Can Parents Help My School Fundraiser Succeed!

Yes, the parents in your school are the key component to your fundraising success!

Take the time to plan out the fundraiser so it's simple for parents to understand and participate in.  Set an expectation such as the number of items a parent should sell.  Communicate dates effectively.  In other words, make it important and tell everyone what to do.

These simple factors are often overlooked leaving parents unprepared on turn-in day.  Things like not understanding what is being sold, by whom and to whom top the list of confusions that leave fundraising packets in the recycle bin.

Reverse the trend of low participation in your fundraiser!  Just make it easy, set your expectations and make it important!  The parents will do the rest of the work.

Ok, until next time!

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school fundraising

Should I Involve the Principal in My School Fundraiser?

OMG!  YES!!!

Involve the principal in your school fundraiser whenever possible.  If you can host a concise fundraiser where there is 'buy in' from the principal, faculty and teachers, you can raise enough funds in one fundraiser to not have to fundraise the rest of the year.  

Getting the Principal on board means that you can more easily earn the allegiance of the administration and teachers too!  Go do it, you can thank me later!

Ok, until next time!

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elementary school fundraising

Believe Kids Elementary School Fundraising

Believe Kids is a nationwide school fundraising company.

The disclosure here is that if you read my blog, you'll know that I don't self-promote.  At least I generally resist the temptation to talk about myself since we're all in this together.  The things is, today I want you to know that my company hosts very successful fundraisers - high-profit school fundraisers that are easy to run.

The company mostly teams up with PTA and PTO's for school-wide fundraisers.  Two main catalogs a year allow groups to successfully exceed fundraising goals.

No games, just amazing catalogs.  So, after 10,000 plus fundraisers, we are certainly experts.  Ask me anything and take a look when you get a chance.

Believe Kids Elementary School Fundraising

P.S. Referrals in every state including AK, HI, Guam & Puerto Rico :)

Keep Your Fundraising Short!

Keep your fundraising short and to the point!

Nothing is more maddening than things that won't go away...  things that won't end.

Have you ever watched a 6 hour movie?  See I haven't either.  Probably because people just know that it won't fly.  That it needs to be shorter.  That it needs to come to an end at the right time.

That time, is around 1:30 with a movie.  With a school fundraiser, it's 10 days.

Two full weeks of fundraising is the right amount of time to kick it off and wrap it up.  Then, the only thing remaining is the delivery which will be a few weeks off in most cases.

Keep your school fundraising simple, short and to the point!

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elementary school fundraisers

Fundraising Fatigue

There's a real phenomenon called 'Fundraising Fatigue'.  It's characterized by a reluctance to support fundraisers and other events at school as a result of too many fundraisers.

Pay attention to how parents feel about your events and activities.  Search out the honest feedback but keep in mind just about everyone these days is somewhat resistant to charitable giving.

This resistance to charity sounds like 'I'd rather...' and may not be helpful.  What is, is getting feedback about the way the school feels given it's various activities.

What you should look for is a balance of fun activities in varying categories.  Fundraising should be heavy-hitting so you can spend the majority of your time on other productive, fun and educational pursuits.

Balance is the key!

Ok, until next time!

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school fundraising

Happy Halloween!

Thinking about fundraising on Halloween is just not cool so I'm not going to talk about school fundraising today.  I linked to my companies fundraising website just in case you can't get enough of it and just have to spoil the fun.

Halloween for me means truly being a kid... or being a kid at heart!

It also means that as a parent, I want my kids to get lost in the excitement as much as they can.  To revel in the experience as much as I did when I was little.  I just can't wait until tonight!  This is going to be amazing!

Happy Halloween!

Ok, until next time!

Promote a school fundraiser using social media! Social media fundraising is here to stay!

Hi there!  Another awesome school fundraising post comin' your way!

This time,it's about how to promote a school fundraiser via social media.  If anyone tells you it's THE only way to do it, don't believe them.  If someone tells you that you CAN'T promote via social media don't believe them!

I have all the proof in the world that as a part of a fundraising campaign, social media fundraising WORKS!  Social media fundraising is a real opportunity!

Get the document:
Promote a Believe School Fundraiser Using Social Media

Ok, until next time!

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elementary school fundraiser

25 Tips & Ideas for School Fundraising - Free E-Book

Here's a free eBook entitled '25 Tips & Ideas for Fundraising'.  It's a nice colorful and easy to digest piece that I know you'll love!  Tons of great advice and inspiration for how to succeed at your elementary school fundraiser.  Great for PTA and PTO members as well as school principals.

Thanks so much and here's the 'no strings' download:

'25 Tips & Ideas for Fundraising'

Direct download address - http://is.gd/LgaCOJ 

Are you following this site?  Add your email address to have this blog delivered right to your email inbox or smartphone!  Thanks!

Being Consistent in Your School Fundraising

If you can, be consistent in your school fundraising from year to year.  When you offer the same event, product or service every year, you can build something great.

The flip side is doing something once and then looking for another thing to do once.

A nomadic fundraising approach seems like a good idea because you're able to start fresh and try new things. But a tried and true repeatable event is a tradition - and tradition is good.

At some point, you'll ask yourself if people want something new and different.  This is just an opportunity to plug something new inside the framework you've spent years to build.

Ok, until next time!

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new fundraising ideas
catalog fundraiser

Believe Jay Elementary School Fundraising Blog

Hi!

I've been posting here since March of 2008.  I realize we do elementary school fundraising and it's not the most popular blog topic in the world, but in my own way, I'm very proud!

I even have my own splash video:

Ok, so there you have it.  Hundreds and hundreds of posts about school fundraising.  Now, that's dedication :)

Ok, until next time!

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elementary school fundraising

Key motivators for you in your parent group, volunteerism and school fundraising...

What is your motivation for School Fundraising?  What is important to you? What key motivators impact your volunteerism?

Some are better than others.  Some don't help you raise more or look better.  Others are the reason you succeed.

make more money
make a contribution
get more profit / benefits / features
make a difference
work less
save time
have more time off
look good to others
be part of a winning team
work with folks I like
learn something new
use new technology
be more productive
have less hassles
get less complaints
have complaints resolved without me
be safe
be secure
be heard
be valued
get recognition
avoid pain
be vindicated
be autonomous
feel heard
do great work
be a hero
play more
have fun
serve higher order goal
be a great parent
be a great teacher
be a role model
be all i can be
look good to myself
reduce risk
be left alone
minimize fear

Elementary School Fundraiser Opt Out...

Don't bash fundraising

Every year in the Fall, a slew of blogger Moms bash fundraising.  I really like the blogger Moms but it's very common for the very same folks that we love and read and rely on for great info tell us they want to just opt-out of school fundraising.

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Encouragement

In stark opposition to the sentiment found on the web, I offer you a few words of encouragement. If you're a mommy blogger, remember that nothing puts the same amount of money into the classroom as the traditional gift and wrap catalogs, cookie dough or a magazine sale.  They just don't.

What about carnivals, walk-a-thons and auctions you ask?

They can raise significant funds and some groups find that they can raise significant funds consistently over time.  But for most, there are challenges.  Organizing takes time, buying supplies takes money up-front and the need for volunteers can be a burden.

Regardless of what fundraiser the school hosts, you're either in or you're out.

So, don't write a letter to the PTA saying you are opting out - it's rude.  If you choose to opt out, do it silently, not compromising the ability of the group to raise the funds they need. 

If you're frustrated about fundraising, just give anyway.  Feel good that you're helping your child find their passion inside the classroom and some money here and there is a small price to pay when your child connects with a book purchased from these funds.

Change

Being discouraged about fundraising kinda comes with the territory.  Being asked for money makes people mad.  It's understandable.  The best thing you can do as a parent, community member or mommy blogger is support the cause as it's designed. 

Then, follow it up by making it better the next time! 

Help the group in whatever way you can.  Join the PTA, offer our services or get the word out on a cause that needs extra attention.

Keep the conversation going at twitter.com/believekids

Ok, until next time!

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school fundraisers

Don't make parents your only fundraising target...

You'll hardly hear a fundraising expert say that making parents buy fundraising products is a bad idea. 

And, it's certainly not bad.  Parents should be supporting their children in any and all of their activities. Parents should be the first to buy fundraising products - but not the last. The question comes up when people just don't realize that school fundraising today extends far beyond just parents.

Today, with technology being what it is, parents can garner support from family and friends using the email services of their fundraising company.  They can also promote the fundraiser to all of their Facebook friends and Twitter followers!  My fundraising company shopping site (sorry I don't know of any others doing this offhand) has the tools right on the website to allow for the posting to social media sites.

So, please extend the sale past your parents!  Give them the opportunity to raise money through friends and co-workers, relatives and out-of-town acquaintances!

Ok, until next time!

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twitter.com/believekids
facebook.com/believekids
slideshare.com/believekids
youtube.com/believekids

Elementary school fundraising blog - Awesomeness!

Believe Jay - Jay Moneta

Hi,  did you know this blog is cool and one-of-a-kind! Daily rants about elementary school fundraising!

Please subscribe for weekday posts to be send to the inbox of your choice!

here is the actual address of this blog:
http://believejay.blogspot.com

Thanks!

More Fundraising, Bad... Good Fundraising, Good....

Question... Do you feel there are more groups fundraising with more types of fundraisers more often?

I really feel it.

It's just that as I spend my days working to improve fundraising so there can be less of it, another group decides they need to start fundraising or add a fundraiser to make ends meet. 

Being in the fundraising business reminds me that there are always people with products to sell.  Turning their product into a fundraiser always seems like a good idea.

Do you think the motivation is to truly help schools or just sell?

I recently ran across an article that bashed school fundraising because only 20-50% of a fundraiser went to the organization.  But I regularly run across fundraisers with offers of 10% or less on products sold. 

Just know that there are profitable fundraisers out there.  My product fundraising company has a slew of benefits that go along with the fundraiser including student prize programs (at attainable levels), drawing prizes, free catalogs, order forms, posters and marketing materials, teacher incentives, principal incentives - all this on top of a 40-50% profit margin!

When it comes to fundraising, not every product out there is going to provide large dollars to the group.  When considering criticism of fundraisers, remember, the product costs money as does all the extras provided to the group. 

Next up, some info on non-profit charity. I think you'll agree that school fundraising is financially responsible and worth supporting especially once you see it.

Ok, until next time...

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elementary school fundraising

Consolidation of the School Fundraising Business...

Let's talk the business side of school fundraising for a moment.

School Fundraising is changing.  The industry is being consolidated.  What this means is that there are no longer thousands of thriving fundraising companies.  The business has effectively shrunk to just a few key players - all of which are dealing with a new reality.

More groups fundraising more often.

This is causing participation in fundraising to fall.  In some cases, groups are finding it difficult to determine which fundraisers raise $1,000 vs. those that raise $10,000

In the confusion, some schools are contributing to the problem by adding other fundraisers to make up for losses on earlier ones. 

I believe it's the responsibility of fundraising companies to help groups navigate their fundraising strategy and create a plan.  Groups should be fundraising LESS but MORE EFFECTIVELY.

Letting a group know how much they should realistically make should help.  Groups fundraising without a reachable goal, are not succeeding. 

My hope is that fundraising companies will step up to provide better products and services and truly help the schools by letting them in on what to expect. 

Help Schools Succeed!!!

Ok, until next time!

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elementary school fundraising

Profitable Elementary School Fundraising: Student Participation...

What makes an elementary school fundraiser a success?

Successful School Fundraising

I think a successful fundraiser has a few key components.  First off, parents need to believe the fundraiser is important.  Second, they need to believe they will receive a fair value exchange for their money and lastly, they need to be willing to say 'yes' to participating.

Some reasons for resisting the school fundraiser are:

1) Resistance to generous giving. 

Put bluntly, parents don't want to make a charitable contribution.  When confronted with the fundraiser, there is an almost automatic 'If only' response.  If only we had money, if only there were things I needed, if only they asked for a check.  There is one response or another, but the reality is, they don't want to make a donation.  If schools let parents know ahead of time what will be asked of them, they are more receptive to the giving when it happens.

2) Parents are busy.

I have to admit I've fallen victim to this as well.  Thinking that parents can keep up with all the materials sent home is dangerous ground.  A concerted effort today involves more than just a paper being sent home, it requires communication from the principal and teachers as well to have impact. Well, or schools could send home less stuff so when something important appears, action is taken.

3) Too much fundraising.

In schools where fundraising is a constant, revenues fall.  Schools promoting many 'passive fundraisers' such as box tops and recycling programs while doing events, product fundraisers and spirit nights may just find that parents experience 'fundraising fatigue'.  The end result is a withdrawal of interest from the school.  With this separation also comes the separation of wallet from school as well.

Successful School Fundraising

In conclusion, asking early, limiting or restructuring the notices sent home and limiting fundraisers greatly impacts the success of school fundraisers!

Ok, until next time!
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Keep the conversation going on twitter or facebook or below in the form of comments left on this blog.  If you like what you see, please share with others!  The direct link to this website is fundraising-advice.com or believejay.blogspot.com

Elementary School Fundraiser
School Fundraising Blog
Twitter.com/BelieveKids
Facebook.com/BelieveKids
Believe Wordpress Blog

Is Government Responsible for Fixing Schools?

Quickly now...

Folks know that schools are hurting financially - TRUE
Folks think that school funding is the governments responsibility - TRUE

If schools are hurting, but it's the governments responsibility to fix it, we're in big trouble. Somehow this idea that the government will fix schools is causing a lot of problems.  I don't know how to explain it, except to say that to believe that it's not our responsibility makes it not our responsibility.

Meanwhile, kids suffer.

Ok, until next time!

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school fundraising

Are you wondering how many passive fundraisers to offer before there's just too many?

Passive fundraisers...  How many is too many?

I think that hosting passive fundraising can be just fine but not if it interferes with the main fundraising efforts at your school.

Consider offering all the passive fundraisers in one area.  My son's school has it in a lobby area across from the office. They also use this area for the parent bulletin board stuff as well.

By having things all in one place, parents who are waiting in the lobby or have extra time to discover new things will find them.  If you wish to mention that you have an area in the school where parents can discover services and events including the passive fundraisers, do so.  Just make sure that it's at a time where you won't lose money because of it.

You will lose money if you are hosting a main fundraiser but take away from it by promoting something else that minimizes the importance of the fundraisers. 

When it's time to fundraise seriously, do it without distraction.  If it's not that time, then let parents know they can help with the passive fundraisers. 

Just do it in the right order.

Sally Foster Gift Wrap Gift Card School Fundraiser

In 2010, Sally Foster changed the way they did business.  They introduced a gift card sale where anyone purchasing for a school fundraiser would go purchase a gift card.  They would take that gift card and purchase online with it on their fundraising sales website and items would be shipped to the home.

I was skeptical of the program and posted on my blog previously (Is Sally Foster Cost-Cutting or Revolutionizing Fundraising in Schools?), but in reality, I would have liked to see this fundraiser succeed.  I would have like to see a new form of effective school fundraising.

In tons of conversations, blogs and message board posts, people have expressed an interest in a new way to fundraise.  I agree that there should and will be new ways for schools to raise money in the future. 

But, new is difficult.  

Sally Foster realized the hard way following the release of the program.  So, how, when and where will a new type of fundraiser take hold?  Nobody knows.  What we are left with today is that incremental changes in profitable fundraisers work. 

As new products emerge, marketers will wonder if the fundraising industry is right for their product distribution.  The thing is, new fundraisers, although interesting, may not be the type of 'new' people are talking about.

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Post comments below or keep the conversation going on twitter - twitter.com/believekids.  I realize that not many people are as into fundraising as I am, so I get it if you lay low and just enjoy the material yourself.  In the case you'd like to share the address of this blog is believejay.blogspot.com

Thanks!

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school fundraisers