A couple of recent stories detail schools that host only one fundraiser each year. Here's the lowdown on Hawaii's 'Aina Haina Elementary, for instance:
"At a fun run held last month, the Parent Teacher Association raised $60,180.31 from a student body of fewer than 500 students, assisted by some corporate donations from parents and businesses in the 'Aina Haina area.
"The Jaguar Jog was a new fundraiser for the school, said PTA president Liz Hamasu. And now it will be the school's only fundraiser for the year. ...
"For this fundraiser, each parent was asked to pony up $100 in pledges for the Jaguar Jog, a course set up on campus for students in each grade level to complete..."
Potential pros of this approach:
One PTA official cites two, noting, "We didn't want to nickel and dime everyone with a series of smaller fundraisers. People are so busy now. It's not that parents don't want to help, but their plates are full and there are just not enough hours in the day to do everything that they want to do."
Potential cons:
* A single event might get people out of the habit of participating in and supporting fundraisers--and if you're hosting creative FUNdraisers, that habit can be a very positive one to cultivate.
* If the event flops, you'll find yourself in deep yogurt with an empty bank account.
Any readers have thoughts on or experiences with the once-a-year fundraising approach?
Sunday, October 7, 2007
Friday, October 5, 2007
Tap into your school's unique strengths
Are you the oldest school in the community? Turn that into a fundraising strength by publishing a calendar featuring compelling pictures from throughout the school's history and selling it into the big local alumni base. Make it available at reunions, send a copy to the local education reporter, advertise it on the school Web site.
Here's a Dallas Morning News story about a school that's selling just such a calendar:
"Sophomores at Woodrow Wilson High School are getting an early start on graduation and drawing on the past for help.
"To raise money for graduation activities, the Class of 2010 is producing a calendar featuring the high school's past and a splash of today.
"'We were looking for something different,' said Michelle Hopson, one of the sophomores' five parent sponsors. 'Everyone does T-shirts, pajama bottoms, boxers and bumper stickers.' ...
"'Woodrow is big on tradition, and we wanted to put that to work in our favor,' she said. 'My dad, Marvin Marek, graduated in 1950 and I talked to him and his friends and they were all excited about it. I think we might have hit on something really good.'
"Such calendars haven't been a common fundraising mechanism for schools, according to Rick Casner of Gizmo Group in Lakewood, the company designing the project.
"'Not a lot of schools have the history that Woodrow Wilson does,' he said. 'They are expensive to produce, but you're not just buying the calendar, but rather what's inside.' ...
"Selecting and scanning the photographs took a fair amount of time, Mrs. Hopson said.
"'We have some as old as the 1940s,' she said. 'We pored over old yearbooks. We started comparing new cheerleaders and old, new team photos and old. I think it will be really clever.'"
Is there a treasure trove of great old school photos you can capitalize on for a memorable fundraiser?
Here's a Dallas Morning News story about a school that's selling just such a calendar:
"Sophomores at Woodrow Wilson High School are getting an early start on graduation and drawing on the past for help.
"To raise money for graduation activities, the Class of 2010 is producing a calendar featuring the high school's past and a splash of today.
"'We were looking for something different,' said Michelle Hopson, one of the sophomores' five parent sponsors. 'Everyone does T-shirts, pajama bottoms, boxers and bumper stickers.' ...
"'Woodrow is big on tradition, and we wanted to put that to work in our favor,' she said. 'My dad, Marvin Marek, graduated in 1950 and I talked to him and his friends and they were all excited about it. I think we might have hit on something really good.'
"Such calendars haven't been a common fundraising mechanism for schools, according to Rick Casner of Gizmo Group in Lakewood, the company designing the project.
"'Not a lot of schools have the history that Woodrow Wilson does,' he said. 'They are expensive to produce, but you're not just buying the calendar, but rather what's inside.' ...
"Selecting and scanning the photographs took a fair amount of time, Mrs. Hopson said.
"'We have some as old as the 1940s,' she said. 'We pored over old yearbooks. We started comparing new cheerleaders and old, new team photos and old. I think it will be really clever.'"
Is there a treasure trove of great old school photos you can capitalize on for a memorable fundraiser?
Enhance your school "brand" by seeking highbrow fundraising partners
Much has been written about the backlash against school candy sales, magazine subscription drives and the like. But one thing not often mentioned is that most of the vendors who push those sales on school groups are schlocky. Associating with them actually cheapens the school's "brand" in the community.
Contrast that with what the Hudson Elementary School PTA is doing in Tempe, Arizona, per EVLiving.com:
"...the PTA Board has moved to partner with the Symphony of the Southwest, formerly Mesa Symphony Orchestra to create a unique, creative and educational fundraiser. The Hudson PTA now sells individual tickets to the Symphony of the Southwest concerts in order to collect more than 35% of the sales price as a fundraiser.
"Furthermore, in order to render the offer more interesting to the public tickets are offered to the public at a price reduced by up to 20%. ...
"'We really think this fundraiser will be an efficient one. It differs from the classic cookie dough and catalog sales that we do every year and it is very educational and beneficial for the participants,' says Mark Kennedy, Treasurer and past-president of the PTA Board.
"'Music is a very important art at Hudson and we are glad our children will be able to get involved with the Symphony of the Southwest,' added Andy Gutierrez, president of the PTA."
And kids and parents who sell at least five tickets get a free pass to a symphony event.
What's cool about this fundraiser, separating it from other sales efforts:
* It brings together two respected nonprofit groups.
* It dovetails with the school's educational mission.
* It gives students a chance to broaden their arts education.
* It provides a good value to anyone who buys a ticket by giving them discounts off the regular ticket price.
For any symphony fan, what's not to like? Even people who don't want tickets will look at this fundraiser as a positive event promoting the cultural life of the community instead of the latest schlocky attempt to twist people's arms to subscribe to magazines they'll never read and purchase candy they don't need.
Contrast that with what the Hudson Elementary School PTA is doing in Tempe, Arizona, per EVLiving.com:
"...the PTA Board has moved to partner with the Symphony of the Southwest, formerly Mesa Symphony Orchestra to create a unique, creative and educational fundraiser. The Hudson PTA now sells individual tickets to the Symphony of the Southwest concerts in order to collect more than 35% of the sales price as a fundraiser.
"Furthermore, in order to render the offer more interesting to the public tickets are offered to the public at a price reduced by up to 20%. ...
"'We really think this fundraiser will be an efficient one. It differs from the classic cookie dough and catalog sales that we do every year and it is very educational and beneficial for the participants,' says Mark Kennedy, Treasurer and past-president of the PTA Board.
"'Music is a very important art at Hudson and we are glad our children will be able to get involved with the Symphony of the Southwest,' added Andy Gutierrez, president of the PTA."
And kids and parents who sell at least five tickets get a free pass to a symphony event.
What's cool about this fundraiser, separating it from other sales efforts:
* It brings together two respected nonprofit groups.
* It dovetails with the school's educational mission.
* It gives students a chance to broaden their arts education.
* It provides a good value to anyone who buys a ticket by giving them discounts off the regular ticket price.
For any symphony fan, what's not to like? Even people who don't want tickets will look at this fundraiser as a positive event promoting the cultural life of the community instead of the latest schlocky attempt to twist people's arms to subscribe to magazines they'll never read and purchase candy they don't need.
Add fundraising fizz with a soda tasting
This Providence Journal story mentioning a school foundation's "wine, soda, and cheese reception" gave me an idea:
Why not host a fun twist on wine-tasting fundraisers by popping the top on an exotic soda tasting?
The city where I live has a store that sells hard-to-find and boutique soda pop. Even if you don't have a fun emporium like that near you, regional and specialty sodas are regularly sold online. Just run some Google searches and you'll find lots of Web soda retailers. Check out the Jones Soda Co. for some truly goofy flavors.
Another way to go: Round up every strange variation on Dr. Pepper you can find. Every store brand seems to feature a Pepper knockoff with a funny name. And they're cheap!
You could add a buffet of old-fashioned, hard-to-find candy to the mix for a real walk down memory lane.
I'm not a big fan of food-themed fundraisers because of the health issues they raise, but it might be worth making an exception for this one.
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Two on a match
If you're ever lucky (or good) enough to get a big donor on the hook for your school or education group, why not get more bang for your buck by turning any offered gift into a matching grant?
Just look at what happened recently at North Carolina's East Mecklenburg High, as reported by the Charlotte Observer:
"Two years ago, Bob Silver of Montclair, N.J., a 1973 East Meck grad, told administrators he'd donate $500,000 for a program to help teachers, if the school matched it.
"Last month, it did -- raising $505,000. That means more than $1 million for the All Star Teacher Initiative, a program unique in North Carolina funded largely by alumni and parents of current students.
"Friday, on East Meck's homecoming, the school has invited thousands of graduates to a red-carpet celebration for a program that has already begun to make a difference. ...
"The fundraising officially kicked off last February at a luncheon of parents and graduates. Organizers expected a crowd of 200. More than 500 showed. 'That's when I knew we'd hit a nerve,' said Silver, who did well on Wall Street, realized the impact East Meck teachers had on his career and wanted to give back. 'The outpouring blew me away. I knew then they'd meet the challenge.'"
Wow. Now there's a story to share with your wealthy alums with fond memories of the old alma mater...
Just look at what happened recently at North Carolina's East Mecklenburg High, as reported by the Charlotte Observer:
"Two years ago, Bob Silver of Montclair, N.J., a 1973 East Meck grad, told administrators he'd donate $500,000 for a program to help teachers, if the school matched it.
"Last month, it did -- raising $505,000. That means more than $1 million for the All Star Teacher Initiative, a program unique in North Carolina funded largely by alumni and parents of current students.
"Friday, on East Meck's homecoming, the school has invited thousands of graduates to a red-carpet celebration for a program that has already begun to make a difference. ...
"The fundraising officially kicked off last February at a luncheon of parents and graduates. Organizers expected a crowd of 200. More than 500 showed. 'That's when I knew we'd hit a nerve,' said Silver, who did well on Wall Street, realized the impact East Meck teachers had on his career and wanted to give back. 'The outpouring blew me away. I knew then they'd meet the challenge.'"
Wow. Now there's a story to share with your wealthy alums with fond memories of the old alma mater...
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
Everything you need to know about quiz nights
I happened across a Squidoo lens on hosting a Quiz Night that might inspire a nice series of school FUNdraisers. One smart tip:
"A nice format which keeps the crowd interested and involved is to get teams to swap their papers and mark each others. It keeps the laughter and discussion going and gets the teams chatting with each other too!"
Sounds like a recipe for good times.
"A nice format which keeps the crowd interested and involved is to get teams to swap their papers and mark each others. It keeps the laughter and discussion going and gets the teams chatting with each other too!"
Sounds like a recipe for good times.
Monday, October 1, 2007
Super-size the school fair
In Montana, the Education Foundation of Billings Public Schools sponsors an annual Saturday Live carnival that has become a very popular communitywide event, the Billings Gazette reports. Where one school hosting a fair on campus might draw a few hundred visitors, Saturday Live had about 9,000 attendees this year--and raised more than $63,000 for school groups.
There's strength in numbers.
What other schools and community groups can you partner with to put on bigger, more entertaining--and thus more profitable--events?
There's strength in numbers.
What other schools and community groups can you partner with to put on bigger, more entertaining--and thus more profitable--events?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
