Survey Says: Fundraising Sucks

Chances are you've been approached by a family member, friend, neighbor, co-worker, or even a stranger asking you to pony up dough to support their kids' local sports team or club. And, chances are, after you begrudgingly reach for your wallet and contribute to the newest jersey or pom-poms, you inevitably feel guilty for being so reluctant to fork over your cash. But, should you? Not according to a recent poll that proves once and for all: fundraising sucks.

Thanks to FlipGive– a team funding app where sports teams, leagues, and schools raise money by shopping online–it doesn’t have to. FlipGive partners with tens of thousands of retailers and restaurants right in your community so that every time you shop or dine, a portion of the proceeds go towards supporting your local team.

Consider this: A whopping 80% of Americans have bought something they didn't want or need to contribute to a fundraiser, and even more (83%) admitted they spent their money because they felt guilty or obligated.

From coast to coast, these are the states whose residents hate fundraising the most:

***FlipGive Fundraising Sucks Index***

1. Vermont - 100%
2. Mississippi - 92%
3. Alabama - 92%
4. West Virginia - 83%
5. Minnesota - 75%
6. New Hampshire - 67%
7. New Mexico - 67%
8. Virginia - 66%
9. Maryland - 65%
10. South Carolina - 63%

Here are a few more interesting findings from the survey:

>>SAY GOODBYE TO EMPTY CALORIES & CLUTTER
American’s least favorite form of fundraiser? Door-to-door sales (44%) of items such as candy bars, cookie dough, candles, you name it. The second most hated fundraiser is the car wash (14%), followed by the bake sale (11%) and crowdsourcing (8%).

>>FUNDRAISING DOESN’T JUST SUCK; WE SUCK AT IT!
Just over half of Americans believe they are good at traditional fundraising (52%), while the other half (48%) admit that they’re no good at raising money using these awkward, outdated methods.

>>FAILURE IS NOT FLATTERING
Nearly a quarter of survey respondents (23%) expressed frustration that their most recent fundraising campaign they were involved in failed to meet its goals.

>>PEOPLE LET ME TELL YOU ‘BOUT MY BEST FRIEND
By and large, individuals involved in local fundraising campaigns are most likely to hit up their friends (54%). In a distant second are strangers, checking in at 11%.