Fundraiser Guide: Selling Discount Cards

If you’re looking for an effective and community-driven fundraising strategy, then selling discount cards is a smart choice. This approach allows you to raise essential funds for your cause while offering value to the local community. Whether you’re supporting a school event, a sports team, a charity, or any other cause, fundraiser cards are a great tool to help you reach your financial goals.

Discount card fundraisers stand out because of their high-profit potential and low overhead. Unlike traditional methods like bake sales or car washes, discount card fundraisers can offer nearly 100% profit. Your supporters get something tangible and valuable, such as discounts at local businesses, while you raise funds for your cause.

Local businesses love partnering with small business fundraiser cards because they bring them exposure and new customers. Big Fundraising Ideas highlights that discount card fundraisers can yield up to 90% profit margins, significantly higher than the 50% margins often seen with product-based fundraisers. It’s a win-win for everyone involved:

Your cause raises funds, local businesses gain exposure, and supporters enjoy valuable savings.

What Are Fundraiser Discount Cards?

Fundraiser cards are discount cards offered to supporters in exchange for a small donation or a purchase. The idea is simple:

Supporters pay for a card that gives them discounts at local businesses.

This means they save money, businesses get more foot traffic, and you raise money for your cause.

Why They Work

Fundraiser discount cards provide value to the buyer while helping your cause. Whether you are raising money for a school, sports team, or charity, these cards are an easy sell, especially when the discounts are tied to local businesses that your supporters already love.

Fundraiser Discount Cards Near Me: The Local Advantage

When you’re trying to sell fundraiser discount cards near me, you tap into the power of local partnerships. People love supporting their community, and by offering discounts to local businesses, you’re creating a win-win situation for everyone involved.

Working with local businesses builds stronger connections within the community. Your supporters feel like they’re making a direct impact by helping small businesses while also contributing to a cause they care about. Plus, local businesses benefit from the increased traffic brought by the discounts, which keeps them motivated to continue supporting the fundraiser.

Power of Small Business Fundraiser Cards

One of the most effective ways to make your fundraiser stand out is by partnering with small businesses. Small business fundraiser cards offer unique advantages that big brands can’t match. For one, small businesses are often more willing to offer generous discounts since they have a more personal connection with their customers.

Why Small Businesses Love Fundraisers

Community Engagement: Small businesses thrive on local engagement. Partnering with fundraisers shows they care about their community.
Increased Traffic: Offering a discount card encourages more visits from potential customers, increasing both foot traffic and sales.
Positive Brand Image: Supporting causes, especially local ones, boosts the reputation of small businesses, making them more appealing to socially conscious customers.

How Do I Sell Discount Cards as a Fundraiser?

There are many great ways to sell discount cards for your fundraiser. Let’s take a look at 8 smart strategy tips for making your fundraiser a huge success.

1. Choose Local Businesses to Partner With

One of the key elements to a successful fundraiser discount card campaign is partnering with local businesses. These businesses have a strong connection to the community and are likely to be willing to support your cause, especially if they see an opportunity for increased exposure. Local businesses also tend to have loyal customers, which can help generate more sales for your fundraiser cards.

How to Approach Local Businesses:

Research Local Options: Look for businesses that are frequently visited and well-known in your community. This could include restaurants, coffee shops, gyms, beauty salons, or retail stores.
Prepare a Pitch: When approaching business owners, prepare a professional pitch that highlights the mutual benefits. Explain how their business will gain exposure and new customers through the discount cards. Make sure to emphasize that this is a low-cost marketing opportunity for them.
Offer Exclusive Deals: Businesses are more likely to say yes if they feel that their participation in the fundraiser will give them something extra, such as a chance to attract new customers. Offering an exclusive discount for your fundraiser cards can make the deal more attractive.

Tips:

Tailor Your Pitch: Customize your pitch depending on the business. If you’re reaching out to a local café, mention how the cards could bring in coffee lovers. If you’re speaking to a clothing store, highlight how the discounts might attract shoppers.
Start with Businesses You Know: If you or someone on your team has a personal connection to any local businesses, start there. A familiar face can make the process smoother and increase your chances of success.

2. Set a Price That Works for Everyone

Setting the right price for your fundraiser discount cards is crucial. Too high, and people may not buy. Too low, and you might not raise enough money. The price of the cards should be affordable for most people, but also high enough to help you achieve your fundraising goals.

How to Set the Right Price:

Know Your Goal: Before setting a price, define how much money you need to raise. If your goal is to raise $2,000, and each card is priced at $20, you’ll need to sell 100 cards. Be realistic about how many cards you expect to sell, based on your target audience.
Consider the Discounts: The value of the discounts on the cards should justify the price. If the discounts are substantial (e.g., 20% off meals or $10 off a purchase of $50), people are more likely to purchase the card even at a slightly higher price.
Price Range: Most fundraiser cards are sold between $10 and $25. Keep in mind that for higher-priced cards, the discounts should also be of significant value to encourage sales.

Tips:

Factor in Bulk Pricing: Offer incentives for bulk purchases. For example, if someone buys five cards, offer a small discount. This can increase your sales volume, especially for those buying for friends and family.
Offer Different Tiers: If your community has different budgets, you might offer different pricing tiers. For example, a basic card for $10 with fewer discounts, and a premium card for $20 with more exclusive offers.

3. Market Your Cards Online and Offline

Effective marketing is essential when selling fundraiser discount cards. The more people know about the fundraiser, the more likely they are to make a purchase. Combine both online and offline strategies for maximum reach.

How to Market Your Fundraiser:

Social Media: Use platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to promote the fundraiser. Share pictures of the discount cards, highlight participating businesses, and post testimonials from satisfied cardholders. Regularly update followers on the fundraiser’s progress.
Email Campaigns: If you have access to an email list, send out messages detailing the fundraiser. Make the emails personal and engaging—highlight how buying the card can help your cause while saving money at local businesses.
Flyers and Posters: Print promotional materials to display in local community centers, shops, schools, and libraries. These will catch the attention of passersby and provide all the necessary details for those interested in buying.
Events and Booths: Set up a booth at local events or near high-traffic areas to sell the cards in person. Having a physical presence makes it easy for people to grab a card on the spot.

Tips:

Leverage Local Media: If you have connections with local newspapers or radio stations, ask them to feature your fundraiser. Free publicity can help spread the word to a larger audience.
Use Hashtags: On social media, use relevant hashtags (e.g., #fundraiser, #localbusiness, #discountcards) to increase your reach and visibility.

4. Incentivize the Sellers

When you have volunteers or a team selling fundraiser discount cards, it’s important to keep them motivated. Offering rewards or prizes for top sellers can lead to higher sales and a more engaged team.

How to Motivate Sellers:

Reward the Top Sellers: Provide prizes or certificates to those who sell the most cards. This could include gift cards, branded merchandise, or public recognition at an event.
Set Team Goals: Encourage group efforts by setting team-based goals. If the team collectively sells 500 cards, for example, they can earn a special group outing or a meal.

Tips:

Gamify the Process: Make it a fun competition. For example, have weekly or monthly challenges, with rewards for the highest sellers. This adds an element of excitement to the fundraiser.
Make it Personal: Create a personal connection by motivating your team with a heartfelt message about how their hard work is directly supporting your cause.

5. Set Clear Sales Goals

Setting clear goals gives your team a target to work toward, and it helps keep everyone focused and motivated. Knowing exactly how many cards you need to sell and what the fundraising goal is will help drive action.

How to Set and Track Goals:

Realistic Sales Goals: Based on your target audience, estimate how many cards you can realistically sell. Track your progress to ensure you stay on track.
Daily or Weekly Targets: Break down your larger goal into smaller, manageable chunks. For instance, if your goal is to sell 200 cards in 30 days, your weekly target would be around 50 cards.
Track Progress: Create a system for tracking sales. Whether it’s a shared document, a physical chart, or a digital tool, tracking helps everyone see how far they’ve come and how much more they need to sell.

Tips:

Celebrate Milestones: Celebrate reaching smaller milestones (e.g., 25% of your goal). This keeps the momentum high and encourages more effort.
Be Flexible: If you’re not hitting your targets, adjust your strategy. Maybe you need more marketing efforts or additional incentives for sellers.

6. Make It Easy to Buy

The easier it is for people to buy your fundraiser cards, the more likely they are to make a purchase. Make the buying process simple and convenient for everyone involved.

How to Make Purchasing Easy:

Offer Online Sales: If possible, set up an online platform where people can buy and pay for the cards directly. Use secure payment methods like PayPal, Venmo, or credit card services to streamline the process.
Sell in Person: Have physical cards on hand to sell at events, or allow your team to sell them at local venues. Accept cash, credit cards, and other forms of payment.
Multiple Payment Options: Provide different ways for people to pay. If you offer both online and in-person sales, include options like credit/debit cards, cash, and mobile payment apps like Venmo or Cash App.

Tips:

Easy Checkout: Make sure the checkout process is as simple as possible for both online and in-person sales. Avoid asking for too much information or creating too many steps to complete a transaction.
Offer Mobile Payment: If you’re selling in person, consider using a mobile payment system like Square or PayPal Here, which allows you to accept card payments on the go.

7. Follow Up with Supporters

Once someone buys a fundraiser loyalty cards, follow up with a thank you message. Not only does this show appreciation, but it also keeps your supporters engaged for future fundraising efforts.

How to Follow Up:

Thank You Notes: Send out a thank-you email or card to every person who purchases a card. You can personalize it and let them know how their support is making a difference.
Updates on Progress: Keep your supporters updated on how much money has been raised and how the funds are being used. This will show that their contribution is truly making a difference.

Tips:

Create a Loyalty Program: Consider creating a loyalty program for those who frequently support your fundraisers. Offer them special deals or early access to your next fundraiser as a reward for their continued support.

8. Evaluate Your Fundraiser

Once your fundraiser ends, take time to review what worked well and what didn’t. By evaluating your efforts, you can improve future fundraising campaigns.

How to Evaluate:

Review Sales Data: Look at how many cards were sold, which businesses were most successful, and what methods generated the most sales.
Get Feedback: Ask sellers and customers for feedback. What did they enjoy about the process? What could be improved next time?

Tips:

Learn and Adapt: Use feedback and data from this fundraiser to make your next one even better. Continuously improving your fundraising methods will lead to greater success.

Your Call

Selling high-profit fundraiser cards is an effective way to raise money for your cause while benefiting local businesses. By partnering with businesses, setting the right price, marketing your cards, and following up with supporters, you’ll be well on your way to achieving your fundraising goals. Remember to stay organized, motivate your team, and track your progress along the way.

Take your fundraising to the next level with DuraCard. Connect with us today to start selling discount cards that bring real value to your supporters and drive success for your cause!

How Do I Sell Discount Cards as a Fundraiser?