PTA Fundraising Ideas

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Buy-nothing fundraiser. My favorite. (You can suggest amounts and/or focus on participation--"If each family gave $xxx, we'd cover our fundraising goals for the whole year, but any amount helps, from $5 to $1000. Our goal is 100% participation!"

My school does this. We just straight out write the check and add in a bit more.

They also hold a BFD auction which I don't go to because "auction."

Another idea that really took off in our relatively small, tight neighborhood was hosting parties. A host creates a themed party in his/her home and provides all the supplies, food, drink, entertainment, whatever. The party can be whatever: For kids, for parents, for parents and kids, your choice. Folks in the neighborhood then buy tickets for these parties online, and all the money goes to the school. We went to a wine-tasting party hosted by a real-life sommelier in his home--I think we paid $100 each, and made a new friend. We also went to an IRON CHEF party for something like $100 total where the key ingredient and our assigned course were delivered a week before (super fun--key ingredient was Guinness, as in the beer and we were asked to make a dessert). My daughter went to a hair-braiding lesson and demo party held by a local dad (yes, a dad! Go dad! for $40) and a skate-boarding party/lesson (held by a local skate-like-a-girl mom). Classroom teachers also often hold a party after-hours, things like popcorn and a movie in the school library.

[Anonymous]

We do the Buy Nothing fundraiser at our school and it goes over pretty well! We're at a Focus school in MoCo.

[Anonymous]

Our school is looking to do the Boosterthon. Is it really that bad?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Buy-nothing fundraiser. My favorite. (You can suggest amounts and/or focus on participation--"If each family gave $xxx, we'd cover our fundraising goals for the whole year, but any amount helps, from $5 to $1000. Our goal is 100% participation!"

My school does this. We just straight out write the check and add in a bit more.

They also hold a BFD auction which I don't go to because "auction."

Another idea that really took off in our relatively small, tight neighborhood was hosting parties. A host creates a themed party in his/her home and provides all the supplies, food, drink, entertainment, whatever. The party can be whatever: For kids, for parents, for parents and kids, your choice. Folks in the neighborhood then buy tickets for these parties online, and all the money goes to the school. We went to a wine-tasting party hosted by a real-life sommelier in his home--I think we paid $100 each, and made a new friend. We also went to an IRON CHEF party for something like $100 total where the key ingredient and our assigned course were delivered a week before (super fun--key ingredient was Guinness, as in the beer and we were asked to make a dessert). My daughter went to a hair-braiding lesson and demo party held by a local dad (yes, a dad! Go dad! for $40) and a skate-boarding party/lesson (held by a local skate-like-a-girl mom). Classroom teachers also often hold a party after-hours, things like popcorn and a movie in the school library.

That sounds so fun! And a great way to build the community.

[Anonymous]

To some sort of "athon" organized and run by the PTA (no outside vendors). Bookathon, Runathon, Walkathon, etc. Kids collect "pledges" for their activity -$1 per lap, .25 cents per page, etc. - and then make a big deal about the day of the event.

Our school does a runathon, but it is completely managed by the PTA so we keep 100% of the money (no cut out company to steal the money). That is our one and only fundraising event of the year, and we usually get around $20K or so.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ask me for a check and don't make me sell anything or buy anything.

Amen.

Yep. Our school does this and I happily write the check. One year they did this and then had that dam obnoxious boosterthon. I thought "oh hell no!" and decided to give less the next year. Once I write the check, leave me alone. The more you leave me alone, the more I'll give.

Did you ask how much they got as part of their initial fundraiser? Our school asks for checks to be written and people send in checks for $20. Not really going to cover all the programs for the year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wish my school would ask for an amount they'd like parents to donate. I know many DC schools do this - and often ask large amounts - but our school in the 'burbs doesn't ask beyond the $30 PTA membership fee. I'd like a baseline of what would be helpful. Skip candy/ wrapping paper fundraisers. Auctions can be fun. But agree with most that straight cash is best.

$100 per child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our school is looking to do the Boosterthon. Is it really that bad?

Yes, if it is sponsored they take 20-40% of your profits

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Buy-nothing fundraiser. My favorite. (You can suggest amounts and/or focus on participation--"If each family gave $xxx, we'd cover our fundraising goals for the whole year, but any amount helps, from $5 to $1000. Our goal is 100% participation!"

My school does this. We just straight out write the check and add in a bit more.

They also hold a BFD auction which I don't go to because "auction."

Another idea that really took off in our relatively small, tight neighborhood was hosting parties. A host creates a themed party in his/her home and provides all the supplies, food, drink, entertainment, whatever. The party can be whatever: For kids, for parents, for parents and kids, your choice. Folks in the neighborhood then buy tickets for these parties online, and all the money goes to the school. We went to a wine-tasting party hosted by a real-life sommelier in his home--I think we paid $100 each, and made a new friend. We also went to an IRON CHEF party for something like $100 total where the key ingredient and our assigned course were delivered a week before (super fun--key ingredient was Guinness, as in the beer and we were asked to make a dessert). My daughter went to a hair-braiding lesson and demo party held by a local dad (yes, a dad! Go dad! for $40) and a skate-boarding party/lesson (held by a local skate-like-a-girl mom). Classroom teachers also often hold a party after-hours, things like popcorn and a movie in the school library.

That sounds so fun! And a great way to build the community.

Yup, super fun. And it's a really nice way for adults to showcase and share their interests. I think one family had a sailboat and hosted a group on that, gave some sailing lessons. Another was a magician in his college years, revived his college routine, and revealed some of the tricks of the trade. A mom is an artist, and held a wine-n-painting party. Another family had a tie-dye and candy "festival" for kids--BYO T-shirt, dye and candy supplied. I think another family held a "back to the 80s" pot luck (booze supplied) party. It works really well if the hosts explicitly state that EVERYONE is welcome, not just clusters of friends.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our school is looking to do the Boosterthon. Is it really that bad?

Yes, find the old threads here.

[Anonymous]

Straight write out a check.

Change wars. Our school had one where the change added points and the dollars took away points. It was to raise money for a charity and it actually raised a substantial amount.

I actually enjoy the book sales. I like that it encourages kids to read. I like that the school makes wish lists for classrooms. And I like they find a way to make sure all kids get a book. But not sure if it raises money.

I find auctions to be a huge time and energy suck. They do not raise enough money for the time and energy that goes into them and I hate being harassed about it all year long.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our school is looking to do the Boosterthon. Is it really that bad?

Yes, if it is sponsored they take 20-40% of your profits

I do not get why people get so upset about this percentage. All other fundraisers have costs. Only a portion of book sales go to the school. Auctions are so inefficient it is ridiculous. I buy something for $100, someone bids $80 on it. So in total people have spent $ 180 and the school gets $80. And that does not even take into consideration the cost of advertising, decorations, drinks, etc.

With boosterthons, it is just easier to see that some of the donated money goes somewhere else. No one has yo participate. And it brings in money from somewhere other than parents.

[Anonymous]

we had success with kidstuff coupon books last year. restaurant nights are good, too - and pretty easy to implement. read-a-thon's can be good if they are presented well. gives folks the option to make a flat donation. and I 100% agree that parents need to know what the school is collecting money for. that is huge.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PTA treasurer here: If you don't know your school population, I would NOT take the chance on a one-time cash donation. This did not work for our school and fortunately, we had several other income streams. The most successful ones were those in which parents felt that they were getting something of value in return, such as academic enrichment or physical exercise for their child.

Agreed. We were at a 40% FARMS rate school. Direct donation was a fail but selling gift wrap/trinkets was huge.

[Anonymous]

Direct donation was a fail

If you are going to go the direct donation route, please get a professional copywriter or fundraiser to do the letter. There is an art and a science to making the ask. If your letter didn't raise anything, it wasn't a good enough letter.