ThinkFun Game Night

Planning Checklist and Suggested Timeline

All resources available online: www.ThinkFun.com/ThinkFundraisers/GameNight

4 Weeks before Game Night

¨  Choose a date, time, and location for your event.

Popular times are Thursday/Friday evenings or Saturday during the day. 2 hours is an ideal amount of time to plan for this event.

¨  Choose a location that holds several tables for game play (cafeterias, gyms, libraries, outdoor spaces with tables, etc.)

¨  Secure parent/teacher volunteers (aim for at least 4-6)

1-2 volunteers should be tasked to take orders

2-4 volunteers should circulate to explain game rules, answer questions, etc.

1 volunteer to manage the Giving Tree if you choose to incorporate this

¨  Advertise the upcoming event!

ThinkFun provides posters, flyers, PA announcement scripts, and email templates.

Encourage students to create posters drumming up excitement, and post announcements in newsletters.

3 Weeks before Game Night

Prepare your games: Plan to have at least 1 game per family

¨  Order at least one ThinkFundraiser Kit which contains demo versions of the 10 games available for purchase. Contact Customer Service at to order. Free printable tent cards are available for these games.

¨  ThinkFun offers free printable games to add more free fun to your event. Laminate if possible and gather game tokens (penny-sized tokens in two colors/shapes: dried pasta, beans, and plastic counters work well).

Prepare for sales:

¨  Contact Customer Service at for a Master Order Form. This is the form you will use to compile orders AFTER your fundraiser ends. This form computes shipping costs and calculates the 40% discount.

¨  Print order forms for families to use at the event.

¨  Decide what forms of payment to accept (checks, cash, etc.)

2 Weeks before Game Night

¨  Send out email reminders and include event details in school newsletters.

¨  Print instructions for all games you plan to use as demos.

¨  If using a Giving Tree, ask teachers to submit their classroom game “wish lists.” Create your Giving Tree and Donation Apples.

1 Week before Game Night

¨  Send out an email reminder to parents a few days prior to Game Night.

¨  Provide instructions to volunteers so they can familiarize themselves with game rules

¨  Make copies of individual order forms. Explain the ordering process to volunteers and ask them to familiarize themselves with the forms.

¨  If accepting cash, visit the bank to make sure you’ve got small bills and change on hand.

Day of Game Night

Allow at least one hour for set-up.

¨  Set out games on tables and place printed instructions next to games.

¨  Set up the Game Order system, either at a single station or equip roaming volunteers with clipboards and order forms.

¨  Set up the Giving Tree and area for Apple sales if you choose to include this.

Once Game Night ends

¨  Clean up and storage: Count pieces and ensure games are complete before storing.

¨  Compile and record all Teacher Wish List apples/donated funds from the Giving Tree.

¨  Compile all orders onto the Master Order Form. Include any games you wish to purchase for your school using your profits and all games donated from the Giving Tree.

¨  Submit your payment and Master Order Form to ThinkFun Customer Service at or fax to (703) 549-6210. Your games will arrive in about a week packaged together!

¨  Use your order records to distribute games to classrooms, or contact parents to pick games up from the school.