Why Are Fall Flower Fundraisers So Popular for Schools?

The Perfect Season: Why Fall Flower Fundraisers Bloom at Just the Right Time

Schools are chronically underfunded in many parts of the country, leading to a rise in the need for fundraising activities. Selling flowers during a fall fundraiser is wedged in perfectly between the newness of returning to school and the start of the fall planting season. Students, families, and other community members will have one last chance to add to their gardens before the planting season ends for the year.

Schools also benefit from this season because of its proximity to the holidays. Back-to-school season and the holidays are among the highest-spending periods in the US. Taking advantage of the window of opportunity before the holiday rush, schools can secure more dollars to fund special events and activities for students.

Why Flowers Are the Best Fundraising Options for Schools K-12

You might be asking yourself why flowers, and not candy, chocolate, or popcorn? Great question!

Flowers are an excellent choice for raising funds for schools because of their perceived value. Flowers appeal to a wide array of people, including neighbors, grandparents, coworkers, gardeners, and even local businesses that support local schools. Compared to the other items like cookie dough, wrapping paper, or candy bars, flowers are an easier sell. Rather than guilting a customer into buying chocolate, they are getting a beautiful basket of flowers that can return each year with proper planning and protection. Again, the fall is the last chance to plant flowers before the season is over, making it an easy sell.

How Profitability Margins Make Flowers The Leading Fundraiser for Schools

Flower sales are among the most profitable fundraising ideas for schools, largely because they come from a regional business and have low overhead. Rather than hosting an event that requires staff or volunteers, food, or decorations, a flower sale can be held at wholesale prices, increasing the funds raised for the kids. Companies like JOCO Growers have a built-in ordering system that streamlines the process for both students and parents. Because of the ease and success of flower sales, many schools choose to repeat them each year, helping build a community expectation of the colorful display each autumn.

Easy to Sell: Why Selling Flowers Is One of the Simplest Fundraising Tasks for Students

Flowers accompany humans through the many ups and downs of life, showing love between two people, celebrating a new milestone, expressing care and concern after someone passes, or simply brightening a room. No high-pressure sales techniques are needed because there is always a reason to buy flowers. A flower fundraiser typically offers the convenience of digital ordering and a pre-order model, so there is no risk of ordering too much or of wasting plants.

Building Community Through Autumn Gardening and Seasonal Tradition

Autumn gardening is a tradition for many cultures. While it may not be traditional in your home, it is an opportunity to teach school-aged children how connecting with the earth will improve your local community. Planting a flower, or anything for that matter, is a formative teacher. Gardening takes time, patience, and dedication as you continue to care for it and watch it grow. These lessons can be translated to how we care for our community and the people who live in it. Once taught to students, these flowers are not only a reminder of the success of the fundraiser but also of the importance of community and its impact on an individual's life.

Making It a Fun Experience for Students, Families, and Staff

Fundraising doesn't have to be dull; fun is literally in the name. There are many ways you can entice students to get involved in raising money for the school.

• Get parents involved! Younger students love it when there are special events that let their mom or dad come to the school. Volunteer to help on plant pick-up day!
• Class rivalries! Start an innocent rivalry between classes or grades. Friendly competition will get the creative juices flowing on unique ways to sell plants.
• Hold a competition for who can create the best social media ad for the school! This can help with digital sales numbers.
• Offer milestone rewards or hold a leaderboard in your classroom. Offer small incentives, such as stickers, gum, trinkets, or a mini trophy, to the winner.

How to Run a Successful School Flower Fundraiser: Tips and Best Practices

Running a successful fall fundraiser isn't as tough as you may expect. Research flower fundraiser suppliers in your area. Make sure you inquire how their ordering and distribution work, as these are the most difficult parts of school fundraisers. Once the flower vendor is secured, discuss with the school PTA about how advertising will be handled. Discuss with the school what a realistic goal is for the cause you are raising funds for. Lastly, have a plan in mind for overordering. Most flower companies don't have this problem anymore with the pre-order models, but quirks can still arise even with the best planning.

FAQs

• What if we have a lot of left over plants?
  You have several options if there are mums and plants left over during the sale. Some schools choose to sell the plants at a discounted rate. Other schools start their own garden using the left over plants. Gardens can turn concepts into hands on activities creating an immersive education.
• Does the whole school have to participate?
  Although we see the best program success when school participate as a whole, not all classrooms have to participate.
• What is the ideal sales window?
  Most schools opt in for a sales window of 2 weeks. This can vary based on each schools unique needs but we find 2 weeks is enough to capture enough community members.
  

If you're interested in JOCO Growers' fall and spring flower fundraising options, please reach out to us today at 614-937-3174

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