You’ve picked out your fundraising charity, you’ve decided what you will be selling for your campaign, you’ve also picked out local sites with the most amount of likely buyers, but have you done the most important step for your campaign? Have you prepared your volunteers for what to expect as they start the campaign?

Focusing your Troops

Just before you send your troops into the trenches you’ll have to prepare them in what to expect. How many times have you allotted chocolate bars to your volunteers only to have them hand back their share at the end of the campaign because they were too shy to ask for the donation.

One great way to motivate your team is to redefine the selling aspect. Many people are timid to approach strangers and ask for donations. Ask them to simply start with friends and family. Ask them to take out the notion of the hard sell to people. Simply mention to your close acquaintances that you are part of a fundraising campaign for a charity, or institution. Mention what service or product is given in exchange for the donation. If the potential donor is open to the conversation simply mention the price and would he like to proceed? This is process of talking about your campaign is very simple and not stress inducing. People will simply tell you if they are going to take part in this or not.

Getting Your Troops Past Objections

Fundraising can intimidate some people. They feel pressure, seeing the job as a sales gig. Your job is to encourage your volunteers. Get them to set a time every week that the campaign runs to get out and sell the product. Donors see fundraising as an act of charity and not an aggressive sales tactic. Donations tend to come fairly easy. Your volunteers should experience little resistance but actually encouragement from most donors. In addition to this, many volunteers are said to have the feeling of "helpers high." This feeling is an uplifting feeling knowing that you’ve just contributed to the general good of the team, organization or community service. Keep your team updated on the fundraising and how close they are to the goal, or what the money is going towards to give them an extra boost.

Reward Them for a Job Well Done

Your troops have gone out into battle, worked hard and raised money. It’s time for a reward for your team. Throw a little celebration for them. Depending on your budget or group order out for Pizza, present achievement certificates or some kind of age appropriate recognition. Who doesn’t want to be thanked for the work they do. This builds good relations and continued support for your future fundraising projects.