Fundraising Tips: Merchant Plan
What is a fundraising merchant plan?A merchant plan is a step-by-step outline
covering the development of a mutually beneficial relationship with
area merchants.
Local businesses are an excellent fundraising resource.
They should be part of every non-profit group’s fundraising strategy.
When asking local merchants to get involved with supporting
your organization, think like a business owner.
Make sure it’s a win-win situation!
Remember the most important word
What word has a tremendous amount of power?
Me. Specifically, “what’s in it for me.”
Self-interest is a basic human instinct and one that you need to pay
close attention to when developing your plan.
Put yourself in the merchant’s shoes and ask – “What’s in it for me?”
If you design your plan so that every step of your merchant
relationship provides value for that merchant, you will be very
successful indeed.
How to get started
Build your relationship gradually
Nobody wants to be "used." Whatever you do, try to give the
merchant something of concrete value in return for their assistance.
Don't ask them for anything (yet)
Offer to help promote their business at no cost to them. How
do you do that? By partnering with them in ways that will
increase their customer traffic, while at the same time
providing benefits to your supporters.
Check them out
Find out what ads they are paying to run. Incorporate those
same promotions into a free giveaway flyer that's handed to
everyone who's a participant, supporter, buyer, and even a
prospect of your fundraiser.
Help them out
Give the flyer away to your supporters as a way of saying
thanks. The merchant gets a free ad campaign. Your group
gets to make a positive impression on everyone they contact
by giving something of value.
Broaden your horizons
Approach all merchants within a five-mile radius. Have a
sample contact script written out. Make sure your script
clearly communicates what your organization's goals are and
what's in it for the merchants.
Key points for a merchant contact script:
Tell them what you're all about
- Introduce yourself
- Name your organization immediately
- Allay suspicions - "I'm not here to ask you for anything"
- Describe your approach of helping first
Tell the merchant what's in it for them
- More traffic to their business
- Increased positive visibility in the community
- Flyers are only hand delivered so viewing is assured
Tell the merchant they are in control
- Merchant composes offer, not you
- Merchant sets expiration date
- Merchant gets free advertising to prime customers
What's in it for you?
What results can your organization expect?
First, you've gained the support of several local businesses.
These merchants will be impressed when they see the same promotional offerings
they've paid others to distribute coming back from your hand-delivered support.
Don't think a merchant won't recognize a positive ad campaign
result when they see it. And, it's free to boot!
Second, you've created a very positive impression by giving a
flyer to everyone your group touches.
"This group cares enough to give me this set of coupons even though I didn't buy anything.
They value my time. This group has the support of the community
merchants. They are a quality group."
Third, the flyer results in repeated exposure of your group's
name and contact information.
Every person looking at the flyer receives what advertisers call an
"eyeball impression" of not only the merchant offers, but their
sponsor.
Make sure your group's name and information is prominently
displayed across the top of the flyer.
Lastly, the merchants are well on their way to becoming your supporters.
Next time around, your group can ask for extra discounts for your
supporters that are "exclusive" special offers.
You can also ask in the future for other forms of support and partnership.
And that's how you get your fundraising Merchant Plan started!
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