Pay attention to your community.

All sorts of groups are raising funds in your community. School PTA
and PTO groups generally do a fall and a spring sale. Church youth
groups are busy right now raising money for mission trips. Girl
Scouts have finished their annual cookie sale. Baseball Leagues are
either right in the middle of or have just finished their annual
pizza sales. AAU teams and Junior Olympic teams that have won the
opportunity to move on to the next level are busy raising funds.
Youth football and soccer leagues are planning their fall drives.

Whether these groups are selling from a brochure, selling chocolate
bars, hosting dinners, doing car washes, or just asking for
donations, they are busy in your community. The impact of other
groups raising funds on your fundraising success is inescapable.
Timing is everything.

To maximize your income on your fundraiser, pay attention to what is
happening in your community and develop your own niche market and
market timing. In today's economy, selling frozen foods like pizza
or cookie dough might be your best choice. People will order these
grocery products from their grocery budgets. Frozen food products can
be sold over and over in the same community by a variety of groups
because people buy food every week. With good timing, careful program
choice, and an organized approach you can continue to reach your
fundraising goals, even in a time of rising gasoline prices and
declining discretionary spending!