You have been put in charge of running a fundraiser. There are so many considerations that just the thought of fundraising can make you frustrated! What time of year should you do it? What should you sell? How do you run this campaign? There are a lot of different professional fundraising companies out there looking to help you. How do you pick the right one? Here are a few tips and questions to keep in mind when your hunting around:

How long have they been in business? It's the same with any new business you investigate. Have they been around long enough that they're going to be able to take care of you? If they've been around awhile they can anticipate your needs and give you some valuable guidance.

Check for references. Will the company give some references of businesses or schools that have used them? Will anybody vouch for them? Are they a member of the Association of Fund-Raising Distributors & Suppliers?

Do they know your state laws for fundraising? Will your potential fundraising company be able to give you specifics on how to declare your taxes? This is important because each state has differences in tax collection. Some states declare that product fundraising is exempt from tax, while in other states these monies are taxable.

How responsive are they? Do they seem reachable if you have a problem? What if something is shipped incorrectly or broken? Do you have to wait days for a response? Can you reach them multiple ways is you need it through a toll free number and email address?

Are they selling a quality product? It's going to be pretty tough trying to sell broken lollipops as a fundraising campaign. Are the products the fundraising company selling going to get much attention from your donors? You get to pick what you're campaign will sell but do they have a catalogue with great options or a limited choice of average items?

Since all fundraising is important, the fundraising company needs provide a solid no hassle service. In the upcoming years, with a pending downturn in the economy and slashing of funding, fundraising companies are going to become increasingly more important for their services.

Businesses and organizations are going to lean heavily on fundraising to supplement their annual budgets in the coming years. The fundraising company you choose, you probably will partner with for several campaigns. It's important you feel they are listening to your needs and a dependable bond will develop between you.