How to Maximize Fundraiser Participation

Updated July 26, 2026

The key to organizing a successful fundraiser starts before your first sale. Many coaches, teachers, parents, and other fundraiser leaders create their fundraisers just a few days before they start, which leaves sellers little time to join and prepare. The result? Lower participation and fewer sales.

Timing Is Everything

Give your team a minimum of 10 days to prepare prior to your launch date. Waiting until the last minute to create the fundraiser and engage all participants will impact how much you raise. Just a little planning can go a long way.

• Fundraisers scheduled at least 3 weeks in advance raise over 2 ½ times more than last-minute events. 

• Fundraisers scheduled 10 days in advance raise up to 109% more than those scheduled 1 day in advance.

Mobilizing early makes sure you earn the best returns for your organization. The other key difference we see in high-earning fundraisers is that the organization engages ALL of their sellers early. In fact, sellers who join 7 or more days in advance sell 35% more on average. Generally, the earlier a seller joins the fundraiser, the better their store performance. 

The earlier you set up your fundraiser and invite your sellers, the more time they have to spread the word, and the bigger your results.

5 Tips to Maximize Seller Participation

1. Invite sellers and host a fundraising kickoff 

Send seller invites as soon as your fundraiser is created, then host a fun in-person or virtual kickoff event a week or two before launch. During the session, have every seller set up their own Pop-Up Store® on the Double Good app and write a short store note about why they’re fundraising.

Afterward, use the app to see who has joined and follow up with anyone who has not. A simple message like, “Did you get my invite?” can help increase participation. Getting everyone set up early builds confidence and is proven to lead to greater fundraising success.

2. Set clear goals

Clear goals give sellers a target to aim for. For example:

• Fundraiser goal: $30,000 through 100 Pop-Up Stores

• Individual seller goal: $300 in sales

Keep it simple: “Everyone participates, let’s all share our stores daily.” This makes success feel achievable and helps sellers stay focused.

3. Use incentives to motivate sellers

Incentives are powerful motivators. Celebrate both big and small wins. Some incentive examples might be that top sellers can earn prizes like gift cards, free lunch, or a homework pass, while smaller milestones can be recognized with shoutouts or fun team rewards.

Potential milestones to celebrate:

• Creating a Pop-Up Store

• Making the first sale

• Hitting $50, $100, $200 in sales

• Winning class or grade-level competitions

Rewards can be simple, such as a shoutout, homework pass, free lunch, gift card, or team celebration. Recognizing progress throughout the fundraiser helps more sellers feel included and motivated to participate.

4. Get the word out 

Use your school or team’s social channels, newsletters, and community groups to share details. Encourage sellers to post their Pop-Up Store links and invite others to support. Double Good’s app makes it easy to include friends and family from afar.

To make promotion easy, use our Fundraiser Promo Toolkit on Canva – it’s pre-designed with shareable graphics and editable templates you can customize in minutes.

The more you share, the more you sell!

5.  Remind and celebrate

Once your fundraiser is live, stay connected with your team. Check in each day and share progress updates. A quick message or shoutout can encourage sellers to revisit their stores and share their links again.

The leaderboard can also help the fundraiser feel more like a team challenge. Post the rankings and celebrate sellers who are making progress. These small moments help maintain excitement and give sellers a reason to stay involved.

Sellers who share every day raise 75% more than those who do not. Remind your team to keep sharing and following up throughout the fundraiser.