Safe Fundraising

Here are the generally accepted fundraising no-no's:

● Do not sell alone - ever!

● Do not sell door to door without a responsible adult

   present.

● Do not approach or talk to strangers.

● Do not enter anyone's house.

● Do not carry large amounts of cash.

● Do not sell in front of stores or malls without

   permission and a responsible adult present.

● Do not sell at stop lights or street corners.

Safety Do's

Incorporate these ideas into your fundraising campaign and safety rules:

● Stress common sense and safety.

● Follow all safety guidelines your group has

   established as minimum guidelines.

● Parents should be involved and supervise their

   child's fundraising.

● Make sure mom and dad pre approve who their

   children ask.

● If a child does go door to door with a responsible

   adult, only approach familiar houses.

● Never go out to sell after dark.

● Walk away from any dangerous or unfamiliar

   situations.

● Immediately notify your parent or teacher of any

   strange activity.

Practice Safe Sales Techniques

There are many creative ways to make your fundraising sales goals without compromising safety.

Here are some good ones:

● Sell to your relatives (parents, aunts/uncles and grandparents).

● Ask your relatives to sell at work and to their friends.

● With parents permission, children may telephone friends and neighbors they know.

At Diamond Square Fundraising, we have designed our sales programs and brochures with tips and techniques to encourage safe fundraising. Our Sales Kits include safety instructions that you will pass to your fundraisers during your fundraising kickoff.

Get the Safety Message Out

The most important part of safe fundraising is getting the message out to the kids, parents and volunteers. If they don't know what you expect of them, how can they do it? Make sure everyone concerned gets a printed copy of the fundraising guidelines. Review the guidelines with the kids. Many groups now send safety guidelines home with the kids and have them returned, signed by the parents.

The Bottom Line

It is not just about raising money. Fundraising is an excellent time to re-enforce the everyday rules for children's safety and to encourage the use of common sense in worldly situations. Do not try and scare the kids, use this opportunity as a learning experience. If presented correctly and supervised properly, fundraising can be a positive life experience for a child. It can teach the benefits of volunteering, philanthropy and responsibility.