Raffles , even 50/50. Winners usually donate back to the school anyway.

No buying or selling of 'Stuff'

Auctions: Our school auctions off stuff that people actually want - not gift baskets. We offer restaurant gift cards, tutoring services, trips, and the ones that are really popular -- front row at graduation, hallway at school named after child, front row for school events, breakfast/lunch/movie/craft time with teachers, counselors, office secretary, principal, etc. (every year these bring in quite a bit of money because each and every staff member is willing to offer up time.) I spend probably $300 on this because my dd wants to have breakfast with the counselor and lunch with her teacher and there are bidding wars.

Restaurant nites: You have to pick the right restaurants. Our school does McDonald's and the teachers work the fry station and the ice cream station and the kids love it. The one thing that we realized was that not all restaurants really give you all the money at the end.

Giant, Target, box tops: And really do a lot of reminders throughout the year letting parents know how successful it is and what your goals are.

As a side note, we also do a push for greater paid PTA memberships, each year the class that has the most pta members by some date in October gets a pizza party or an ice cream party. And the classes get competitive and it helps to boost your numbers.

My advice is to pick somethingmthat doesn't involve a bunch of effort. Make sure everyone knows the schools number for Giant, Target, etc. If you need to do a fundraiser, kindly ask people to sell the stuff OR to please donate $X. Both my DH and I work from home and we are not from this area, so have very few people to sell to. Also, as PPs stated, make sure people know what they are raising money for.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd prefer to write a check, but I do like the fundraisers that take your kid's art and puts it on stuff. The grandparents like mugs and magnets, and the kids like to use their art note cards throughout the year

You can go to Shutterfly.com and do this any time you want with any image.

Yes, I know. I like the fundraiser because they do the art at school, upload it, and I just click and pay (and support the school).

We have a direct donation PTA. They ask for a voluntary donation per child and then there are no fundraisers except Bingo night and a few restaurant nights. We skip bingo night but restaurant nights give me an excuse to not cook (and tend to be places we eat out anyway) so we don't mind those.

Anything but the Boosterthon!!! Those people that run them are crooks.

^^btw, Box Tops was a major PITA.

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.

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.

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.

OP here, thank you the great ideas.

I was the PTA President for 2 years. I'm 2 year out at this point and here are the activities that as a mother of 4 actually work at least a little at our school (Catholic School):

Bake Sales: after Sunday masses we typically pull in $1000-$1300 in just a few hours.
Amazon link: your school gets a link to Amazon that you post on your school website. The school gets approx 8% of all purchases. This is by far the easiest and best return on time/effort.
Asking for dontations BUT you need to have a concrete reason. Families are way more likely to write a check to: add AC, fix the playground, buy a SMART Board, etc. They want to know that their donation is going to benifit their child NOW.
Restaurant nights: you need to know your families and what type of place will work. We do great at Chick-fil-A but no so well at sit down restaurants.

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

+10000. I was a PTO treasurer one year and all those fundraisers were a giant PITA.

direct donation has worked for our school (Md Focus)
Dine out night
Pizza Bingo

We gave $150 and didn't purchase any of the stuff. We only went to one restaurant night. The kids like it but I'm tired after work and there is always some practice or event so they are also tired.