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Coffee Fundraisersby Angela Kuhns Many fundraisers have come and gone, but some are literally being pushed out the door. Between cookie dough, pizza kits, and other ‘weighty’ sellable items many organizations are looking for ways to address the obesity epidemic in our communities and school systems. In particular school districts are looking for new products that won’t promote obesity or cause people to run and hide behind closed doors. Enter: Coffee. Many don’t know this, but the benefits to doing a coffee fundraiser are unlimited. Coffee is one of the worlds most traded commodities, 2nd only to oil, with the Unites States being the largest coffee consuming nation on the earth. The coffee industry is quickly growing past $70 billion annually, with well over 400 billion cups consumed yearly. Coffee is the most popular beverage next to water, and some Financial Analysts believe that in the next 10-20 years coffee will even outgrow the oil industry! Every day, Americans drink more than 300 million cups of coffee, with 75 percent of those cups being brewed at home. Excuse the term, but talk about a ‘gold mine’ for organizations launching coffee fundraisers!
What makes coffee a perfect fundraising product for non-profits and schools alike is that it is a highly consumable and desired product that everybody already drinks. Many have found that you don’t have to convince or persuade anyone to purchase a premium cup of coffee to support an organization when compared to popcorn, candy bars, pizza, or cookie dough fundraisers. With no habits to change, and coffee being a daily consumable commodity in millions of American homes, coffee fundraisers provide a great source of revenue for organizations looking, and needing, to supplement their operating, revenue, and achieve stated financial goals. Preferred Types of Coffee FundraisersCoffee fundraisers that markets well in any economy are coffees that are certified organic and fair trade, are shade grown, and in addition help those in need in other parts of the world. The benefits to offering certified organic coffee in a fundraiser are not limited to the customer, but extend into the farming community itself, as well as the environment. Most coffees are grown in fertilizers and sprayed with herbicides, pesticides, and other chemical residues; each with their own health and environmental concerns. By purchasing certified organic coffee not only can the customer rest assure they are drinking a healthful cup of coffee, but that the farmers and their families are avoiding exposure to harmful chemicals. This also makes for healthier water supplies and soils for the wildlife and the people living in and working on the coffee farming communities. By distributing fair trade coffee through a fundraiser, you can create a positive impact for many generations to come. Through fair trade standards the coffee farmers are paid a premium, greater than market, price for their products to help them move from a position of vulnerability to one of security and economic self-sufficiency; which in turn contributes to the quality of life for the coffee growers, their families, and ultimately their region. Shade grown coffee plants are grown in, you guessed it… the shade. Because of the tree coverage, shade grown coffee ripens slower, preserving more nutrients and creating a more complex and flavorful cup than non-shade grown coffees. Shade grown coffee also helps to protect the natural ecosystem, preserve the natural biodiversity through conserving and restoring birds as well as other wildlife's habitations, and reduces erosion by trapping run off water. A few coffee fundraising companies are now even donating a percentage of their proceeds, or setting aside a designated price per each bag of coffee sold, to provide assistance to, and aid children in other parts of the world. These companies rank high on the list of distinguishable and noteworthy businesses that extend beyond the term philanthropy, and truly have a heart beat that resounds compassion for the needy and less fortunate. Coffee companies that will not only help a non-profit organization's immediate needs, but looks forward to coming generations and other's necessities is one that is essential to consider when choosing a coffee fundraiser. NEW Benefits to Coffee FundraisersA few companies are looking for ways to help simplify the fundraising process, and only a handful have accomplished just that. Prepare yourself, because this is not your mamma’s traditional fundraiser. :) With the leading popularity of the internet a few select companies are helping organizations raise the needed, necessary funds, without taking the staff’s time or recourses away from the programs they are already running. Through customized flyers, order forms, and marketing materials, the non-profit organization can distribute the coffee fundraiser in the same traditional fashion, but with the unconventional twist of needing little to no administrative effort to run it. The companies are set up so the organization has an online replicated website in which coffee orders are processed by credit card or checks; meaning there is no cash to carry, count or deposit for the parents, teachers, volunteers, or accountants. Even better, is that each bag of coffee is shipped directly to the organization’s customers which in return leaves no inventory to store, organize, distribute, or even handle! These two revolutionary processes alone can save hours of time and administrative effort in any non-profit organization. To further sales, and to help increase the school’s revenue, the program includes an on-going free advertisement campaign for the enrolled non-profit organization. Their customers will receive new promotions and product offerings with each shipment of coffee to help attract additional sales. This mean more revenue for the organization, but without any additional effort towards the coffee fundraiser. The most powerful force behind this revolutionary coffee fundraising system, and what has been taking these organizations financial sheets and stated goals to a whole new level, is the concept and power of Auto-ship. By placing a bag of coffee on auto-ship, the customer will receive a notable discounted price, and in return can support their desired organization on a monthly basis. This means, for the lifetime of their customers, the organization will continue to receive profits without any further work! Yes, that’s right. An organization’s auto-ship customers are theirs for as many years as they stay enrolled. This leverages the non-profit organizations fundraising efforts for maximum return, and creates an ongoing residual revenue stream! An additional benefit to these unique coffee fundraisers is that sales and income continue regardless of changes to any internal membership or leadership in the organization. Help leave a legacy behind and rest assure that as board members and staff move forward, know that you’ve taken the necessary steps to secure your organizations financial future. With a recession proof, constantly growing in demand, healthy and environmentally friendly product, now coupled with a convenient and powerful coffee fundraising opportunity, the possibilities really have become limitless. For the non-profit organizations already taking a hold of these amazing coffee fundraisers, it’s radically changed the management of how they raise funds, and has taken their goals and financial sheets to an all new levels. So let us grab our delicious bags of coffee and take pride in supporting the many worthy causes that fair trade, shade grown, and certified organic coffees stand for while helping to generate an ongoing residual, month after month, stream of revenue. Get the help your non-profit organization needs in this economic time, and lets impact our communities with a healing cup of coffee! Resourceswww.boreshacoffee.org/angelascoffeeshop Tags: fundraiser |
