Double Your School Fundraiser By Getting Parents Involved
PTA and PTO groups have many reasons for having school fundraiser events. The reasons range from buying equipment or services for the school that is not in the schools budget, to funding special guest, presentations or field trips. As anyone who has ever headed up a school fundraiser would know, there are unique challenges to running a good and profitable one.
One important factor that might get overlooked while planning a school fundraiser is communication with the parents of the students. Many times it is assumed that the students will fill the parents in on all that is going on at school, especially when it concerns the school fundraiser. After all, the students are usually super excited about it after they have seen all the incentives for selling that they could earn. But parents are busy and children don’t always communicate in the way that the parents need to hear.
Involvement of the parents is paramount in a successful school fundraiser and if you are the one running it you should include plans to make sure that the parents of your students are informed about your fundraising plans.
Here are 4 tips that will help you get the most out of your school fundraiser.
1.) Beginning of Year Communication
When school begins each year you should send a memo or letter to parents which outlines your plans for school fundraiser events that are planned throughout the year. Only in this way can you ensure that there are no surprises that catch the parents off guard.
2.) Secondary Correspondence
Most parents have a hectic schedule and sometimes an upcoming event may slip their mind. Send a letter home in the student’s take home pack a week or so before the beginning of each school fundraiser or special event throughout the year.
These first two tips are designed to keep parents “in the loop” for the things that you have planed but if you want to take it to the next level, keep reading.
3.) Send out a Newsletter about your school fundraiser.
Use your school’s newsletter to keep parents informed of things that are going on at school, especially when it comes to your school fundraiser. Be sure to ask your parents to sign up for the newsletter in all correspondence that is sent home. This will pay big dividends down the road.
Public schools and other educational institutions should have newsletter or ezine that is published regularly. A simple form should be placed on either the school’s website or that of the local board of education. This will make it easy and painless for parents to sign up.
4.) Gather Email Addresses of your parents
When forms and notices go home that needs to be completed by parents and returned ensure there is a space the parents to write their e-mail address beside the signature line.
If you take the time and trouble to build a database of all these email addresses, you can send your reminders home in print and electronically when it is time for the school fundraiser. You would be surprised at how effective this tactic is in making your school fundraiser a huge success.
These 4 methods will help you increase participation in your next school fundraiser. Not only of your students, but you will likely find more volunteers from the ranks of the parents that are willing to help.
Filed under: Business