Affinity Funding Group (AFG) was formed in 1996 by a group of product fundraising professionals who felt there was a better way to raise badly needed monies than having school groups and youth organizations selling products.

If fundraising is about raising funds, why are we in the merchandising business?

Most of the AFG fundraising professionals come from a product background with over 40 years combined experience. Up until the late 70’s/early 80’s, fundraising at the youth level basically consisted of selling products such as magazine subscriptions, light bulbs, fruitcake, and the classic…candy. The early 80’s saw new products and services. Some of the new products were candles, acrylic reflectors, jewelry, food items (cheese & sausage, pizza, etc.), and soft soap. Product fundraising companies began to offer additional services (previously most products were delivered in bulk). Some of these services are presorting products by student and classroom, profit reporting by student and classroom, allowing product returns, and prizes.

Twenty years ago, most school fundraising was done at the high school level by school groups. Athletics very rarely did fundraising. Now, due to budget cuts…elementary schools, middle schools, Jr. Highs, and most youth organizations outside of public schools participate in annual fundraisers. By the time students hit the high school level, they are simply burnt out from all the fundraising (not to mention the parents and school advisors). Those of us in the fundraising business found that it was getting more and more difficult to get the results the high school groups needed to run their programs and felt there had to be a better way to raise money.

FRUITCAKE

There had to be a better way to raise money. In fundraising, anything will sell. People will buy just about anything. It’s not so much about the fabulous products, but about helping the kids out. Thirty years ago, fruitcake was a popular fundraiser, but was anyone actually eating it. Most people purchasing the fruitcake from students were probably giving it away as gifts or burying in the backyard for future emergencies.

PURE FUNDRAISING

AFG set out to come up with the perfect fundraiser... a program where NO product was sold, NO money collected by students (biggest headache for the advisor), and No door-to-door. Yes, a program that was to- good-to-be-true... a pure fundraising program, NOT a merchandising program!