Fed up with Fundraisers?

Cookie dough, raffle tickets, trash bags, candy bars, wreaths, wrapping paper, flowers, magazines…I’m guessing when you read that list you can claim to have bought or sold at least one of the above items as part of a school fundraiser.

The fact is that these days all schools need extra money to make sure that the kids are getting the best possible education. Fundraisers are a necessary part of having a child in school. But most parents despise the buying/selling routine because…let’s be honest…it is the parents that end up doing most of the work. Hitting up coworkers, friends and family members for the fourth time this year is not fun. And even if your children are old enough to sell the stuff themselves, they are still hitting up those same people who then turn around and ask YOU to buy something from their kid. (True story…this year we bought trash bags from our neighbor’s kids and then two months later sold them trash bags from our son. Didn’t we cancel each other out?)

The good news? The universal disdain for sales-based fundraisers is prompting many schools to find new ways to raise money for their institutions. Those that have tried this method report earning just as much if not more money by thinking outside the box and creating new fundraisers that are much more fun than going door to door!

Jen O’Bryan coordinates Visitation School’s auction and she says, “The thing I really like about event-based fundraisers is the feeling of community and the opportunity to gather a group of people to celebrate the school.”

Here are a few ideas that you can take to your PTO if you, like so many parents, are fed up with fundraising. But be ready to put forth some effort…some of these fundraisers can be even more work than sales!  Create a committee and spread the tasks out to a group of parents to make the load lighter for everyone and have fun while raising money for your school!

Highest Bidder

Many schools in the Kansas City area host auctions to raise funds. These types of events can range from a small silent auction where attendees bid on homemade items or desserts all the way to elaborate events with big ticket items and hundreds of things up for bid. When done right, these events can raise tens of thousands of dollars, but they are also a LOT of work for the planning committee. The key to these events is to use the school families to solicit or donate the items that are being auctioned. If every family donates or procures at least one auction item, the workload is less for everyone.

Get Moving

Our school recently did away with one of the sales-based fundraisers and replaced it with a 5k Run/Fun Run/Mini Ruckus. It was a one-day event and all families were required to register, find family or friends to register or buy-out. The event was a huge success, raising even more money than the previous sales-based fundraiser did! Not only was it easier for the school families, but it also promoted physical fitness and raised money for a separate charity as well.  Other schools have done walk-a-thons, fun runs, carnivals and dance-a-thons to get kids moving and donations flowing.

Food, Food, Food

Fundraisers surrounding food are always successful. Perhaps the quickest way to people’s pocketbooks is through their stomachs! Whether it’s a spaghetti dinner, dessert auction, wine tasting or night out at a restaurant, progressive dinner, bake sale or soup supper…feed people and they will donate.  Events like these give people an excuse to get out for an evening and instead of spending money at a restaurant, they donate the money to your school and get a great meal or dessert in return. These events vary greatly in effort required depending on what types of food you serve, so keep it simple (spaghetti, chili cookoff, pancake breakfast) if you don’t have a gourmet chef on the PTO.

Write a Check

When all else fails, schools can opt for the “Write a Check” campaign and just ask school families to make a contribution to the school. Most of the time, the amount is up to each family, so everyone can give what they are able to. The simple, effort-free appeal of this is attractive to both families and PTOs. As local mom of two Jill says, “I'd rather donate than do sales any day.”

In the end, it may be best to try a variety of fundraisers to appeal to a variety of markets.  O’Bryan says, “It's ideal to have several types of fundraisers so you can target different groups of people. A fun run/walk, school carnival, auction, etc., will bring together families and can often really show what the fundraising is all about.”

Sara Keenan lives in Brookside with her family.  Her favorite fundraisers are the kinds that involve a fun night out like the Visitation School Auction or Trivia Night!