Small Fundraising Groups
I would define any group doing a fundraiser with less than 15 members a small fundraising group. Groups this small can recognize benefits but also experience difficulties because of their size.
Benefits of a Small Group Fundraiser
Because your fundraising group is smaller, it companies that give in-kind donations is easier to focus on your goals. Typically, groups with 15 or fewer members are not raising money to support the general fund. Instead they have a specific cause or urgent need for which they are trying to bring in money. Having a specific reason for your fundraiser is proven to be one of the best ways to motivate your group to sell more. Plus, the outcome is much more personal to members of smaller groups.
Your groups small size also affords you easy communication. Unlike groups with 500 or more members, you can easily call every one in the group to discuss the fundraiser.
Difficulties for Small Group Fundraisers
Small groups face the obvious challenge of meeting order minimums and reaching a wide enough network of customers. This is a hurdle that is easily surmounted though. There are many fundraisers with incredibly low or no minimums at all. Some of them even offer 40 and 50% profit at the minimum order levels.
Choosing a Small Group Fundraiser
When you pick the fundraiser for your group, be sure and find out what the minimum order levels are because you would hate to do all of the work required for a fundraiser and end up not making any money. Discuss with the group what they believe to be good fundraising ideas. Groups are shown to sell much more when they like what they are selling. You may even want to ask some acquaintances what kinds of products they would buy from your fundraiser to gauge interest in various fundraising programs.