An online popcorn fundraiser for schools

A simple school fundraiser that runs itself

School budgets stretch further every year, and the extras that make a school special, like field trips, new library books, classroom supplies, art programs and end-of-year events, often depend on fundraising. The trouble is that most school fundraisers create a mountain of work: order forms to collect, cash and checks to count, and boxes to sort and hand out on pickup day.

Stevie G's Popcorn Fundraiser takes that work away. Your school's organizer starts a free fundraiser in the Stevie G's app, sets a goal and an end date, and invites the volunteers and staff who want to help. Each helper gets a personal selling link to share by text, email or social media. Supporters order gourmet popcorn online, pay securely at checkout, and every bag ships straight to their door. Nobody at the school stores, sorts or delivers a thing.

How to run a successful school popcorn fundraiser

1. Pick one clear goal. "New library books" raises more than "general fund." Put the goal in your fundraiser name so every link shows it.

2. Choose a short window. Two to three weeks keeps energy high. You can extend a fundraiser while it is still running if you need more time.

3. Recruit a few helpers early. Ask staff, PTA volunteers and alumni to join with your invite code before you announce the fundraiser.

4. Share the link where your school already talks. School newsletters, email lists, the website and social pages all work. Every sale from a helper's link counts for your school.

5. Celebrate progress. Post updates as you pass 25%, 50% and 75% of your goal. Momentum brings in the last orders.

6. Time it with the season. Gourmet popcorn makes an easy gift, so the weeks before the holidays and back-to-school season work especially well.

7. Put next year's date on the calendar. The day this fundraiser ends, add next year's start date to the school calendar, while what worked is still fresh.

Make it a yearly school tradition

Popcorn works best as an annual event, not a constant ask. Pick one season and stay with it: for most schools that is the fall, early in the school year, when the calendar for the year is being set. Run it once a year, at the same time each year. Supporters look forward to something that comes around like a holiday, and they tire of a request that returns every few months. The second year is easier than the first, because supporters already know how ordering works and your volunteers already know the steps.