Must I Offer A Prize Program?
There is no simple answer to this question. Prizes when done right create excitement, enthusiasm and reward individuals for a "job well done." Prizes & Incentives can help your fundraiser DO BETTER! Groups using prize programs achieve better results than groups without a prize program. Schools or groups that offer prizes have more people participate. These sellers are more motivated and as a result, your fundraiser runs better and raises more money. Prizes are a terrific way to say "thank you" and "congratulations!"

Am I REQUIRED to offer a prize program?
Absolutely not. We do not require any group to offer incentives. Some sellers have their own reasons for incentives. Earning dollars to be applied to a trip expense etc.

How much do I need to spend if I don't choose a color brochure prize program?
Costs should be reasonable, most sellers are helping earn money for a group that they identify with and want to help out. Spending too little "being chintzy" and overspending "wasting money" does not guarantee better results. Most groups spend an average cost of about three to five percent of expected sales. Prize costs should be in proportion to your group's size and your expected goal. The bigger the goal - the more you need incentives! Give awards and have drawings for sellers who don't reach the top seller category. You make more money if 200 people sell 5 items, than if 5 people sell 30 items! Prize costs can be drastically reduced by seeking business partners who will donate prizes. Make a plan and call ahead a make arrangements to meet when they are not experiencing their peak time of the work day. Identify yourself and present a request on group letterhead paper, if possible. There is no single "Best Prize". Great prizes depend on your group's age, size and type.

Prizes basically come in two types: Design Your Own or Pre-Packaged Programs. Alphafundraising offers 10 great color brochure prize programs. These offerings specialize in constructing prize programs that offer great incentives for any group's requirements. Please review these prize programs and select one that best fits your group. Plus we offer numerous suggestions for creating your own prize programs.

What kind of prize program should our group present to the sellers?
Prizes are generally awarded based on three variations or a combination of these variables.
#1 - Top Seller awards are based upon amounts sold or amounts collected. These are generally considered to be the grand prizes. Some examples of grand prizes are TV's, DVD Players, Electronic Game Equipment, Cash Awards, Prom Tickets, Concert Tickets etc. Several prizes may be awarded to your top sellers. Example: Create awards for the Top 3 Sellers, Top 5 Sellers or Top 10 sellers.

#2 - Step-level prizes are considered non-competitive and are awarded based upon a seller reaching a certain target goal. Example: Sellers earn prizes if they attain goals of $50, $100, $150, $200 in amounts sold. Prizes for step-level prize programs increase in value as the goal increases.

#3 - Class or Team awards are based on top seller within their group. Some project co-ordinators offer awards to as many as the top three groups. Example: An elementary school may offer Ice Cream Sundae Parties for the Top Selling Class in grades Kdg - 1st, 2nd - 3rd, 4th - 5th. In addition to awarding the top classes, don't forget the group leaders or teachers who helped them be a winners. Prizes take more time, cost and effort!

"We don't believe in prizes." - Our kids will do it for the good of the school.
"We don't believe in competition."
Have you forgotten what it was like when you were a kid? You didn't do it just for the good of the school and the kids today are no different. Prizes were important then and prizes are just as important now. Prizes make it fun and prizes are an important way of recognizing those who have done a great job!

What if they cause a problem?
You don't believe in competition. Okay, when did your school stop giving grades or evaluating school's academic performance or assessing teachers' skills or when did colleges stop looking at SAT's and GPA's? We are also against mean or unfair competition but fundraising isn't about meanness or unfairness. Fundraising is about doing important things for your group that otherwise would not be provided for.