Prepare Early for Your School’s Fall Fundraiser

Fall: back to school, leaves changing colors, Halloween decorations going up, and school fundraising. That basically encompasses all of the autumn season for anyone with kids ages 5 to 17. And if you are a member of the PTO (or whatever your school has decided to calls its parents association) then the only responsibility you don’t have is the leaves changing colors.

 

If you are member of a PTO then this blog is for you. I know how time consuming it is to be on the PTO. Organizing classroom parties, teacher appreciation lunches and gifts, raising money to provide the classrooms with the things they need but just aren’t in the school’s budget. You play a vital role in the success of the school. One way to make your job less stressful is proper planning for the school’s fall fundraiser. Here are some steps to planning a successful fall fundraiser.

 

1)      Plan Early! – Some schools wait until the school year begins to start planning but this will add lots of stress for your PTO. The best time to start planning is before the end of the previous school year.

•   Begin researching different companies.

•   Invite representatives to give a presentation.

 

2)      Ask Questions! – Many fundraising companies offer similar programs but it is the customer service that sets them apart. Next weeks blog will be about what questions to ask your fundraising representative.

 

3)      Delegate! – One of the best ways to make a fundraiser run smoothly is to create a fundraising committee. This sub-sect of your PTO will allow other parents to get involved and alleviate some stress from the PTO president. This committee will be responsible for researching the companies, scheduling meetings, and communicating with the fundraising company about the details of the sale.

 

4)      Stay Organized! – Plan your dates upfront. Decide when you would like to run your sale, select a good week for delivery, and use your open house to your advantage. Good companies will provide samples for you to display at your open house so parents can see what items will be available. Also, if you choose your dates early you can start sending notes home at the very beginning of the school year so parents won’t be surprised when the fundraising information comes home. They will be expecting it.

 

These are some great tips on how to make your job as a PTO member less stressful when it involves planning a fundraiser. And they don’t just apply to the fall fundraiser, but all fundraisers. Timing is key!

 

 The next few blogs will be all about asking the right questions and what you should expect from a fundraising company. So to prepare for next week… What do you expect from a fundraising company?

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