Chapter Fundraiser Program

About PPI's Exam Review Materials
How the Chapter Fundraiser Program Works
How to Get Started
How to Estimate the Number of Books to Order
How to Maximize Your Fundraiser
How to Organize a Successful Table Sale
How to Expand Your Fundraiser
How to Pay PPI for the Books Sold
How to Handle Extra Books

About PPI's FE/EIT Exam Review Materials

The Best-Selling FE Review Manual, 3^rd Edition

Designed to prepare examinees to pass the FE/EIT exam the first time, the FE Review Manual by Michael R. Lindeburg, PE, provides a complete and comprehensive review of the topics covered on the FE/EIT exam.

The FE Review Manual contains the following features:

Complete FE/EIT exam coverage in 54 easy-to-read chapters
13 topic-specific diagnostic exams
A 4-hour morning session sample exam
SI units throughout
NCEES nomenclature and formulas
Over 1,200 practice problems with step-by-step solutions
A sample study schedule
A comprehensive, easy-to-use index
Exam tips and advice

Materials for the Afternoon Session of the FE/EIT Exam

Each book in the FE/EIT exam discipline-specific review series is designed to help candidates assess their exam topic knowledge and build their problem-solving confidence with 60 practice problems with full solutions and two complete 4-hour practice exams. Products are available for civil, mechanical, electrical, industrial, environmental, and chemical disciplines.

Introducing Core Engineering Concepts for Students and Professionals

Core Engineering Concepts by Michael R. Lindeburg, PE, is a cross-disciplinary reference that can be used by engineers studying or practicing in any engineering field, including civil, mechanical, electrical, structural, environmental, industrial, and chemical engineering. Written both for students and practitioners by a professional engineer, it incorporates more than 30 years of engineering experience.

How the Chapter Fundraiser Program Works

Order the number of books you anticipate selling. These are purchased on consignment, so payment is not made at the time the order is placed, but rather after your sale has ended. Your FE/EIT exam review books will be shipped as soon as the order is processed and will arrive in four to ten business days. The consignment invoice, which will be packed with the books, will include a $3 per book shipping charge, which is due after your chapter sale has concluded.
Conduct your sale. Set up a table outside an FE/EIT exam review course classroom or in an area with high senior traffic; hang posters to announce the availability of the books; see How to Organize a Successful Table Sale for complete details.
Receive a 40% discount on PPI FE/EIT Exam Review books and keep the difference after increasing the price of the books. Buy a copy of the FE Review Manual for $51 and sell it for $70, $75 or $80, and keep the difference for your chapter.

How to Get Started

If your chapter would like to take part in this proven, successful fundraiser, there are only two things you need to do to begin.

Have your faculty advisor send an email to mgruender@ppi2pass.com indicating he or she is aware of and approves the fundraising project.
Email your order to mgruender@ppi2pass.com and provide the following information:
- University name
- Student organization name
- Student fundraising contact name
- Student contact email address
- Student contact phone number
- Chapter faculty advisor name
- Faculty advisor email address
- Faculty advisor phone number
- Chapter shipping address (please include name, street address, and department/building/room)
- Book quantities:
  - FE Review Manual @ $51 each
  - Civil Discipline-Specific Review for the FE/EIT Exam @ $36 each
  - Mechanical Discipline-Specific Review for the FE/EIT Exam @ $36 each
  - Electrical Discipline-Specific Review for the FE/EIT Exam @ $36 each
  - Chemical Discipline-Specific Review for the FE/EIT Exam @ $36 each
  - Industrial Discipline-Specific Review for the FE/EIT Exam @ $36 each
  - Environmental Discipline-Specific Review for the FE/EIT Exam @ $36 each
  - Core Engineering Concepts for Students and Professionals @ $75 each

How to Estimate the Number of Books to Order

A good rule of thumb is to order enough books for approximately 50% of the seniors in your chapter.

If you are supporting or running an FE/EIT exam review course, then you should take into account anticipated attendance for the course. If you plan to advertise outside of your own department, prioritize the civil, mechanical, and electrical engineering departments; these fields represent the majority of FE/EIT exam-takers. Confirming the number of seniors graduating from these departments will help you determine your anticipated sales.

Remember, you can always order more books and expect them to arrive in four to ten business days. Additionally, you can return any unsold books, but will incur return-shipping costs.

How to Maximize Your Fundraiser

Organize a successful table sale.
Customize and print the flyer/poster.
Customize and print the sign-up sheet.
Expand your fundraiser.
Support an FE/EIT exam review course.
Run an FE/EIT exam review course.
Know your Why Choose PPI's Review Materials talking points.

How to Organize a Successful Table Sale

Chapter Participation

First, form a committee to handle the various aspects of a successful table sale. We recommend the following divisions:

Fundraising manager responsibilities (1 person):

Get permission for use of your chosen location for the date and time of the table sale.
Order copies of the FE Review Manual, Core Engineering Concepts, and discipline-specific review books a month prior to your table sale.
Have members carry copies of the FE Review Manual to promote interest in your table sale.
After the sale, deposit all of the money received into your chapter's account, and write a check to PPI for our portion of the proceeds. If you have any remaining books, email mgruender@ppi2pass.com, and request an extension to keep the books until the next sale (for the next FE/EIT exam), or carefully package them and return them to PPI. We recommend that you insure the shipment, as you will be charged for damaged books.

Advertising volunteer responsibilities (1-2 people):

Customize and print the flyers/posters.
Distribute the flyers in key locations two weeks prior to the table sale.
Refer to the Getting the Word Out section of these recommendations for additional advertising ideas.

Table set-up volunteer responsibilities (1-2 people):

Customize and print the sign-up sheets.
Print a few copies of the talking points PDF for buyers (some will want to read it for themselves).
Set up a long table with two chairs on the day of the sale. Consider helium balloons or an enlarged poster on the wall to draw attention.
Make sure to have a cash box, calculator, and plenty of change.
15 minutes prior to the sale, bring any copies of books you'll be selling out of storage and stack them on the sale table.
Remain with the books until the table sale volunteers arrive. Do not leave the books unsupervised.

Table sale volunteer responsibilities (2-6 people):

Manage tables during the sale and work 2 to 3 hour shifts.
Handle cash and checks.
Discuss the FE Review Manual, Core Engineering Concepts, and discipline-specific review books with interested buyers.
Keep the sale table stocked with books.

Finding a Sale Location

The first order of business is determining the best location for your table sale. Be creative. Think in terms of maximizing senior student walk-by traffic. Brainstorm with your team to select a premium location. If there is an FE/EIT exam review course on your campus, see if you can coordinate your table sale with the day of their first class.

Selecting Sale Dates

If you are supporting seniors for the April FE/EIT exam, we recommend you run your table sale sometime between February 1st and March 8th. In the fall, the window of selling opportunity is smaller, but you'll want to run your table sale from when school begins to September 30th.

Selecting Sale Days and Times

It is generally best to conduct a table sale on at least two separate days for at least a 3-hour duration. Based on your location, determine during which days and times senior traffic flow is the greatest. Keep in mind that the lengths and number of days and times that you commit to will affect the number of table sale volunteers you will need to recruit. We recommend 2 to 3-hour table shifts with two volunteers at the table at all times.

Determining the Goal of the Fundraiser

Determine whether your goal as a chapter is to maximize the money you raise, or to provide excellent FE/EIT exam review materials at a discounted price. We provide the FE Review Manual to you at $51. Some chapters choose to offer the book to chapter members at $55, and others at $70–$85. The choice is yours to make. If you sell 50 copies of the FE Review Manual at $80 each, and 50 discipline-specific review books at $50 each, your chapter will earn $1,850. If you sell the same at $75 each and $45 each, your chapter will earn $1,350. Regardless of the price you sell the books at, be sure potential buyers are aware of the full value of the book and (if applicable) the discount or value that you are offering to them.

Getting the Word Out

Customize the flyer/poster, print dozens of color copies of it, and hang them in all the places that senior engineering students frequent: hallways, buildings, classrooms, outdoor paths, departmental offices, and so on. Refer to How to Expand Your Fundraiser for ideas on an expanded sale.

How to Expand Your Fundraiser

Basic Marketing

Customize the flyer/poster, print dozens of color copies, and hang them in all the places that senior engineering students frequent: hallways, buildings, classrooms, outdoor paths, departmental offices, and so on. Refer to How to Organize a Successful Table Sale for information on the basic table sale.

Expanded Marketing

Visit other student organization chapter meetings and give a pitch for your upcoming table sale. Or, bring along and pass around a sample FE Review Manual with a sign-up sheet. The sign-up sheet will allow your classmates to pre-order the books, and you can track orders for future payment. Another option is to ask other chapter presidents or faculty advisors to pass around sample copies of the FE Review Manual with a sign-up sheet.

Ask a senior design class professor (or a professor of another class made up primarily of seniors) if you can present the products at the start of class.

If there is an FE/EIT exam review course on your campus or in your area, ask the coordinator if you can present a copy of the FE Review Manual, Core Engineering Concepts, and a discipline-specific review book at the first session and pass around a sign-up sheet. Or, better yet, ask the FE/EIT exam review course coordinator if he/she will review the FE Review Manual, Core Engineering Concepts, and the appropriate discipline-specific review books. If he/she agrees, we would be happy to send a review copy at their request. Ideally this would encourage them to use it as the required text for the course.

How to Pay PPI for the Books Sold

Please send payment for the books you sold by the Friday following the October and April FE/EIT exams. Make checks payable to PPI and mail them to: PPI; 1250 Fifth Ave.; Belmont, CA 94002.

Enclose either a copy of your invoice or organization contact information to ensure your account is credited.

How to Handle Extra Books

If you have any remaining books from the Chapter Fundraiser Program at the end of your fundraising period, you have two options.

Option 1: Request an Extension

If your chapter is planning to participate in the Chapter Fundraiser Program again, you may request an extension and keep the books, paying for them and any additional copies after the next fundraiser is complete. Doing this ensures you don't pay for books damaged during the return shipping, and also minimizes return-shipping costs. There are three steps to requesting an extension to sell the remaining books for the next FE/EIT exam (given every October and April).

Have your advisor send an email to mgruender@ppi2pass.com stating that he or she is aware of the extension.
Send an email to mgruender@ppi2pass.com answering the following questions:

How many books did you sell, and how many would you like to keep?
Where will you store the books (e.g., advisor's office, chapter office, or departmental office)?
Who will be responsible for the fundraiser next semester, and include their email and phone number.

Pay by check or credit card for the books sold. Credit card payment can be made by calling PPI customer service at 800-426-1178. Checks should be made payable to PPI and mailed to: PPI; 1250 Fifth Ave.; Belmont, CA 94002.

Option 2: Return Remaining Books

If your chapter would prefer to return the books to PPI, there are three steps to doing so.

Send a check for the amount you owe for the books you sold. Make it payable to PPI, and mail it to: PPI; 1250 Fifth Ave.; Belmont, CA 94002. If you are paying with a credit card please call 800-426-1178 and choose option 2.
Send an email to mgruender@ppi2pass.com to request return authorization for the remaining books.
Once we have authorized the return, package the books carefully in a sturdy box with packing material. Indicate the quantity of books returned on either your invoice or organization contact information. Note that shipping will cost approximately $3 per book. We recommend insuring the package(s). Ship the package(s) to: PSSC (c/o PPI); 660 S. Mansfield; Ypsilanti, MI 48197.