25 Easy School Fundraising Contests for Principals

There is a few key reasons for school principals to throw a contest or challenge during a school fundraiser.  Here's a three-part summary:

1) Increases participation in the fundraiser
2) Easy and nearly free in most instances
3) Just a few minutes of work = $thousands$

Actually, there is an overriding principle - teamwork!

There is nobody in the school who can rally a cause like the principal!  So, go ahead and follow the link here for the original 25 ideas presentation.  Thanks!!

http://believejay.blogspot.com/2010/08/25-school-principal-contest-fundraising.html

Ok, until next time!

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Parent, Community Groups Pressed to Fill K-12 Budget Gaps

I want you to look at this article.  I tweeted about it when it first came out, now I just want to delve into just one point, oh wait, two.


Parent, Community Groups Pressed to Fill K-12 Budget Gaps

As a quick aside, I haven't seen many good posts about fundraising and school budgets lately, so I commend Nora Flemming for her efforts on this fundraising article.

First off, I would like to point out that despite school budget cuts, lack of proper funding inside the classroom, program cutbacks and teacher layoffs, schools do not have a cohesive fundraising plan.

All indications, from where I sit (daily communication with administrators and parent groups) is that very few schools or districts are looking critically at their fundraising efforts either as combined or individual efforts. 

Secondly, inequity in fundraising is not necessarily a function of income levels.  I think what would be discovered with more research is that people make the difference.  In my experience, a motivated school or group (one with a purpose and direction) can outperform a scattered, unsupported school regardless of economic conditions.

Hey, so I dropped a few crazy topics there.  In the end, I believe that schools and districts will be looking at overall fundraising tactics, reporting and tracking and taking results and predictions much more seriously in the upcoming years.  I also think this fundraising plan will have to include strategic choices (more effective fundraising, less often) and work together to promote very effective school fundraising campaigns.

Ok, until next time!

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Choosing an Elementary School Fundraiser...

Hey, guess what.  You make irrational decisions.  It's O.K. though, so do I... so does everyone else.

I'm gonna make this point short and sweet.  When choosing an elementary school fundraiser, you will very likely make a decision that is not rational.  You will choose based on a relationship, the desire to try something new or because you want to do something different than whatever was done before.

If your goal is to make the most money in the shortest amount of time and do so with confidence, you should be asking different questions.  You should be asking how many students will participate, what the average sale per student is and how much of that your school will keep.

You should ask how easy you can make things on parents and you should consider how happy parents will be after the fundraiser is over, but only after you ask yourself how much money each parent will be responsible for contributing.

Most importantly, you should be asking how much time and effort the fundraiser takes before you get the word out on it.  If you're spending all your time setting up a fundraiser, you won't have time to market it!

Make sure you're asking the right questions when you decide on your next fundraiser.

Ok, until next time!

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