PTA\/PTO leaders have a big job when it comes to determining the fundraisers a school will undertake for the year. While there may be some annual fundraisers at your school that practically run themselves at this point, there\u2019s nothing wrong with trying new school fundraising ideas.<\/p>\n
In\u00a0this blog, you\u2019ll learn more about:<\/p>\n
Maybe you have a new PTA\/PTO president who wants to change things up, or perhaps there\u2019s widespread interest in novelty across your organization. Maybe your school has a new need, like renovating the playground or replacing the library computers.<\/p>\n
No matter the situation, most PTA\/PTOs find themselves making important decisions about which fundraisers to hold every year. So here\u2019s your guide to making the right choices! The experts at Booster will walk you through everything you should consider when choosing your next fundraiser plus give you school fundraising ideas to get you inspired.<\/p>\n
One of the most important parts of planning a school fundraiser is determining your fundraising goals. This includes both how much money you want to raise and how the funds will be used. School fundraisers\u00a0help fund<\/a>\u00a0everything from enrichment programs and extracurricular activities to new technology and facilities upgrades.<\/p>\n Determining what you need to raise funds for and how much money you\u2019ll need to raise is important for several reasons. First, it helps you approach your fundraising in an organized way. Second, it improves volunteer and donor engagement. When people know what their hard work and money is going toward, they\u2019re more likely to donate. Finally, determining your fundraising goals helps you decide on the best type of fundraiser to achieve your goals.<\/p>\n Different types of fundraisers vary in terms of profitability and purpose. That\u2019s why we recommend schools use a variety of different types of fundraisers throughout the year. You may even use multiple fundraisers to work toward a single fundraising goal.<\/p>\n Below are a few examples of the types of school fundraising ideas that work well for various goals.<\/p>\n If you need to raise funds for something expensive like new technology or a building renovation, you need a high-profit fundraiser that will give you a lot of bang for your buck. Some of the\u00a0most profitable school fundraisers<\/a>\u00a0include:<\/p>\n These are just a few of the many possible examples. Remember, the profit you earn from a single fundraiser depends on more than just the type of fundraiser you host. As we will explain further in this blog, it also takes careful planning, strong volunteer power and good timing.<\/p>\n Not all school fundraising ideas are a major event. Schools also benefit from ongoing fundraisers that can be run with very little effort online. These types of fundraisers can create a year-round source of funds that can be used for things like school supplies, student events, field trips, etc.<\/p>\n School fundraising ideas that can be easily managed and bring in ongoing profits include:<\/p>\n You can also host periodic campaigns such as a social media blasts to your donation page or text-to-give fundraisers that let people donate by sending a simple text.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re raising funds for a specific educational purpose such as a STEAM program, it can be a good idea to choose a fundraiser that fits the theme of the program.<\/p>\n For example, for an arts program, think about hosting an event that emphasizes the creative arts such as a talent show. For a sports program, hold an event that gets kids\u00a0active and moving their bodies<\/a>\u00a0like a\u00a0fun run<\/a>,\u00a0dance fundraiser<\/a>, or walk-a-thon. Replacing library technology or books? Have a read-a-thon to fit the theme.<\/p>\n This is where your PTA\/PTO can get creative and have fun with the type of events you organize.<\/p>\n Other important factors to consider when thinking about school fundraising ideas are the resources you have at your disposal. This includes everything from your budget and fundraising technology to potential volunteers and the types of facilities or venues you have access to.<\/p>\n Below are a few questions you should ask yourself when deciding on your next fundraiser.<\/p>\n Your first step is to take a close look at your budget. How much money are you able to spend on your next event? Do you have plenty of cash upfront, or will you use some of the proceeds to offset the costs? If your budget is low, consider lower-cost fundraisers that don\u2019t require you to buy too many supplies or rent out expensive equipment or venues. The following types of fundraisers can work well for modest budgets:<\/p>\n Learn about more types of fundraisers according to cost in our\u00a0ultimate fundraising guide<\/a>.<\/p>\n For successful fundraising, you need to have a plan for tracking and collecting your donations. Thankfully,\u00a0school fundraising platforms<\/a>\u00a0make this easier by automating the process. These platforms are typically well worth the cost in terms of the clarity and simplicity they add to the donation tracking and collection process.<\/p>\n Do you have access to a quality fundraising platform? If not, consider the many\u00a0benefits of using one<\/a>. With a platform like Booster\u2019s, for example, you can throw out your old spreadsheets and get access to a visual tracker that lets you easily track your fundraising progress.\u00a0Learn more about how MyBooster<\/a>\u00a0can streamline your fundraiser tracking.<\/p>\n Another crucial consideration in choosing your next awesome school fundraising idea is how many volunteers you\u2019ll have to help make it a reality. If you\u2019ve had a great recruiting year and people are lining up to lend a hand, great! If not, that doesn\u2019t mean you can\u2019t still have a great fundraiser. It just means you\u2019ll need to choose a fundraiser that doesn\u2019t require so much hands-on volunteer work.<\/p>\n Below are some school fundraising ideas that are great when you\u2019re low on volunteers:<\/p>\n Another consideration that might surprise you when thinking about school fundraising ideas\u00a0 is considering when your event or campaign will occur. Believe it or not, this can make a big difference in the type of fundraiser you choose. Consider the following when it comes to deciding on your next school fundraising idea:<\/p>\n Picking an event that meshes well with the season can be a great way to get people excited about participating. Fall, winter, and spring all bring different things for people to enjoy, and you can really boost the fun by picking a fundraiser with a seasonal theme.<\/p>\n For example,\u00a0fall brings the opportunity for fundraisers<\/a>\u00a0centered around Halloween (think costume contests and haunted houses), Thanksgiving (turkey trots and food drives), and seasonal food and drink (think bake sales featuring pies and apple cider). Similarly, winter fundraisers can be focused on holidays like Christmas or Hanukkah (e.g., gift drives, shoe and coat drives, gingerbread house contests, hot chocolate sales, and more).Spring is a great time for fundraisers that get people outdoors.<\/p>\n When choosing your next fundraiser, think of ways to celebrate the season!<\/p>\n It\u2019s important to avoid volunteer and donor fatigue. That means avoiding scheduling too many fundraisers close together. If you just recently had a big event with lots of volunteers, consider making your next fundraiser a low-effort campaign like text-to-give or a donations page blast. If you\u2019re worried about donor fatigue, something like a restaurant night, bowl-a-thon, or trivia night allows donors to get something in return for their donation, i.e., a nice meal or a night of entertainment.<\/p>\n We hope this guide has you feeling prepared to choose the perfect event for your next fundraiser. For more awesome school fundraising ideas, check out the\u00a0Booster blog<\/a>. Our fundraising experts are happy to share our experiences with you!<\/p>\nGoal: High Profits<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Goal: Consistent Donations<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Goal: Enrichment Programs<\/strong><\/h3>\n
2. What are your resources?<\/strong><\/h3>\n
How much will the event cost and can your budget cover it?<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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How will you track and collect donations?<\/strong><\/h3>\n
How many volunteers will you need and are you able to recruit them?<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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3. Time of Year<\/strong><\/h3>\n
What season is it?<\/strong><\/h3>\n
What other fundraisers have happened recently or are happening soon?<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Good luck!<\/strong><\/h2>\n