A popcorn fundraiser for field trips and mission trips

Help the whole group get there

A trip can be the most memorable part of a year, and the most expensive: transportation, lodging, admission and program fees, meals and, for mission trips, materials for the work itself. Trip leaders and chaperones plan routes, forms and schedules for months, and the cost is often the thing that decides who can go. Fundraising that starts early and runs smoothly is what turns a trip from possible into certain.

With Stevie G's, the trip leader or organizing group starts a free fundraiser in the app, sets a goal tied to the cost of the trip and a last day well before the deposit is due, and invites helpers with a code. Each helper gets a personal link to share with relatives, coworkers and friends. Supporters order gourmet popcorn online and pay at checkout, and every bag ships to their door. The group receives its share through Stripe after the fundraiser ends.

How to run a successful trip popcorn fundraiser

1. Start early. Begin two to three months before the trip, so the fundraiser ends well before the final payment is due.

2. Put the destination in the name. "Washington, D.C. trip" or "spring mission trip" makes every shared link more personal and more memorable.

3. Show the cost. Tell supporters what the trip costs per traveler and how much the fundraiser will cover. A clear number invites a clear response.

4. Invite past travelers. People who went on earlier trips know what it meant and are often the first to help the next group go.

5. Share updates as you go. Post when you reach a quarter, a half and three quarters of the goal, with a thank-you each time.

6. Bring supporters along. After the trip, share a few lines and a photo of the place you visited, so supporters see what they helped happen and want to help the next group too.

7. Start the next trip's clock now. The day this fundraiser ends, note when next year's fundraiser should begin: two to three months before the next departure.

Make it a yearly part of trip planning

If your group travels every year, make the popcorn fundraiser the first step of every trip. Start it two to three months before departure, at the same point in each year's planning, so supporters know it is coming. Once a year is the right pace: an annual trip fundraiser feels like part of a tradition, while repeated requests every few months tire out even the most generous relatives. Each year after the first is easier, because supporters already know how ordering works and the plan is already written.