Back to School: 5 Tips for Successful Fundraising

With school just around the corner parents, teachers, and students are all taking a look at their shrinking budgets with a long sigh of disbelief. As classroom sizes soar and students clamor for updated textbooks, supplies and projects it becomes increasingly more difficult to make each dollar stretch.

In fact, according to www.supportyourteacher.org the average teacher spends $800 of their own money each year on supplies to keep their classrooms up to date and to provide resources for current learning activities. The up front costs for electives and after-school activities have also increased due to budget cuts. The increased fees have made it even more difficult for athletic, music and art departments to stay afloat because fewer students are able to afford the participation fees to help cover the costs for supplies, instruments and equipment.

Luckily, school staff and parents have gotten wise to what seems to be an annual dip in available funds and rather than sitting on the sidelines, they are creating fundraising opportunities in communities big and small. If you are a parent, teacher or concerned student looking for solutions to meeting the financial demands of education, here are some tips that can help get you a head start on your fundraising needs.

1. Start Early

Although school doesn't start for several more weeks, don't wait until September to start your fundraising. Schools that have success fundraising for fall programs are those that start building awareness, discussing ideas and collecting funds during the summer months. Many groups get a jump-start on fundraising by having a summer rummage sale or car wash while the weather is nice and students have lots of free time to help.

2. Do What Works

Don't spread your resources thin by trying to do several different fundraising programs all at once. Find one or two fundraising activities that are proven to work, and stick with enhancing those programs to meet your financial needs. Silent auctions or raffles with items donated by local businesses, coupon books and discount cards work well for many of the groups that I speak with on an almost daily basis. Whatever you decide to do, reach out to other schools in your community and ask what has been a success or failure for them. It may prevent you from putting a lot of time and effort into a fundraiser that doesn't work.

3. Don't Give Away Your Profit

While there are a handful of fundraising companies that share the wealth, there are an astounding number of companies that don't. Before you send your students out to sell cookies, posters or coupons make sure that you read the fine print. You should never have to pay an upfront fee for the services provided by a fundraising company, and you should never have to walk away with less than 75% of profits. Always ask for references from other schools, and find out how much of the work you will actually have to do to make the fundraiser work. Remember: it isn't your job to make sure the fundraising company is making money - it's your job to collect enough funds for uniforms, computers, books and school supplies.

4. Know What You're Fundraising For

One mishap that I have seen groups get into is sending parents and students out into the community to solicit donations who aren't sure what the school needs the money for. Two questions I always ask when I'm approached by someone who is fundraising are: "What are you fundraising for?" and "How much do you need?" Make sure that everyone involved is clear on these two points so that they can update the community on their needs and progress. I am a lot more likely to help a school who I know needs $1,800 for new software for their computer lab than I am to a student who is raising money for "something to do with P.E.".

5. Make Sure You Only Ask Once

When a group of you is working together, don't hand everyone the same list of businesses and community members to contact for contributions. Make sure that each of your volunteers is assigned a particular neighborhood or set of businesses to call on. This will make your fundraising more successful by allowing you to reach more of the community while preventing community members from feeling like they are being asked to give continuously by your group.

Following the tips outlined here will help your group to meet your financial needs, as well as to bring awareness to your organization's involvement in student development. Always put your best face forward, and thank both the volunteers as well as the community for making your fundraising event possible. Fund raising for your school should bring students, teachers and parents together as a team working towards a common goal; not a stressful hassle that drives them apart in separate directions.