Best High School Band Fundraisers

Band Fundraisers

Believe Kids goes way back with elementary, middle and high school bands and choirs.  So far in fact, that we still host fundraisers for some band and choir directors that have worked with us for more than a decade.

Sounds like we're tootin' our own horn so to speak, but, there is a reason I mention it.

The strength of a music program doesn't depend on financing but inadequate funding has a profound impact on the program.

If one thing holds true today, it's that quality matters.

I hope bands and choirs continue to strive for excellence in both performance and the equipment and supplies it takes to make excellence happen!

Bands and choirs play by the same set of rules everyone else does.  They may not realize it.  It's about fundraising LESS but MORE EFFECTIVELY!

Parents and the community will enjoy any band or choir that keeps their program simple and focused.  Less is more in music and it's the same way with fundraising.  I hope directors realize that and help students find their passions without making the fundraising too big of a distraction.

Ok, until next time!

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band fundraisers
choir fundraisers

The Right Approach to Elementary School Fundraisers

Elementary school fundraisers are an interesting thing and when accomplished well, they should be both profitable and feel good.  They should also not be intrusive.

So, short, quality and then super-profitable huh?


Yes.  

Pay attention to the signal-to-noise ratio (The amount of background noise versus the main event).  

In order to really achieve fundraising success, the goal should be to minimize school fundraisers - playing down anything that does not put the money in the hands of the parent group.  Once there are just a few manageable fundraisers throughout the year, it's time to focus.

Focus on a fundraiser that can raise a significant amount of funds in a short period of time.  For instance, if a product fundraiser can earn top-dollar running for only two weeks, great!  If a fundraiser minimizes distraction in the classroom, great!

Involve everyone.  The difference between 1 fundraiser and 10 all boils down to the importance of the fundraiser and the participation it garners.  If you want to succeed wildly, include everyone in the process, from the principal to the parents.  Making the fundraiser important makes it succeed.  This success is why you can get rid of the other fundraisers.

Next is feel good.  In order to have the perfect formula of fundraising success, everyone needs to be left feeling good.  Customers need quality products in exchange for their donations, the schools need to not hear complaints about product and the parent group has to have a manageable delivery.

So, the right approach.  Minimize distraction, focus, involve everyone and ensure satisfaction.  Sounds easy and it is in the right circumstances. But it can be a challenge as well.  Most schools focus less on one fundraiser and more on scheduling many smaller efforts throughout the year.

If nothing else, perhaps a school will put just a little more focus into a fundraiser than normal and see what happens.  I hope this post encourages you to do just that.  You may find that with more success comes less fundraising.

Ok, until next time!

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elementary school fundraisers

80 / 20 Rule for Charitable Giving & School Fundraising

I was checking out an article illustrating how some private schools are stepping up their school fundraising efforts by targeting certain groups and parents within the schools for large donations. I think it's interesting that the private schools (in New York City at least) are looking critically at their fundraising, but it does bring up some interesting points indeed.

One thing I noticed in the New York Times article was about charitable giving. Here's a quote that will interest you.

"In recent years, fund-raisers and school heads say, more revenue is coming from a smaller group of parents and what used to be the “80/20 rule” — 20 percent of the parents give 80 percent of the money — has become the 90/10 rule, or even the 95/5 rule."

Wow! So, 20% of parents gave 80 percent of the money has become the 90/10 rule, or even the 95/5 rule. It just can't stand!  What I mean here is that it's not sustainable to have 5% giving and 95% not.  The fact is, the majority should be donating to things like schools, not the minority.

Having said that, though, the reality is that parents are hit up frequently for donations and that's part of the problem.  Consistent fundraising and lots of newer groups fundraising (where in the past, they were dues based) in combination with a depressed economy is causing less people to participate in fundraisers.

To wrap this up, what is needed is less fundraising where the fundraisers are more comprehensive in encouraging everyone to participate.  What we know is that when a need is important, it is filled so if we make our fundraisers more important, they work across the board - for generous and non-generous parents alike!

Ok, until next time!

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Original post:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/27/nyregion/private-schools-mine-parents-data-and-wallets.html?pagewanted=1

school fundraiser
fundraising participation