Fundraising Testimonial

Lessons from a Veteran Fundraiser

By,

Anna Gerike

I've sold fruit for the Reedsburg FFA for four years and have been participating in fundraisers for much longer. Through it all, I've learned that persistence is valuable, even if it can feel annoying at times. I've seen firsthand that this persistence often pays off. I've also learned to accept "no" as an answer, and that it’s okay to be turned down. And I've discovered that fundraising is surprisingly competitive—getting to a high-volume buyer first comes with serious bragging rights.

My fundraising career started at age 8 with Girl Scouts, selling boxes upon boxes of cookies. The cookie fundraiser was one of my favorites. I would set up a table at my church—a tiny one outside of Sauk City—and people would go crazy. At the time, I was the only Girl Scout in the congregation, and everyone loved those cookies. (They really are that good!)

My next, and most successful, fundraiser was selling ButterBraids for St. Peter’s. Many people bought them simply because it's such a great product. The fundraiser also ran right before Christmas, so people were buying for their holiday parties. From a marketing perspective, the timing was perfect.

My most recent fundraiser is the FFA fruit sale, the biggest one Reedsburg FFA does all year. This is the fundraiser I've learned the most from. I've learned that people will often be buying from other sellers, and that's okay. It’s also about who you know. I have a mix of customers: those who don't want to wait 4-6 weeks for their fruit and those who patiently do. Many are willing to wait specifically for our grapefruit; some buyers swear it's better than anything you can get at the grocery store.

So, after all these years, what have I learned as a dedicated fundraiser?

• You have to talk to people. If you don’t, you won't sell anything.

• Be happy! Nobody wants to buy from a grumpy person.

• Being told, “I’m okay, thanks,” doesn't mean they hate you or what you're selling. They just don't want any, and that's alright.

• Don't expect to be the highest seller your first year.

• Have fun while doing it!