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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• Save Your Sagging Fundraiser - How to revitalize a fundraiser—or make a smooth switch when the time has come.
• 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.
• Finding and Winning Grants - Parent groups can and do get grants. Just follow a few simple rules to put together a winning application.
• PTO Turns Cans Into Cash - An aluminum-can collection and recycling program is a reliable fundraiser and provides some much-appreciated services for the school.
• Ink Cartridge Recycling - Collecting printer cartridges has become an increasingly popular fundraiser.
• 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.
• 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?
• Collection Programs: Tips To Pile Up Profits - Creative ways to get the most out of your clip-and-save and recycling programs.
• Funding Our Playground - How one PTA met its goal of raising $40,000 in a single year to update the school playground.
• 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.
• School Pictures Are a Snap - Digital technology makes everything easier in the modern age of school photography.
• 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.
• Scrip Fundraising: Proceed With Caution - It has a funny name and a checkered history, but scrip fundraising can be a powerful tool.
• The Small-Budget PTO - You can accomplish great things without raising big money.
• 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.
• 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.
• Make Local Businesses a Resource - With the right approach, companies in your neighborhood can become great partners for fundraisers and other events.
• Holiday Shops: Make Yours Shine - Parent groups share creative ideas that have made their seasonal stores a hit year after year.
• 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.
• 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.
• Reward Assembly Stirs Debate - A fundraising assembly featuring dogs doing tricks spurred months of debate in a southern California community after a mother protested excluding those students who hadn't sold anything.
• 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.
• 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.
• Easy Money Comes at a Price - If it looks like easy money, it'll probably cost your parent group.
• Secondhand Support - A few parent groups find that running their own thrift stores can bring in steady and substantial income.
• 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.
• Working With a Local Education Foundation - Local education foundations help communities build large-scale support for schools. Here’s a look at the ABCs of LEFs and how they mesh with parent groups.
• How PTOs Are Adapting to Hard Economic Times - PTOs everywhere are bracing for lower fundraising returns and tighter budgets at school and at home. We talked to parent group leaders about how they're getting through it.
• How Has the Economy Affected Your Group? - A sampling of responses from PTO Today’s fall 2008 survey of 1,100 parent groups.
• Good Fundraising Is More Than Just Profit - Don't choose a fundraiser for your group based on profit percentage alone.
• Labels and Box Tops: Collect More When Kids Compete - Tips for success, top ways to increase profits, and timesaving tips to make the most of your group’s collection efforts.
• Box Tops Champs Share Collection Tricks - How one group collected more than 88,000 box tops, using the earnings to purchase teacher and classroom supplies.
• Online Dues Payments Never Reached PTAs - The Greenwich (Conn.) PTA Council has joined other school and athletic groups from across the country in seeking funds due from Count Me In, a Bellevue, Wash.-based company that collects online registrations and donations for nonprofits.
• What I Know About Fundraising - Getting a few important basics right will make the biggest difference for the success of your parent group’s fundraising efforts.
• How PTOs Are Going Green - There are many ways to make your group more environmentally conscious. It starts with a critical review of day-to-day operations.
• Varsity Gold Shuts Down - Varsity Gold Inc., a national company best known for its discount card fundraisers, in March filed for liquidation in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Phoenix.
• Food Sales OK Under New S.C. Bill - A bill to restrict junk food in South Carolina schools, including food sold by clubs and parent groups, has been revised to allow groups to continue to sell items like candy bars and cookie dough through fundraisers.

Fundraising Events

• Auction Action Plan - Secrets the pros use to turn even small auctions into highly profitable big-dollar fundraisers.
• Book Fairs: Tips for Success - Organization, communication, and a dash of fun will make your book fair an event to remember.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Score With a Golf Fundraiser - If you have the resources to get started, running a golf tournament can really pay off.
• Carnival Success Story - One school's longtime carnival tradition brings the right blend of fundraising and family fun to the entire community.
• House Tour Raises Big Cash - How a Capitol Hill school raised $40,000 with a "nosy neighbor" tour of recently renovated homes.
• Book Fair Success Story - Communitywide literacy programming is the underpinning for a PTO book fair that's grown every year.
• Auction Makeover - By turning its long-time auction into a more upscale, innovative event, one PTO took profits—and parent enthusiasm—through the roof.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Family Event: 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.
• Community Service: 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.
• 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.
• Auctions: Make Them Fun and Festive - Tips for success, frequently asked questions, and top ways to increase profits for your next auction event.
• Casino Nights: Fun and Games, Not Gambling - Tips for success, top ways to increase profits, and guidelines to make sure your group's next casino night fundraiser plays by the rules.
• Casino Night Newbies Ace It - A first-time, Vegas-themed event brought out hundreds to play cards and trade their chips for prizes.
• Summer Crafts Fest Brings Community Together - A two-day “Christmas in July” street fair brings together more than 20,000 attendees.

Fundraising Strategy

• Rate Your Fundraiser - Not all fundraisers are created equal. Does yours fit your needs? Take the quiz to find out.
• Keys to Fundraising Success - Taking a businesslike approach to fundraising can lead to higher profits, less burnout, and better parent involvement.
• Save Your Sagging Fundraiser - How to revitalize a fundraiser—or make a smooth switch when the time has come.
• Rating the Clip-and-Save Fundraisers - PTO Today's scorecard of the best and worst label and box-top collection programs.
• Give Your Fundraiser New Life - Do your fundraisers generate little enthusiasm, even among your leaders? Use these methods to bring back the excitement.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• How To Write a Press Release - Get more publicity for your next event with these simple steps for contacting the media.

Product Fundraising

• New-Look Magazine Drives - Technology creates new options for magazine fundraisers.
• 30 Tips for a Winning Sales Fundraiser - Make any sales fundraiser a success by following these pointers.
• Spiritwear: Keep It Simple - Spiritwear helps build enthusiasm and a sense of community, but too many choices can undermine your sale.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Cookie Dough Raises Sweet Profit - How an Ohio school raised $20,000 on its annual cookie dough sale.
• 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.
• Catalog Sales: Profitable, Easy To Run - Tips for success, dos and don'ts, and easy ways to increase profits for your next catalog fundraiser.
• Cookie Dough: Sell the Fresh-Baked Smell - Tips for success, dos and don'ts, and easy ways to increase profits for your next fundraiser selling cookie dough and other frozen foods and perishables.
• Magazines: Focus on Renewals, Discount Prices - Tips for success, dos and don'ts, and top ways to increase profits for your next magazine subscription fundraiser.