Fundraising Ideas: Keep It SafePosted by Nick Niesen on November 8th, 2010 When your youth group is doing a fundraiser, it is imperative to make sure that the proper safety precautions are followed. Never allow door-to-door sales without direct adult supervision. Period. In a sad case, an 11-year-old boy selling candy for a PTA fundraiser came to the door of a 15-year-old boy who was home alone at the time. The youngster was invited inside, sexually molested, and then murdered. This is not an urban legend. The murder happened in Freehold, New Jersey on September 27, 1997 and it raised the fundraising safety issue to national prominence. I'm not usually an alarmist, but I included the example above to heighten awareness of the safety topic. I am by nature a trusting person, but not when it comes to my children! Nothing is worth such devastating consequences. Develop An Appropriate Safety Focus 1) Use written selling guidelines Make sure that each child's parents are aware of these guidelines. Get the message to them that their children are not being encouraged to sell outside their comfort zone by your group. Tell them that they should focus on their core contacts - family, friends, neighbors, and coworkers of parents. In other words, e safe by selling only to individuals who know your parents. 2) Repeat the message Example: "What's the last thing you do in a fundraiser? Sell without an adult present." Print a safety message on all of your sales literature. Look for this from a quality supplier. Put the "Keep It Safe" message on all communications. Repeat the safety message at every opportunity. Cover it in your kickoff meeting, during sales brochure distribution, in the take home package, etc. If your fundraiser is school-based, have teachers reinforce the safety message in the classrooms. 3) Put safety into practice Your group's policies and procedures may vary from this approach. The important thing is to develop a written policy and make sure those guidelines are followed. Summary The best way to avoid an unsafe situation is by not going there. Many other youth programs also carry a strong safety message. Make sure yours does too. Like it? Share it!More by this author |