PTO Today

I am looking for info about a fundraiser that does not include selling things. Basically just looking for a letter or form to send home to parents letting them know that we won't be selling anything; we would like the parents to donate money instead.

Has anyone else done this? How was the outcome?

Thanks!!!

It is called a pledge drive...........I personally have never done one, but have read about them. Typically a "pledge card" is sent home with each child or mailed to their house. Let them know that their contribution is tax deductible, and that generous giving frees families up for family time, and not time spent selling stuff.

If you look at parachiol (sp?) school websites you will probably come up with a pedge card format you can follow, and just change it to reflect your school.

Good Luck!

Kathy Paulin
St. Paul's PTO
Nampa ID

The schools in our area have pledge drives. If the amount raised reaches a certain amount, the parents are promised that no other fundraisers that year will be necessary -- that creates a lot of motivation to give to the drive.

I'm new to all this but have been doing a bunch of research. You might even try out funrun dot com - it is a pledge program but the kids get to do a 30 minute "fun run" and get pledges for it. A friend of mine told me about it and her school raised over $34,000 - they keep 50% and the other goes to pay for all the company does to promote the run and pledge drive. Gifts are tax deductible here also.

We' ve done a Walk-a-thon without a company--- and get volunteers to help run the event.
This way you get to keep all the profits from your event-- 50% is a lot to give a company for 1 day's worth of work from them--- you can make a flier and get volunteers to help out--- but as we found out-- you might not make as much as you think you would--

In our school district 1 school did the fun run and said it would be their only fundraiser for the year--- they made 15,000--- which was great, but the problem was that their budget for the year was 32,000 so now they have to come up with other fundraisers to make up the difference after they said they wouldn't do any other fundraisers...

And we had parents suggest doing a pledge drive where they just give 1 donation of money-- but we had so many people being laid off, not doing well as it is that they can afford to give that money themselves, but they can sell items at work or to neighbors--

Not sure if there is a one-time answer to needing so much money for a school year!

Our middle school does a "virtual fundraiser" like the pledge idea. We ask for $50 but accept any amount, outlining what the money goes to (from last year's financials). This year we took in almost $3,000 less than last year, probably due to the economy. So at conferences in January, we will raffle a donated gift basket of educational stuff, books etc., for any donations over $25. They will get a piece of candy for their donation, and the chance to win the basket. so we won't be selling anything.

Here's are blurb, and it's followed by a chart from the prior year, showing income/expenses by category.

"Would you please make a contribution to our annual “virtual fundraiser” this fall?
Our PTSO does not conduct ANY OTHER FUNDRAISING EVENTS. By collecting donations directly from our families, we won’t be selling any other products!
We invite parents to donate $50 per student to the PTSO, but any amount is greatly appreciated.
Funds are used to directly support students and staff at SMS.
Thank you for your support!"

The best "no selling" fundraiser without asking for money is one our NPO is doing.It's associated with 500 retail companies that offer cash back on every purchase which we now have our own website.Check it out at [url]www.nyhlmall.com. We're all facing financial difficulties,lack of volunteers,etc.This was economical to start, no volunteers, no product to stock & runs continually which makes this simply the easiest! All parents are either business owners or homemakers who shop at these retailers anyways(Target,Starbucks,Staples) so why not get cash back for shopping online. 10% return on all products purchased through the site is pretty good for not buying anything you wouldn't normally buy. It's worked well for us so just wanted to pass it along.
jaysonmore@gmail.com