Scratch card fundraising, or “cartes à gratter financement” in French, is a simple and effective fundraising method often used by schools, sports teams, charities, and other non-profit organizations. The concept revolves around pre-printed cards featuring a grid of covered “scratch-off” circles. Each circle conceals a pre-determined donation amount or offer.
The organization distributes these scratch cards to its members or volunteers. These individuals then approach friends, family, neighbors, and colleagues, asking them to support the cause by scratching off one or more circles on the card. The person scratching the circle donates the amount revealed. This often feels less imposing than directly asking for a specific sum of money.
How it Works:
- Card Design & Ordering: The organization chooses a card design, often customized with their logo and a brief description of their fundraising goal. They then order the desired number of cards from a specialized printing company. These companies typically offer varying price points depending on the card size, design complexity, and number of cards ordered.
- Distribution: Cards are distributed to volunteers or members, each assigned a specific number of cards to sell. Clear instructions and a sales pitch are provided to ensure consistency.
- Solicitation: Volunteers actively solicit donations by presenting the scratch card to potential donors. They explain the cause and ask them to scratch off a circle, donating the revealed amount.
- Collection & Accounting: Volunteers collect the money from the donors immediately after the circle is scratched. They then turn in the collected funds along with the completed scratch cards to the organization’s fundraising coordinator. Accurate record-keeping is essential to track progress and ensure accountability.
- Fulfillment (If Applicable): Some scratch cards offer a discount or special offer from local businesses in exchange for the donation. In these cases, the organization may need to manage the redemption of these offers.
Benefits of Scratch Card Fundraising:
- Ease of Use: The process is straightforward and requires minimal training for volunteers.
- Low Investment: The initial cost of ordering the cards is usually relatively low, especially compared to other fundraising methods.
- High Potential Return: With dedicated volunteers, scratch card fundraisers can generate a significant amount of money.
- Community Engagement: It encourages participation from the community and raises awareness for the organization’s cause.
- Less Intimidating: Asking someone to scratch off a circle for a small donation can be less daunting than directly soliciting a larger contribution.
Potential Drawbacks:
- Volunteer Dependency: The success hinges on the enthusiasm and commitment of the volunteers.
- Repetitive Task: Asking people to scratch off circles can become monotonous for volunteers.
- Potential for Fraud: Careful monitoring and tracking of cards and funds are essential to prevent misuse.
- Profit Margin: While the initial investment is low, the profit margin might be smaller compared to other fundraising activities targeting larger donations.
In conclusion, scratch card fundraising provides a relatively low-risk, high-reward option for organizations seeking to raise funds. Its simplicity and ease of implementation make it a popular choice, especially for groups with limited resources and a strong volunteer base. While it requires diligent organization and enthusiastic participation, the potential for success is significant, making “cartes à gratter financement” a valuable tool in the fundraising arsenal.