Based on recent reports, there are nearly 89,000 elementary schools across the United States. Every year, each of those schools holds at least one fundraiser. Quite a few hold anywhere from two to five, and some hold as many as ten per school year. Each of those events is designed to raise money to supplement the funding schools get on the state and federal level. After all, basic funding falls sorely short of covering all the needs schools and their students and families have.
Unfortunately, not all fundraisers are as successful as their beneficiaries hope they’ll be. Creating truly effective elementary school fundraisers requires numerous measures as well as meticulous planning and organization. No matter what cause you’re raising money for, the following steps can help you plan and execute a profitable event.
Choose Your Cause
One of the first and most effective steps in planning a fundraiser is choosing a specific cause. It may be tempting to raise money for the school in general and allow it to use the funds as needed. That’s not the best approach, though. Being too vague with your fundraising efforts tends to cause numerous problems.
Choosing a single cause gives you a better idea of how much money you need to raise and aids in setting a clear budget. It’ll garner more participation as well. People are more likely to buy items or make donations if they know what their money will ultimately be used for.
Pick Your Fundraising Method
Another key step is to pick a fundraising method. Numerous options are at your disposal from holding a bake sale or talent show to selling cookie dough or engraved bricks. Those are only a few of the possibilities. Think about the people in your community and what they’re likely to be most interested in. Choose a fundraising method that aligns with those interests. The more people your event appeals to, the more profit it’ll bring in.
Make It a Team Effort
Your fundraiser should inarguably be a team effort. No one can handle all the responsibilities of planning and executing a fundraiser on their own. Assembling a team will allow you to divide up the responsibilities and lighten the load. Try to choose team members with diverse knowledge and interests as well. That way, you’ll be able to delegate tasks to those they’re best suited to. Your team can work together to make the fundraiser work for your school.
Promoting Your Event
Promoting the event is also essential. The more people who know about it, the more likely you’ll be to reach your goal. You can post the fundraiser on the school’s website, but that shouldn’t be your sole marketing channel. Send emails to parents and encourage them to tell their relatives, friends, and coworkers about it. Create a buzz on social media. Ask local businesses to spread the word via their websites and social media.
Executing Your Fundraiser
All those measures will help you get your fundraiser off of the ground and encourage plenty of people to participate. When the times comes to execute your plan, be sure everything is in order. If you’re selling items, be sure participants understand how the process works. For event-based fundraisers, make sure the venue is set up ahead of time and that all your volunteers know their roles. By following all these steps, you’ll meet your fundraising goals and make a major difference for your school.