as many people as possible so you can sell a maximum number of cards.
Design, Printing, And Distribution: How to Get Your Discount Cards Printed and Distributed?
Once you’ve recruited some businesses for your fundraising campaign, you’ll need to design and print your discount cards. This aspect is crucial because it will determine how successful your campaign is. Your design should be eye-catching, easy to understand, and have all the necessary details. So, include all participating businesses’ names and logos and any other relevant information, such as expiration dates or contact info.
Tip: If you’re unsure how to design your cards, use online templates or hire a professional designer on a project basis. If you know another school or organization that has done something similar, reach out to them to see how they designed their materials.
Finally, you’ll need to print and distribute your cards. Use a professional printing service to get your cards printed. Try not to save money by using low-quality materials, as it will reflect poorly on your campaign. As for distribution, you can ask your volunteers to help you sell the cards door-to-door, at local events or businesses, or through your website or social media channels.
Benefits: Why Sell Discount Cards as A Fundraiser?
Discount cards are a great fundraiser option because they offer a win-win situation for everyone involved. The businesses get more customers, the cardholders get discounts, and you get to raise money for your cause. Plus, they’re easy to sell and can be fun too!
If you’re looking for a creative and successful fundraiser, then selling discount cards is worth considering.
Bonus Tips for A Successful Campaign
Here are a few bonus tips to make sure your fundraiser is a success:
- Have a goal in mind: Your goal will help you stay focused and motivated throughout the campaign. Plus, you’ll have a target to reach, making it more exciting.
- Keep track of your progress: Running a fundraiser can be exhaustive, and you might feel lost. Tracking your progress will help you see how well your campaign is doing and make necessary changes if needed.
- Have a plan: A plan will help you stay organized and execute your project better. Plus, it’ll make it easier for you to delegate tasks to your team members.
- Digitalize your campaign: Promoting your cause on your own can be challenging. Digitalizing your campaign or using software solutions can make it easier to promote, sell and manage your campaign.
At LeanStream, we have various fundraising solutions to help you manage your discount card sales and distributions. Plus, our customized digital fundraising solutions can also help you with promotion, sales, and campaign performance.
Interested in learning more? Get in touch with us today!
