We recommend taking a look at our fundraising programs page. Next, give our customer service a call or request information online. You will find that together we can determine if our programs are for you.
You simply don't need one. We know it's hard to imagine for many groups, but 10,000 groups have asked the same question and succeeded with our fundraisers! Give us a call - you will love our answer to this question :)
Yes. Please contact us. We would like the opportunity to match your needs with the proper fundraiser and provide you the appropriate product samples.
Yes, your group can use more than one product brochure at the same time. In many cases, we actaully recommend it. In the Spring in particular, running a catalog sale with a food sale actually increases a group's profits. Please check with us to see if using more than one brochure will work for you.
Please visit our registration form, thank you.
The answer to that question is "How much do you wish to raise?" Fact: Schools/Groups that do "Live Kickoff Assemblies" raise more money than schools/groups that use video presentations and/or elect to have no assembly. Sales resulting from live assemblies can be double that of video assemblies and/or no assembly programs.
We strongly urge your school/group to do a kickoff assembly because doing a kickoff assembly will simply make your fundraiser better. Schools/groups that hold live assemblies get students/members better prepared and more motivated and as result your fundraiser runs better and raises more money. This is a tested and recorded fact!
With Believe's catalog, you can use our online catalog to expand your selling to the entire nation instead of just your home town/city. Send family & friends to www.ShopBelieve.com to view the catalog items and even submit their order directly to your school! It's one of the innovative tools we provide to increase your sales and ease of implementation. Frozen food is not available for sale online.
Late orders are quickly and easily processed. Late orders for frozen food and catalog fundraisers must be submitted within two (2) days of when you submit your original order. Late orders must be faxed and sent via next day air service to our office. Late orders received during this late order grace period generally can be combined with your original main order and ship together with your main order. Late orders received after the late order grace period cannot be joined with your original order and will be shipped separately. Your school/group will incur additional shipping charges after the late order grace period.
The Questions
1) How long will it take to receive our fundraising materials order from the time that we submit our completed and signed fundraising contract?
2) How long will it take to receive our fundraising product order from the time that we submit our fundraising product order?
The Answers
1) From the time we receive your completed and signed fundraising contract, it generally takes about (5-9) business days. We will make every effort to get you your fundraising brochures/materials to you, at least, forty-eight (48) hours (2 days) prior to your fundraiser kickoff. The earlier you submit your order, the faster we can get your fundraising brochures/materials to you. Please give yourself and us enough time to do it right. Yes, we can ship you your fundraising brochures/material using next day shipping services, but this is an added expense for your group. We normally ship via UPS (United Parcel) using ground service. This is the lowest shipping rate and, generally, UPS delivers within five (5) to seven (7) business days.
2) From the time you submit your fundraising order, it generally takes out three (3-4) weeks to receive your fundraising order. This is one time when speed is essential in processing your order. Computer tally and Pre-pack services may add another week to your delivery, depending when your order is scheduled for pre-packing.
In order to include all late orders with your entire order, all late orders must be faxed to our office within two(2) days of submitting your original order. Late orders received after this cutoff may not be included with your main order.
Items that are backordered and can be fulfilled within an acceptable time frame from school order date will be shipped separately as soon as product is back in stock. Believe will pay for shipping and fulfillment costs for all backordered items. Items are oversold if Believe has more orders on a particular item than anticipated and is out of stock. Many of the nonfood items are imported. We try to forecast anticipated sales of each nonfood item and place orders based on that forecast. We do our best to forecast sales correctly, but sometimes underestimate sales on a particular item. When it happens, it’s simply impractical and too costly to reorder for a few items.
The Questions
1) How can you avoid having oversold items affect your sale?
2) If you do have an oversold situation, how does Believe handle this situation?
Our terms and conditions are very simple. Payment is expected when due. Credit cards are accepted for payment for an additional 3% handling charge.
Believe makes a commitment to you and your school/group to provide the finest fundraising products and programs at the lowest possible cost for your school/group. In order for us to make this your most profitable fundraiser ever, you must pay your fundraising bill when due. All materials and/or products accepted by your school/group are deemed acceptable for the intended purpose(s). Believe makes no warranties and/or guarantees to your school/group’s about your school’s/group’s ability to successfully conduct, market and/or sell your fundraiser or to the ultimate success of your school’s/group’s fundraiser.
Only products that are damaged during shipping may be rejected at time of delivery. Any products that are refused for delivery other than due to bonafide shipping damage will not be accepted and will be redelivered to your school/group at additional shipping and storage charges. All purchases and payments are subject to the terms and conditions contained in Believe’s Fundraising Participation Contract.
Prepay is when a school/group pays for their fundraising products/items in full when the school/group places their fundraising order. School’s/group’s students/members would collect payment in full from each buyer as each sale is transacted.
Post-Pay is when the school’s/group’s students/members takes orders on fundraising products or items from his/her customers prior to the school/group placing the total fundraising order. The school’s/group’s students/members would collect payment in full from his/her customer at time of delivery of the fundraising products or items.
Which is better, Pre-Pay or Post-Pay?
The answer to this question is neither is better.
Post-pay programs may raise more money (higher sales) because some customers don't always have their checkbooks or cash on-hand. However, post-pay schools/groups incur additional expenses because some customers do not pay for the ordered fundraising products or items and, as a result, a post-pay school/group must absorb the loss of sales on these unpaid orders.
Prepay secures your maximum fundraising profits because everything is paid for in full prior to orders being placed and delivered. There are no losses due to nonpayment.
Believe leaves this up to your fundraiser decision makers as they have the best understanding as to which setup is likely to work the best for your situation. You can also implement a combination of the two by trying to get payment if they have it available, otherwise you will collect the payment at time of product delivery.
Can we return unsold items and/or items for which we were unable to collect payment?
Sorry, but returns are not permitted on unsold items and/or for items that your school/group couldn’t collect payment. Believe's "low prices " do not allow us to accept returns. Many companies that accept returns simply resell returns to another group as new product. Do you really want someone else's returns? In addition, state and/or federal law may prohibit returns on food items. Plus, there is no way to guarantee product quality or that the product hasn't been tampered with. We feel providing you quality "fresh" product is an absolute must.
Prepay fundraisers eliminate returns on unsold items. Returns are more fear than reality. Most schools/groups usually have few unsold items. Should your school/group have unsold items, there are simple ways to dispose of these items.
1) Offer these items at a reduced price to others in your school/group.
2) Conduct a garage sale on these items at student/player drop-off and/or pickup times.
3) Use these items as reward gifts to outstanding administrators, teachers, coaches or volunteers.
4) Raffle these items off at next school event.
Sales tax is an issue that is misunderstood by many non-profit groups. Many groups think that because they have a sales tax exemption number (or certificate) issued by their state, they (the group) are 100% exempt from collecting and remitting sales tax on fundraising products they sell. We find that there is a misconception and a misunderstanding of the sales tax law among many groups, including organizations that promote religious or school activities. For example, even religious schools/groups misunderstand their states' sales tax law. Some states may have exceptions regarding payment of sales taxes for groups possessing a sales tax exemption, but this exemption may not extend to fundraising sales. If your state imposes sales tax and you are unsure of your state's law and position regarding collection and payment of sales tax on items that your school/group sells for a fundraiser, we urge you to check with your state's department of revenue and/or an attorney.
Exempt schools/groups often think that a sales tax exemption gives them blanket exemption on everything they purchase and sales they make. In most states, this is not the case. Most states that provide a sales tax exemption provide it on items that a school/group purchases for its own consumption or use. Examples of possibly exempt transactions would be if your school/group purchased a case of paper to use in your school/group's photo copy machine, or if your school/group purchased playground equipment for the exclusive use of your school/group's students/members, or if your school/group purchased school or office supplies for the exclusive use by your school/group.
Generally fundraising items that your school/group purchases for resale to your school/group's families and supporters are not totally exempt. These items are usually not exempt because these items are not for your school's/group's exclusive use. Even religious organizations affiliated with schools/groups are subject to these laws. The purchase of the items by the school/group's families and supporters may not be taxable, although the resale of them may be subject to tax, with the seller-school/group's families and supporters obligated to collect and remit the sales tax. The seller can be held liable for the tax if they fail to collect and remit the tax from the purchaser of the items.
Believe is a Colorado based business, and, as such, Believe will properly collect and remit all sales tax on all items that the Colorado Department of Revenue has stated is taxable. The Colorado Department of Revenue has issued guidelines regarding which items are taxable and, generally, food items are not taxable.
All Colorado schools/groups must complete a Sales Tax Exemption Form. This form must be signed and returned to Believe prior to commencing your fundraiser. Believe is not obligated to charge and collect tax on fundraising items in any state where it does not have nexus, or physical presence. Thus, even though we may not charge tax on fundraising items for sales made by us to you, schools/groups outside the state of Colorado are put on notice that your school/group is 100% responsible for complying with your state's sales tax laws, and that you may owe tax on purchases or sales of these items.
Download the Colorado Sales Tax Exemption Form
Schools/Groups in states other than Colorado further agree that the school/group accepts sole responsibility for reporting, collecting, remitting and complying with the school’s/group’s state and local sales tax laws regarding compliance. The school/group further releases and indemnifies Believe against any legal action which may occur as a result of the school/group’s failure to comply with the school/group’s state and local sales tax laws.
Shipping for our catalogs is FREE on all original orders (food fundraisers with less than 400 items do not receive free shipping). Late orders are subject to shipping costs. Believe uses only quality shippers that provide prompt service so that your products arrive on their scheduled delivery dates. However, Believe cannot be responsible for shipping delays. We will track your shipment and do everything we can to get your shipment to you on time. State and federal government agencies regulate common carriers (trucking companies) and, as such, there is only so much we can do. Please be patient, and we will get you your orders.
The answer is still yes. The concept of school/group fundraising has not changed. Students/members still take orders and need to deliver those orders. Money may be collected when the order is taken (prepay), or money may be collected when the order is delivered (post-pay), but these methods are still employed and are still the most successful.
Credit Cards can be used to pay a fundraising invoice, however, we will add a 3% service charge to cover the costs of processing that credit card. We wish that we could accept credit cards without assessing this fee, but if we didn't, it would dramatically increase your product pricing.
Believe,and our suppliers/manufacturers make every effort to insure that the products you receive are in perfect condition and that your order is 100% accurate and complete. However, damages and miscounts can occur. When your delivery arrives, you must inspect all products. You must check for damaged cases, broken cases, spilt cases and make sure the case count matches the trucking company's delivery slip. Damaged cases should not be accepted and you must note this fact (# of damaged cases or # of missing cases) on the delivery slip. Also, have the driver sign your copy of his delivery slip, and keep a driver signed copy of the delivery slip. In addition, notify us immediately regarding this delivery.
Do not unpack and inspect the contents of sealed cases during delivery of your order. You can do this second inspection while you organize your distribution. When you unpack items, you should inspect again for damaged items prior to distribution. You have twenty-four (24) hours after your Frozen Food delivery and 3 Days after your Catalog order delivery in which to notify us about damaged items found inside sealed cases. After this time period, any damaged product will not be replaced.
For better or worse, retailers and fundraising companies do import products from other nations including China. Toys in particular but other goods as well are regularly imported for consumption in the US. We recognize the need to limit our imports and believe it is the right thing to do. Therefore, we do rely on companies in the states more than other fundraising company with respect to chocolates, magazines, candles, CD's and DVD's, calendars, gift wrap & supplies and snacks. We are proud to say that these items are sourced and produced in the US.
