School Fundraising Case Study - Otumoetai

 Buzz Fundraising in Action!

Otumoetai Intermediate School is a co-ed school located just out of Tauranga and has 820 pupils. Their Principal approached Buzz in April 2008 to ask about joining our fundraising programme, taking up our offer to put a sign up button on their website. As soon as this was ready to go the school invited their school community to sign up to our online research panel Buzz.thePeople.

A factor in their success was a classroom competition to see which class could get the greatest number of sign ups from their parents, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, and friends. The winning classroom won pizza vouchers for a lunchtime treat.

Comparing Buzz Fundraising With Other School Fundraising Activity

School galas, movie nights, raffles, quiz nights, chocolate and entertainment book sales remain at the backbone of school fundraising activity. Comparing these fundraising approaches with the Buzz approach highlights the following differences…

1. Buzz fundraising doesn't require any organisation by the school or PTA other than for the initial recruitment drive.
2. Friends of the school who sign up can take part at their leisure, and can simply ignore any survey invitations that arrive at inconvenient times.
3. This fundraising doesn't require people to spend any of their own money so it isn't competing for the money raised through your other fundraising.
4. Buzz research surveys can be a great way to reach new people in your school network. We are all aware that it is the same people each time who lead the fundraising efforts (more often than not those mums who aren't in paid work). Buzz particularly needs men on their online panels so this is a way that working dads, uncles, neighbours, and older siblings can contribute towards the school fundraising at their own convenience.
5. Over 90% of current Buzz members have told us they would recommend participation to their friends. Whilst your school supporters may initially sign up to benefit your school, we are sure they'll actually find many of the surveys really interesting plus they'll personally get the chance to win many prizes (including the chance to win a new car each year!).

HOW TO GET STARTED WITH YOUR SCHOOL

1. Email Buzz on fundraising@buzzthepeople.co.nz to get a copy of our website button, to put up on your website. We'll also send you suggested copy for your school newsletter.
2. Decide if you would like to run a classroom competition. If so, let us know your classroom names when you get in touch. Then, when friends of your school sign up, they can nominate the class that they are supporting. We'll let you know which classroom gets the most sign ups.
3. Then, you just need to let everyone know - perhaps with a couple of reminders!
4. That's it! You can then sit back and wait for your cheques.

A BIT OF BACKGROUND ON BUZZ

Buzz.ThePeople is run by a company called Buzz Channel Limited. We are based in Auckland and do research work for many market research companies, Government departments, District Health Boards, many of the large Advertising Agencies, media companies and Not For Profit organisations.

Among our clients are a number of New Zealand charities to whom we offer free services, and who also benefit from panel member fundraising. Making donations to a Buzz charity was our first survey reward option before broadening the structure to enable panel members to choose their school. Our five foundation charities are:

• The Malaghan Institute of Medical Research
• Youthline
• Kidscan
• Outward Bound
• Hospice NZ

Our contact details are:

Buzz Channel Limited
P.O. Box 106 741
Auckland City 1143

www.buzzchannel.co.nz

(09) 379 8920