Band trip accounts.

Over the years I have supplied fundraising programs to quite a number
of high school and middle school bands, most of which were raising
"travel money." I have one pair of bands... a middle school band
feeding a high school band... that is particularly successful in
fundraising, in member retention, and in competition results. Having
committed and talented teachers plays a major part in their success,
of course. One idea that they developed was to let the kids start
fundraising for their trip accounts from the very first year they
were in the program, and to let them carry their account balance with
them from middle school to high school. This has resulted in some
spectacular fundraising successes and also has, as a byproduct,
increased the percentage of kids that stay in band all the way
through high school. While having "money in the account" isn't a
major reason for staying in the band, it might just be the "tipping
point" for some kids that are "on the fence" about staying in band or
trying another subject.

The bands that are the most successful in their fundraising are using
our Food Court or Simply Delicious line of Zap-A-Snack microwaveable
pizzas, cheesecakes, cookie dough, and other frozen food items.

The ones with the high success rate also have a combined middle-high
school band boosters or music boosters, and often do combined band/
choir/high/middle projects. This results in one sale instead of four
sales, and generates more dollars for the entire program.

The ones with the most success also "apportion" the fundraising
profits between the kids' trip accounts and the boosters or band
general fund. The percentages vary from 40% to the trip account to
90% to the trip account. Half and half is the most prevalent split.

Some directors just use Excel or AppleWorks to keep their trip
records, while others use a dedicated band administration software
package.

If you would like more information, just email me, or give me a call
on the phone.