We do a fund drive at the beginning of each school year, and we name it a theme of a movie that is out at the start of school. This year we did Pirates of the Carribean. We put a big a poster board on the wall made into a ship, with each class teacher's name on it and where there class was as far as donations went. We updated the wall each Monday. The class with the highest amount received a movie and pizza party in their classroom. The 2nd and 3rd highest classes won a movie and popcorn party. We do this at the beginning of the school year for those parents who do not want to do fundraisers, and it is a huge success each year. Good Luck

My last school did this. The first year was a huge success. The parents and kids were thrilled to not be selling anything and we quickly and easily reached our goal. The second year was the same. The third year was a struggle. There were many changes so it's hard to say what it was. The new chairman wasn't nearly as capable as the lady who'd run it the prior two years. There was rapid growth and lots of changes to the buildings, teachers, classes, etc. We did, however, eventually reach our goal. This is the fourth year for it and I hear that they're struggling. The new chairman was a complete flop, the program wasn't properly handled and as of yet they still haven't reached their goal.

We tried different incentives and prizes for the kids but, ultimately, it's the parents who are doing all the work so we took away individual prizes. Instead, we said that if the total goal was met then all of the students would get a prize.

I think if you're going to attempt this type of fundraiser long term then you have to keep it fresh. It seems like easy money and I think the new chairmen thought they could breeze through it. I believe you can have long term success with this but it takes as much time, focus and energy as any other kind of fundraiser. That might make you wonder what the benefits are. I'd say it's not having to have the kids go out and sell any thing. All of our parents say they love that but their checks get smaller every year too... That's not good.

Your idea of using a theme is great. It can change every year and help to keep things new and exciting.

We don't do this, however, there is an elem. school near us that is affluent and has 1500 kids. They tried this for 2 years and it was a bust. They had many parents promise/pledge and never followed through. I know it's good in theory, but I've read many more complaints about it not being successful than positive responses.

I hope yours works out & that you have a back-up if it doesn't,
Holly

I think this a great idea! I absolutely hate having fundraisers. Fundraisers are a lot of work, and there are 3 of us who get stuck doing all of the work. (me - I'm the PTO president, the PTO secretary, and the PTO vice president)

I wish we could come up with a way to eliminate the 2 fundraisers that we do every year. We usually raise between $10-15,000 every year. If we could just work harder to collect Box Tops, we could earn $20,000 per year and eliminate our fundraisers. Maybe I should check into getting corporate donations. I believe we are not allowed to solicit donations from parents.

Hello,

I need some ideas. There are many people at our school interested in doing a No fundraising funds drive next year. I have to type up a proposal of how it will work.

First of all what do you call yours - I would like a clever & fun name.

Do any of you who do this have incentives? I thought the class w/ the most donations and the class w/ the most participation could get $x more for field trip $.

Do you do incentives for total goals reached & if you go above goals?

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks