Chances are, your child will be bringing home fundraising materials before the holidays to sell wrapping paper, cookie dough, gourmet popcorn, coupon books and more to prop up programs at their schools.
A great place to give you child’s fundraiser a boost is at work, where a tactful invitation to coworkers can do a lot of good. But before stuff sales brochures or candy bar boxes into your briefcase, here are a few things you should keep in mind.
- Ask your boss for permission. Some employers may have a no-fundraising policy. So make sure it’s allowed and OK with the boss before you make your pitch.
- Make sure you believe in both the product and the cause. The last thing you want to do is peddle a coworker or friend a product that you don’t think is worthwhile.
- Avoid the hard sell. You don’t want to pressure your officemates into buying something just for the sake of buying something. Go for the soft sell instead. Display the product at your desk or leave a sign up sheet in the break room. That way, you won’t offend your colleagues or make them feel obligated to buy something from you.
- Return the favor. If you expect someone to buy something from you, it’s generally a good idea to return the favor the next time a coworker or friend asks you to do the same.