Fundraising Archive

We know raising funds is a big part of what your parent group does; you'll find tons of fundraising ideas and help in the articles below. When you're done reading, head over to the Message Boards to connect with other leaders facing the same challenges.

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• Collection Programs: Tips To Pile Up Profits - Creative ways to get the most out of your clip-and-save and recycling programs.
• Cookbook Fundraisers: Recipe for Success - From organization through sales, tips to create a successful school cookbook fundraiser.
• Discount Cards: Finding the Right Deal - You can make money with store-specific discount cards, but there are some pitfalls to watch out for.
• Do Recycling Fundraisers Still Work? - Used cell phones and printer cartridges aren't as profitable as they used to be, but there's money to be made by smart PTOs.
• Easy Money Comes at a Price - If it looks like easy money, it'll probably cost your parent group.
• EBay Shuts Down PTA Auction - Parents at Deer Park Elementary in Tampa, Fla., had big plans to raise money for the 5th grade trip to Universal Studios Florida through an eBay auction. What they didn’t count on was being shut down by eBay.
• Finding and Winning Grants - Parent groups can and do get grants. Just follow a few simple rules to put together a winning application.
• Funding Our Playground - How one PTA met its goal of raising $40,000 in a single year to update the school playground.
• Fundraising Help From Local Businesses - Partnering with neighborhood businesses for donations, discounts, or manpower can increase fundraising resources—and build a connection between the parent group and the community.
• Fundraising Makes It Happen - Fundraising shouldn't be your group's main focus. But fundraising the right way can make a significant difference in how well you're able to fulfill your mission.
• Holiday Shops: Kids Love 'Em - Holiday shops, also known as Santa shops, are popular with kids and parents, and volunteers often enjoy helping children make their choices. But running a shop takes planning and organization.
• Holiday Shops: Make Yours Shine - Parent groups share creative ideas that have made their seasonal stores a hit year after year.
• Ink Cartridge Recycling - Collecting printer cartridges has become an increasingly popular fundraiser.
• Make Local Businesses a Resource - With the right approach, companies in your neighborhood can become great partners for fundraisers and other events.
• Marathon Mom Runs for Her PTA - A New York City mom uses her legs to raise money for her parent group—26.2 miles at a time.
• Partnership Approach Pays Off - One school reached out to local businesses and governments to raise funds and create excitement within the community. The result: a new $80,000 playground.
• Principals Do the Darndest Things - Crazy principal antics to encourage student involvement in a PTO fundraiser just might get your school featured in the local newspaper.
• PTA Mom Raises a Million - Jean Joachim has helped her school raise more than $1 million. What's her secret?
• PTO Mom Wins on TV Show - A trivia buff undertakes a unique fundraiser: competing on Who Wants To Be a Millionaire?
• PTO Thrift Shop Success - Selling gently used toys and clothing has resulted in a steady stream of profits for one town’s popular thrift shop—and all of it goes to the PTOs.

Fundraising Events

• A Play's the Thing - One parent group has turned its annual musical performance into a major fundraiser—and a major way to build community involvement.
• Auction Action Plan - Secrets the pros use to turn even small auctions into highly profitable big-dollar fundraisers.
• Auction Gold: Student Art Projects - Keepsakes created by students make extremely popular auction items. Here's how one group with a slew of creative ideas cashed in.
• Auction Makeover - By turning its long-time auction into a more upscale, innovative event, one PTO took profits—and parent enthusiasm—through the roof.
• Bake Sales Step by Step - A bake sale can raise money for your group as well as enhance your profile in the community. These ideas and planning tips will help you have a great one, start to finish.
• Book Fair Success Story - Communitywide literacy programming is the underpinning for a PTO book fair that's grown every year.
• Book Fairs: Tips for Success - Organization, communication, and a dash of fun will make your book fair an event to remember.
• Carnival Success Story - One school's longtime carnival tradition brings the right blend of fundraising and family fun to the entire community.
• Economy Affects Auctions - In tough economic times, nonprofit auction planners need to start early and be creative, according to a survey by an online auction company.
• Fun and Eco-games - PTO Today’s 2008 Outstanding Family Event was a green festival that combined learning and fun, included a large number of parent volunteers, and helped strengthen the connection between the middle school and home.
• Fundraiser Goes Into the Woods - An annual trail race through the town forest uses local resources to raise money while abiding by a policy that prohibits sales by students.
• House Tour Raises Big Cash - How a Capitol Hill school raised $40,000 with a "nosy neighbor" tour of recently renovated homes.
• Knitting for a Cause - PTO Today’s 2008 Outstanding Community Service Project turned a fundraiser into a heartwarming event: Students knitted hats in all sizes for patients at the local children’s hospital, then delivered them personally.
• Organizing a Fun Run - Done right, a jogathon can build school spirit while also earning some big bucks.
• PTO Wins With Tournament - Teams of students compete in a basketball tournament that has become a rallying point for the entire middle school.
• Score With a Golf Fundraiser - If you have the resources to get started, running a golf tournament can really pay off.
• The Buzz: Election Day - For many parent groups, public elections provide an opportunity to gain visibility in the community and raise money while doing so.

Fundraising Strategy

• Choosing a Fundraising Company - By following some key steps before committing to a fundraising company, you'll ensure that your group ends up with the right partner.
• Fundraiser Ratings: What's Right for You? - A comparison of various fundraisers based on the amount of work needed, the potential rewards, and other key factors.
• Give Your Fundraiser New Life - Do your fundraisers generate little enthusiasm, even among your leaders? Use these methods to bring back the excitement.
• Keys to Fundraising Success - Taking a businesslike approach to fundraising can lead to higher profits, less burnout, and better parent involvement.
• Rate Your Fundraiser - Not all fundraisers are created equal. Does yours fit your needs? Take the test to find out.
• Rating the Clip-and-Save Fundraisers - PTO Today's scorecard of the best and worst label and box-top collection programs.
• Save Your Sagging Fundraiser - How to revitalize a fundraiser—or make a smooth switch when the time has come.
• Succeeding in a Crowded Sales Marketplace - How to maximize your profits at a time when more organizations are fundraising more frequently than ever.
• The Fundraising Myth - "Fundraising fatigue" isn't a national trend that you can't fight. It's a problem that can be addressed by rethinking the way you conduct fundraisers.

Product Fundraising

• 30 Tips for a Winning Sales Fundraiser - Make any sales fundraiser a success by following these pointers.
• A Balanced View of Food Sales - Federal legislation required school districts to establish “wellness policies” by 2006 that would provide minimum nutritional guidelines for foods available to students. Because each school district could determine what restrictions to impose, however, those standards have varied widely.
• Build Support for Your Product Fundraiser - It takes more than good organization to have a successful sales fundraiser; get better results by creatively promoting yours to families and the community.
• Cookie Dough Raises Sweet Profit - How an Ohio school raised $20,000 on its annual cookie dough sale.
• New-Look Magazine Drives  - Technology creates new options for magazine fundraisers.
• Sales Fundraisers: The Basics - While new fundraising options get the publicity, product sales are still the backbone for parent groups. Here's what you should know before you begin.
• School Snacks Under Attack - Federal law has some districts limiting the kinds of foods available to students. We talk about what it means and how it might affect your group.
• Spiritwear: Keep It Simple - Spiritwear helps build enthusiasm and a sense of community, but too many choices can undermine your sale.
• Too Many Product Sales! - An overabundance of fundraisers doesn't necessarily bring in more money—and draws the attention away from where it really counts.