First Steps

• Read your Program Guide.
• Learn about the LLS Mission. Watch your LLS video and visit Someday is Today to learn about the impact your support is making on LLS’s mission.
• Contact your local LLS representative to schedule your first fundraising planning meeting.
• Review the Fundraising Action Plan  You'll complete this during your planning meeting with your LLS representative
  • Set a fundraising goal!
  • Set a date for your kickoff assembly.
  • Decide on your campaign fundraising activities.  (See Fundraising Ideas sheet.)
  • Decide how you will promote the program to the student body.
  • Determine a plan for processing donations. See Coins & Donation Management section of your Coordinator Guide
• Create Competition! Think about your school rivals and reach out to see if they would be interested in competing against you to see which school can raise the most.
• Find and customize your school’s online giving page.  Go to Find Your School   Once you get to your school page, you can either:
  • Join a classroom. Find the classroom teacher’s name from a drop down list.  When a student registers for a classroom, an individual page is automatically created and a URL is sent to the student.
  • Join as an individual if your school has not set up any classroom pages.
• Encourage students to set up their individual online giving page.  See Online Giving for more information.

After Your Planning Meeting

• Work your fundraising action plan. Make sure you’re on track with the plans for your fundraising events. 
• Start creating buzz around your campaign a week or two before your program starts (or earlier for some events).
  • Put posters in classrooms and around the school.
  • Consider hosting a poster contest or creating additional banners/posters to hang.
  • Generate online giving excitement: Encourage students to set up and start using an online giving page, and share the instructions in the Online Giving for Students page.
  • Communicate program dates and fundraising goal to teachers, students and parents. Morning announcements, school website, school e-newsletters, and social media outlets are a great place for this information. 

During the Campaign

• Keep promoting your program.
• Keep promoting online donations through morning announcements, school e-newsletters and website, and personal social media outlets. Keep the school community updated on your progress toward your goal.
• Collect and deposit coins and donations frequently (no less than once a week).

Wrapping Up

• Send the Wrap-Up Form along with any Coinstar receipts, checks or money orders to your local Chapter
• A thank you packet, including any prizes your school qualifies for, will be sent shortly after the donation is received.
• Share your success. Reach out to your local newspaper, radio, or TV station to spread the word. A sample press release can be found at www.studentseries.org.
• Register for next year!