Step Nine: Collect Payments in Advance

This seems so basic, but it really is one of the keys to making your wreath fundraiser a little more streamlined.  We'll briefly discuss why you should collect payments for the fresh wreaths and evergreens when you are making the sale below.  It's basic and it's an easy thing to do as well. Simply remind all your sellers to collect for the fresh wreaths and evergreens when they make the sale or when someone is placing their order.  What forms of payment you can accept is up to your group, but cash and checks are the most common forms of payment.  Remember to have your customers make their checks out to your nonprofit organization.  When it comes time to pay your invoice is when the check from your nonprofit organization is made out to Sherwood Forest Farms.  Also, we have heard of groups setting up PayPal accounts for accepting payments.  This might be an interesting option to consider for your nonprofit organization.  If you have anyone savvy about this sort of payment option, be sure to enlist their help in getting it set up.

By collecting payments at the time of sale instead of during distribution, when it comes time to distribute your fresh wreaths and evergreens, you will avoid the risks of getting stuck with ordered but unpaid for evergreens.  You also have implemented a natural incentive for people to come pick up their items from your Christmas wreath fundraiser.

For the Direct Delivery Gift Items you must collect payment at the time of sale because those fresh wreaths and evergreens ship directly to the recipient.  You do not have an opportunity to interact again with your customer when distributing the wreath or other evergreen because it has already been delivered.  Most nonprofit organizations find since they are collecting for these items, it's very easy and much less confusing to also collect payment for the case products that may be ordered at the same time.

What do you think?  Is this something your group already does?

We hope this advice will help your group in their wreath fundraiser efficiency!