Running a fundraiser can be exciting—but it’s also easy to fall into traps that cost your group thousands in lost revenue. In fact, studies show that fundraisers underperform by up to 30% due to simple but costly mistakes like poor planning, weak communication, or lack of online reach.

At Midland Fundraising, we’ve helped thousands of schools, sports teams, and nonprofits raise money successfully. We’ve seen the common pitfalls firsthand—and we know exactly how to avoid them.

Here are 18 fundraising mistakes (and how to fix them) so your next fundraiser is your most profitable yet.

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👉 Avoid mistakes — talk to a Midland expert today.

1. Choosing the Wrong Fundraiser

Scenario: A middle school runs a car wash in November. Cold weather = no turnout.
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Cost: Weeks of effort, only $300 raised.
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Fix: Match the fundraiser to your audience and season.
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Midland Advantage: Our catalog includes cookie dough, popcorn, candles, totes, and more—with programs designed for every season.

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Quick Win: Run cookie dough or popcorn in the fall, totes in spring, candles near the holidays.

2. Not Setting Clear, Specific Goals

Scenario: “We just need money for the school.” Supporters don’t know what they’re funding.
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Cost: Participation can drop by 20% or more.
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Fix: Use the SMART framework: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound.

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Midland Advantage: Our kickoff letters break big numbers into seller-friendly goals. Example: 100 students × $50 = $5,000 for uniforms.

3. Overcomplicating the Fundraiser

Scenario: A fundraiser with multiple forms, unclear deadlines, and a 6-week run overwhelms families.
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Cost: Confusion and burnout.
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Fix: Keep it simple—short (2–3 weeks), clear rules, easy ordering.
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Midland Advantage: Our programs are plug-and-play with brochures, online stores, and prize plans ready.

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Quick Win: Trim your fundraiser timeline to 21 days for peak participation.

4. Ignoring Online Promotion

Scenario: Only using paper forms limits reach to the local area.
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Cost: Missed sales from grandparents, coworkers, out-of-town friends.
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Fix: Use a multi-channel approach: social, email, SMS.

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Midland Advantage: Every group gets a free online store, digital brochures, and social templates.

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👉 Launch your free online store in 24 hours—talk to a Midland expert today.

5. Poor Communication with Sellers & Volunteers

Scenario: Parents don’t know deadlines. Students forget order forms at home.
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Cost: Missed sales and disorganized orders.
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Fix: Assign clear roles, provide kickoff meetings, and send weekly reminders.

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Midland Advantage: Our kickoff kits and templates simplify communication.

6. Overlooking Profit Margins

Scenario: A fundraiser looks fun but only nets 15–20% after costs.
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Cost: A $5,000 sale leaves just $1,000 profit.
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Fix: Always ask about net profit, not just gross sales.

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Midland Advantage: Our programs average 40–50% profit, so groups keep more.

7. Running Too Many Fundraisers

Scenario: Parents are asked six times a year and stop supporting.
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Cost: Donor fatigue = shrinking profits.
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Fix: Focus on fewer, higher-quality fundraisers.

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Midland Advantage: Two Midland fundraisers often outperform five smaller ones thanks to high margins and better reach.

8. Failing to Track Progress

Scenario: A fundraiser runs silently with no updates. Sellers lose interest.
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Cost: Missed targets, lower motivation.
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Fix: Share leaderboards, progress thermometers, and milestone celebrations.

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Midland Advantage: Our real-time dashboards track every seller and every order.

👉 See live dashboards & seller reports—book a quick demo.

9. Forgetting Recognition & Rewards

Scenario: Sellers work hard but get no thanks.
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Cost: Volunteers and kids won’t participate next year.
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Fix: Offer prizes, celebrate milestones, publicly thank participants.

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Midland Advantage: Midland offers custom prize programs that motivate sellers.

10. Partnering with the Wrong Fundraising Company

Scenario: A group signs with a company that has hidden fees and little support.
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Cost: Lower profits + extra stress.
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Fix: Partner with a trusted company.

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Midland Advantage: With Midland, there are no upfront costs, free tools, and expert guidance every step of the way.

Bonus Mistakes That Cost Groups Even More

11. Data Mistakes That Kill Retention

Scenario: Donor emails are missing or outdated, so no thank-yous get sent.
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Cost: Repeat giving drops by up to 60%.
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Fix: Enter orders within 48 hours, clean your contact list weekly.

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Midland Advantage: Our reporting tools help export lists for fast follow-up.

12. One-and-Done Blasts vs. Multi-Touch Journeys

Scenario: A group sends one flyer and hopes for sales.
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Cost: Low response rate.
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Fix: Use the Rule of 7—supporters need to see a message 7 times before acting.

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Midland Advantage: Our graphics and templates make multi-channel promotion easy.

13. Single-Channel Promotion

Scenario: Only paper forms = out-of-town supporters can’t participate.
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Cost: Sales cut in half.
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Fix: Mix print + online + social + SMS.

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Midland Advantage: Midland provides brochures, an online store, and social graphics to reach everyone.

14. Ignoring Seasonal Timing

Scenario: Cookie dough fundraiser in July or car wash in December.
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Cost: Poor sales due to bad timing.
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Fix: Align fundraisers with buyer behavior—cookies in fall, candles in winter, totes in spring.

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Midland Advantage: We guide groups to the best fundraiser for each season.

15. Forgetting Donor Stewardship

Scenario: Supporters buy once and never hear back.
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Cost: No repeat participation.
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Fix: Use the 3-2-1 follow-up method: Thank you in 3 hours, impact update in 2 weeks, next invite in 1 month.

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Midland Advantage: Our templates make stewardship simple.

16. Overestimating Volunteer Capacity

Scenario: One coordinator handles everything → burnout.
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Cost: Mistakes, missed deadlines, low morale.
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Fix: Delegate roles (communication, prize management, order collection).

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Midland Advantage: Our step-by-step playbooks make it easy to assign tasks.

17. Not Engaging Parents and Community

Scenario: Kids sell, but parents aren’t involved.
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Cost: Limited reach.
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Fix: Send parents kickoff info, provide take-home flyers, encourage sharing online.

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Midland Advantage: Midland equips parents with ready-to-share social posts + flyers.

18. Treating Fundraising as a One-Off Instead of a Strategy

Scenario: Groups scramble last-minute each year.
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Cost: Stress + inconsistent results.
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Fix: Build a year-round fundraising calendar (ex: fall product + spring pledge-a-thon).

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Midland Advantage: Our experts help groups create multi-season strategies.

Comparison Table: Mistakes vs. Fixes

Case Study: The $18,000 Difference

• Group A ran a local-only fundraiser with paper forms, no goals, no updates. Result: $2,000 raised.
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• Group B used Midland cookie dough: 75 sellers × 10 orders = $18,000 raised in 3 weeks with a 45% profit margin.
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👉 Get a custom profit plan for your group (free).

Quick Tips for Guaranteed Success

1. Run the right fundraiser at the right time.
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2. Use SMART goals to motivate.
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3. Mix print + online for maximum reach.
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4. Thank supporters within 48 hours.
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5. Track progress weekly.
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6. Partner with Midland for expert tools and guidance.

FAQs

What is the most common fundraising mistake?
Not setting clear goals and failing to promote online. Always define a dollar target and use both paper and online stores.
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How can we increase participation in a school fundraiser?
Keep it short (2–3 weeks), set per-seller goals, and use prizes to motivate. Multi-channel promotion boosts results.
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How quickly should we thank donors?
Thank within 48 hours. Quick acknowledgment builds loyalty and increases repeat giving.
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What profit margins should we expect?
Aim for 40–50% profit. Midland’s cookie dough, popcorn, and seasonal catalogs deliver margins that high.
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How do we track fundraiser progress effectively?
Set weekly milestones and use live dashboards. Celebrate top sellers and mid-campaign wins.

Conclusion

Fundraising mistakes can quietly drain profits—but they’re avoidable. With clear goals, seasonal timing, multi-channel promotion, and the right partner, your group can raise more with less stress.
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👉 Avoid mistakes — talk to a Midland expert today and plan your most successful fundraiser yet.