[FONT=Arial,sans-serif]I have been involved with non profits for over 45 years and I have to say one without the other isn’t more effective than having both. I suggest proposal writing for large projects is necessary, while traditional fundraising for the smaller project will maintain parent involvement and since of worth.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>
[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,sans-serif]With the many cut backs in funding at schools, there is a growing need for direct donations. You can plan a budget with more certainty and you’re able to commit to a project without worry. So, both are the way to go.<o:p></o:p>
[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,sans-serif]God Bless,<o:p></o:p>
[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,sans-serif]<o:p> </o:p>
[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,sans-serif]Lutual Love<o:p></o:p>
[/FONT]
We dropped our sales (fall giftwrap, spring candles/cookie dough/etc.) fundraisers two years ago, after a unanimous vote at a PTO meeting in favor of direct donation. We try to highlight on our event sign-ups that "we're asking only for your time" -- previously, we used to ask for donations of supplies, and it was hit-or-miss as to getting the right amount of the different supplies.
We also stopped all the selling. We keep all the fundraising locally. We support our local Zaxby's which gives us 10% of our sales and we're now earning about $200-$300/month with no work. They provide the flyers and stickers. We're working with other local restaurants owned by parents at the school that help support us during our big events by giving us discounts on teacher appreciation luncheons, cakes, etc.. and we help promote their business. They are very pleased b/c the parents now shop and eat their often. We are a big family now. We have one major Walk-a-thon with direct donations only. Since this is our largest fundraiser, we tell them exactly what our goal is, what we're planning to do with the money, and for 3 years straight.. we've met and exceeded the goal and purchased what we said we did. This year we raised $15,000 in one week and purchased an I-pad lab with 30 I-pads. The parents love knowing we need this amount for this and they will do it. They don't go selling stuff or buying stuff they don't need. We use our Coke Rewards, Labels for Education, to cash in points for all the prizes we give out. That keeps our Cash Flow for the important stuff. We do little FUN 10 cent and $1.00 Halloween and Winter in-school competitions that promote grade unity and that gets to be fun and we make about $500 on each of that. We do a lot of classroom assistance, field trip assistance, angel tree, etc.. and we make sure that after EVERY event we tell the parents via flyers, e-mail and FB, how much was raised and what we're using the money on. The feedback is awesome. Parent participation is higher than ever. More volunteers are joining because they want to be part of the group that is doing so much. I'm very proud of our school and the team we have produced. Teacher and Principal participation is also key. Without our Principal's support, we couldn't do a lot of the crazy ideas we get. We keep it fun and keep it simple. Most of the time, we are struggling to figure out HOW to spend the money. Many schools can't claim that. We are blessed. I think a lot of selling of useless things just makes other businesses richer and the school's can do so much if you just get creative and or learn to tap your local small business owners. You've got their target audience in your school. They can spend a couple of hundred dollars helping your school and targeting their audience. What a great way to spend advertising dollars. COMMUNICATION is the key to any successful program. Listen to your parents and they will support you.
To start with we eliminated as many fundraisers as possible - down to a fall fundraiser & Easter candy sale (and continued with Market Day grocery sales and Boxtops) - with LOTS of parent information sent home throughout the year that we ask everyone to participate in Fall Fundraiser at level they are able with other fundraisers being optional.
The following fall we had gained parents trust that we would only do 2 main fundraisers (fall + Easter chocolate) and tried something new.
We did a 'walk for education" this year......students could collect pledges (or in many cases just have parents write one check - so essentially a Direct Donation) OR they could sell coupon books at $5 each (50%) profit.....for those families unable to give a flat donation.
The response was overwhelmingly positive. We doubled our traditional fall fundraiser income!!!! And everyone loved it - parents, kids, teachers. Of course the long term, year-after-year results are yet to be seen.
There were some tangibles for that direct donation. We calculated that our PTO spends $50 per student - so we started the prize levels at $50 and let people know this was our goal. There were prizes at additional levels to encourage those that are able to give more to cover those unable to fundraiser (Scholastic Bookfair coupon at $75, school logo backpack at $100 and lunch with the principal at $150)
We got cooperate sponsors which let us give every kid in the school a t-shirt on the walk day, let us purchase snacks and stuff to make it fun (balloons, bubble blower, etc.). Walk was 30 min during school, different times for different grades, with everyone participating regardless of money brought in - or not.
Parents main response...."LOVED being able to write just one check, not have to purchase 'junk' I did not want, loved knowing PTO received 100% of my money!"
We do traditional fundraising, but we asked parents to contribute toward our teacher appreciation and for graduations. The reaction was very surprising to me. They paid for this year's expenses, and we have some to carry over into next year. We had a suggested donation of $5, but many families gave more. There was no suggestion that it would reduce our regular fundraising. We just sent out a letter explaining teacher appreciation week. We asked that each family participate in some way, either by helping their child draw a picture or write a thank you note, or bringing in cookies or other desserts, or with a donation to offset the cost of our Teacher Appreciation brunch. I was really surprised when I stopped in to get our mail and found our mailbox stuffed full of envelopes.
