Hi Christy,
I just wanted to add that even though you didn't make tons of money, it sounds like the parents had a wonderful time and that is such a big accomplishment... Don't sell yourself short! Building community and providing parents with a way to connect is a critical part of being a parent group leader/volunteer. So, you did a great job with that. And, that said, I understand that you still need to raise funds. So, maybe it is time to reassess and look at ways to either give this event a major overhaul or consider a new event altogether.
I was just reading your posts, and we have our event at our end of year family event. This way the parents have to be there, and with advertising before hand the kids were excited for some of the prizes (autographed football, sports stuff, dance certificates, etc) .
With our parents if we were to have an event without the kids, we wouldn't get any support. We were talking about starting something, but when talking with some of the parents, they didn't like the idea at all.
I'm sorry that your event didn't end up raising as much as it normally does. When you put in this much work you really want to see a big return.
well there were only the two of us for the most part, although we did have some great hands on helpers with some key areas. It has been really hard doing doing it all but we wworked very well together adn pulled it off.
Our event was last night and while nearly everyone who came had a great time ans we received tons of postive feedback on everything about the night ( and from the number of people on the dance floor and around the tables talking and laughing, it was a great night) However the fun time and great night didnt translate to a good profit. Our art work for the live auction didnt really go for much with only 1-2 people per class bidding on each piece. Our baskets and items went for bargain basement prices. We are shocked at how little some of the items went for.
At this rate, I am not sure if the effort to put the event on is worth the low turn out and garage sale profits.
I am glad it was seen as a success by the attendees and I am thrilled tha it was fun and lively but I almost think the preschool needs to totally restructre how they raise money.
Hmmm..wow that stinks. The one thing that comes to mind is to just hold a silent auction during a major school event that most parents attend anyway like a holiday show or something like that. That way you can make money from all the items that are donated without the worry of selling tickets for and covering the cost of an event. One red flag to me is that it sounds like there are only two of you running the event and soliciting items. If there were more people involved and participating in those functions you might get a better turn out. I know at our school people that were eager to help are dropping out like flles because they see one or. Two people are in charge of everything and think their help is not needed. Once people start feeling like that..they are gone. I don't know if that is part of the issue at your school or not.
This is the 15th year of the annual art auction at my daughter's preschool. In past years it was well attended and raised well over $10-15K a year. There has been a steady decline in the past few years and last year's event only raised about $6000, less than half of the year before.
This year is my first year chairing the event and my co-chair and I have done everything we can to hear parent's request for lower ticket cost, dancing, music, a lively venue and better quailty bid items. Between the 2 of us, we have secured over $17,000 in quailty donated goods and services, we lowered the ticket to the lowest price sine 2007, we added music and changed the venue to a lounge that offers a live band after the event.
We are still 30 tickets short of meeitng our basic expenses. We have an entire class without one parent attending. We have appealed to them on every level. It is a preschool so there is a new group of parents every few years. We added low cost/ big reward incentives like ice cream with the teacher raffles adn used some of our donations in a raffle, selling tickets i nstead of bid to help the lower income families particiapte fairly, although it is a private preschool in a affulent area so there isnt truly any lower income familes.
I dont know if there is anything we could do different that would engage people more than what we have. My co-chair and I have been atht epreschool every morning for drop off and pick up and have stayed onthe playground daily selling tickets and raffle tickets without much success. I feel like people are starting to avoid me now! LOL
I feel like some major changes need to happn if we want to continue this event. Has anyone had to discontinue the art auction due to lack of participation?
