Fundraising Event

[Faith Vending]

Anyone out there done a fundraiser event? I have been approached by an elementary school to participate in a spring event and have accepted. I am not sure how to structure my part. I'm sure there is not much profit but great PR for my business.

[sherlock]

Why would you believe "I am sure there is not much profit"?

Is it because the majority of gross is going to the school or something else?

I haven't done this before but am glad you brought up the subject.

I would like to do the same for my kids' school, but I also don't know how to structure it.

Please let us know how things go for you.

[caserri]

There is a great school fundraising event in the PLUS section. I have used it with great success. Check it out. I also posted the proposal I submitted to the school. Feel free to modify it to fit your needs.

Here is a direct link to the thread. (Must be a PLUS member)

http://vendiscuss.com/forum/index.php?topic=781.0

[sherlock]

There is a great school fundraising event in the PLUS section. I have used it with great success. Check it out. I also posted the proposal I submitted to the school. Feel free to modify it to fit your needs.

Here is a direct link to the thread. (Must be a PLUS member)

http://VENDiscuss.com/forum/index.php?topic=781.0

I've tried that one a few times and haven't had success with it....yet.

I'll keep trying.

I got the impression that the "event" faith vending was referring to was just that, an actual event.

Something like a school festival.

I may be wrong about what faith vending was referring to, but that "school festival" thing is what I've been considering.

[Faith Vending]

I am referring to an actual event in the school where I would have a space to bring my product. I am playing phone tag with the school administrator so details are sketchy. I have agreed to participate; I am hoping I just rent the space for the event at a reasonable fee. If they want all my proceeds then I'm not interested. If the want half I'll have to think about it, as I said the goodwill and exposure has some value.

[T BIRD]

Sounds like fun Jim.  Good luck with it.

[lurtsman]

See if you can swing it into having a spiral installed in the school permanently with a percentage of sales going to support an annual event for the school. Funding has been a nightmare for the inefficient bureaucracy. I guess it's that way by definition though. Not much money to make for your time with only having one night to sell things. The good will could be something--particularly if you used it as an opportunity to canvas for more locations. "Help me install a machine like this, anx x% of the proceeds go to the schools Y program."

[Hillbilly]

Be pretty cool if you had some wristbands with the school mascot on them and "Go Team" on the other side.  In 2" capsules. They would sell good IMO.  If you have enough time.

[Faith Vending]

Well we never stop learning in business or life. I did not get in the spring fundraiser because all spaces are full @ $25 for the space. I am not directly connected to the school and relied on an administrator to help me out. I should have shown up at the school and spoken with her or the principal in person. My mistake. I will be in the fall fundraiser for sure after staying in touch personally with school officials till the next event. I got the lead because a rack I have in a grocery store is used by kids from this school which is a few blocks away. I should have known better than to rely on someone I met only briefly and followed with a few phone calls. Live and learn.

[whaletail116]

The networking alone would be well worth the 100% commission to the charity.  A full 5-headed rack with some toys, candy and gumballs costs you what?  $100?  Maybe it sells out maybe it grosses $40.  Any sort of any kind of social skills will easily land you 5+ locations off rip.  Then they'll start telling their friends how this guy who has gumball machines is buying the B League Yankees team their jerseys this year.  Now that lady wants one of your machines in her husband's pizza joint.

But maybe they only want 50% commission.

Do this.  Get your name out there.

[Faith Vending]

100% commission to charity? Put down the crack pipe whale. I don't know where you are coming from.

[whaletail116]

For a few hours?  You'll be out maybe $30 or $40.  You'll cover that cost with just one location. 

[Faith Vending]

I think I can get pr and goodwill without giving away the store. If I have good social skills I should be able to work a better deal than 100% don't you think?

[whaletail116]

I don't do charity vending as I think it is a little too fraudulent.  That being said, I would definitely take this opportunity and give them any commission rate they wanted while easily landing several locations.

Also, when I do donate either time or money to charity, I do it because I want to, and therefore, don't mind actually GIVING.

[Faith Vending]

"Give them any commission they wanted" I would love to do a deal with you. In my former career we called people like you lay downs.

[whaletail116]

Dictionary.com defines charity as generous actions or donations to aid the poor, ill, or helpless and something given to a person or persons in need. 

The day I start negotiating to lower commissions with "the poor, ill, or helpless" is the day I exit the vending industry.  Pretty shallow in my opinion.  If you actually want to give, that's fantastic, take a look a Kelly's post above. 

Too many location owners are duped into believing that more of the machine's revenue is being donated than what actually is.  That's borderline fraud.

I let all of my locations know that if they don't care for the generally small amount of commission, that I will donate those funds to the Johnson Country Humane Society.  I've adopted two homeless kittens before this previous winter and helping those who have less and are in need provides the most joy in my life and I'm all for it. 

Each soda or beer can that either of my six roommates or myself drinks eventually finds its way next to a local dumpster for the less fortunate to collect.  Each Thursday afternoon I spend several hours being a "big brother" to a kid who's parents could also care less.  It's not something I "negotiate" my time with or do simply to build a resume and I'm always looking to include him in every opportunity I can (it was a long basketball season for the both of us).

I wouldn't have minded doing business with you in my "previous career" as well.  You'd have been referred to as a "non-factor."

[whaletail116]

Anyways, back to the pipe.

[Faith Vending]

It is very admirable that you give your time and resources to help other people; more should do it and probably would if our government didn't TAKE so much from us. I find it ironic you are a charitable person but trash charity vending. The awards I just handed out to my best locations from my charity said over $800,000 was raised last year from their vending program. That's a lot of quarters. Then again, maybe that is a lie, the same one charity vendors pitch. Besides, I am speaking more to your business sense rather than your charity.

[whaletail116]

I do not trash charity vending when ethics are involved.  The charity route is pitched to secure the location, and you know as well as I do, that many bulk vendors just simply stop sending their charity "donations."

I'm still young but maybe it's your "business sense" that is off. 

It seems like a good opportunity to me, I would do it.

Do you attempt to negotiate a commission on the cake your wife bakes for the local church's bake sale?

[Faith Vending]

You make no sense.

[whaletail116]

You're too funny!

[The Mage]

Yup, the charity vending discussion is back on the table.

I do charity vending.  I signed up with NCCS, and their literature states that currently $800K is received through their charity vending program.  I did look them up on the BBB website before I signed up.

They have a location letter that we are supposed to supply to the location, and it specifically states that there is a fixed amount given every month regardless of sales, and the sticker says the same thing, although neither actually say how much.

I do believe the charity would prefer to set up a percentage instead of the $1 or $1.50 a month, but I believe they do it this way for 2 reasons.  First it is unfortunate that some people would put the sticker on, and not donate anything, or lie, and not donate as much if anything.  This guarantees they are getting a benefit.

Second it motivates the vendors to sign up because of the small cost involved.

One of my locations asked if I was supposed to give a commission to them.  (Not the person who approved it.)  I mentioned the charity, mentioned they are getting a portion of the profits.  (I am personally guaranteeing 15% of my net is going to the charity.)  Then I told her that I also do commission, and if they would prefer to switch, that it was up to them.  They didn't switch.

I will answer all and any questions posed to me honestly, and be completely forthcoming with people if they inquire.  Even if they say what they think is going on, and it is incorrect, then I will correct them. 

Regardless if how you feel, the charity is still getting money.  They are still benefiting.  They really get no benefit from commission locations.

Don't be harsh on the people doing charity vending, but do be harsh on the ones who intentionally misrepresent it, or out and out lie about it.  Don't bunch us all together.