Brick fundraisers are an effective way to generate revenue for a construction project. Personalized bricks, pavers, and tiles help donors become a part of the finished product and can be stacked to form walls or walkways.
To achieve successful results, the campaign must be well organized from start to finish. This includes planning, identifying a financial goal, and setting deadlines for donations.
1. Decide on a Design
Brick fundraising may seem a little outside of the ordinary when it comes to product fundraisers, but it is actually quite simple. The idea is that you sell the right to have a supporter’s name or other text (depending on the engraving company) engraved onto a paver or brick, which is then used in an installation project. This can be a walkway, patio, garden wall or part of a building. It is the perfect way to honor someone or create a memorial.
The first step in a brick fundraiser is deciding on the size of the installation area, which will determine how many bricks or tiles to purchase from your engraving company. Once you have this number, it is easy to set your sales goals and price the product appropriately.
Recruit volunteers to be part of your committee and give them a specific task, such as selling or collecting donations. Keeping your committees small will make it easier for everyone to work together. Having committees made up of students is also an excellent idea as it gives them the chance to earn community service hours.
Once you have a committee in place, it is important to plan out how you will handle the administration of the fundraiser. Setting up a website is a good option and it will allow you to keep track of all the donations and contributions that come in. It is also a great way to advertise your fundraiser and to reach out to more people.
When it comes to choosing an engraving company for your brick fundraising project, consider how long they have been in business, references, free display samples, pricing and shipping costs. Engraved bricks can be expensive and it is important to get a great deal for your money.
2. Set a Budget
Engraved brick fundraisers are a unique alternative to traditional product-based fundraising campaigns. With the right planning and marketing, brick engraving fundraisers are a great way to raise money for a project or facility that will leave a lasting legacy.
To maximize your brick fundraising campaign, it’s important to set a budget before the project begins. This will help you ensure that your goals are attainable and will give donors a sense of how their money will be spent. Once you’ve determined how much your organization wants to spend on the campaign, you can begin setting the cost of each individual brick. This is an important step because it will determine how many bricks your organization can sell and will impact the overall profitability of the campaign.
The best approach to calculating your budget is to take into account the cost of purchasing, installing and maintaining the engraved bricks. Then, divide that amount by the number of bricks you hope to sell. This will give you an idea of how many people your organization can accommodate for each engraved brick installation and ensure that the total cost of the project won’t exceed your budget.
Another option is to consider how many bricks your organization needs to sell in order to have enough money to “bail out” each volunteer. This is a great idea because it makes participants aware of how much work they need to do to earn their freedom from the fake jail and will encourage them to call their friends, relatives, and co-workers to ask for their brick donations. This type of fundraising also works well for organizations that have a lot of potential mid-level donors.
3. Find a Supplier
A brick fundraiser is a unique and creative way for organizations to engage supporters while offering lasting recognition. The fundraiser allows supporters to have a personalized message engraved into a special brick or paver that will become part of a construction project, memorial, park, or other public area. This type of fundraising is a great option for schools, churches, charities, animals, hospitals, civic organizations, and veterans memorials.
First, work with your engraver to determine the number of bricks needed for the project. This includes the bricks for the design as well as any extra bricks needed to fill in gaps, if necessary. Once this is completed, your engraver will work with you to establish a cost per brick for your campaign. It’s important to keep in mind that the price you set will include the brick, engraving, and shipping. Having this information upfront will help with the planning process and will avoid any surprises.
Once your campaign is planned, create a timeline for when you want to start construction on the project. This will provide a sense of urgency and ensure that the organization has enough time to process the orders and receive the engraved bricks from their supplier. It is also helpful to ask your supplier about character and line limits to make the ordering process simpler for your supporters.
To boost your organization’s profits, consider implementing an incentive program into your brick fundraiser. For example, your organization can place volunteers in a mock jail and require them to sell a certain amount of bricks in order to be “bailed out”. The volunteer will need to call their family, friends, co-workers, and acquaintances in an effort to get their brick sales. This is a fun and engaging way to promote your brick fundraiser and generate additional revenue for your organization.
4. Create a Marketing Campaign
A brick fundraising campaign can be an effective tool for raising money for your nonprofit organization. It is easy to set up and implement, but it’s important to create a marketing plan to ensure the project reaches its sales goals. Work with a company that specializes in engraving donated bricks to help you get the most out of your campaign. This includes determining your installation area, setting sales goals and pricing your product.
Start by creating a brochure with the information that your supporters will need to make an informed decision about purchasing a brick. Include details such as the number of characters and lines the engraved bricks can have, as well as a sample engraved brick to show them what their donation will look like. Once you’ve finished the brochure, distribute it to as many people as possible to generate interest and encourage sales.
Another way to promote your brick campaign is by holding an event. This is an excellent opportunity to reach a large number of potential donors and volunteers at once, and to spread the word about your mission. It’s also a great idea to invite local news media to attend and cover the event so that you can reach even more people.
Consider creating a catchphrase for the campaign. Similar to how Nike’s “Just Do It” or McDonald’s “I’m Lovin’ It” catch on, a catchphrase will help your organization become instantly recognizable to donors and volunteers. A slogan such as “Pave the Way,” for example, would be perfect. You’ll also want to email your supporters regularly, notifying them about milestones and achievements related to the campaign, as well as updates about the project.
5. Set Deadlines
Brick fundraisers offer a high-visibility alternative to conventional fundraising methods. They’re popular among schools, churches and non-profit organizations because they are easy to implement and generate great results. In addition to generating substantial donations, brick fundraisers promote community involvement and are also a unique way to celebrate special occasions and milestones.
When planning a brick fundraiser, the first step is to determine how much money you need and how many engraved bricks you want to sell. This will help you determine what you need to advertise and where to do so. You can use this information to create a budget and set goals for your project.
Next, it’s time to decide how to promote your brick fundraiser. This can look different for every organization. Some organizations might choose to send out press releases to local media, while others might create interesting flyers and brochures to distribute. Regardless of what marketing strategy you use, it’s important to get the word out. The more people who know about your campaign, the closer you will be to reaching your fundraising goal.
Once your fundraiser has started, it’s important to communicate with your supporters regularly. You can do this through email, social media, and other forms of communication. This is especially true if you have an event or installation ceremony for your fundraiser. The unveiling of your project will not only show the impact of your fundraising efforts, but it will also reinforce the sense of community that your fundraiser has helped to cultivate.
If you’re looking for a premier laser engraving brick company to help you with your fundraiser, Polar Engraving has extensive experience in assisting organizations with their engraved brick campaigns. Their team provides everything you need to plan your campaign, including flyer templates, donor letter templates, order form templates, brochures and more.