PTO Today Blog » Fundraising

Target contest delivers $100,000 grants

Rose C — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 19:02:37 +0000

If you are skeptical about entering contests to bring in some money for your school, talk to Linda Golden. This PTA president just won a $100,000 education grant for her school, Fountain Woods Elementary School in Burlington Township, N.J., from a contest hosted on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show’’ and sponsored by Target. Golden said she is like many of us who have little hope of winning. She had entered other contests with no luck. Still, she decided this one was worth a try. School officials are obviously thrilled and now have the enviable task of figuring out how to spend the money. The New Jersey school was one of 50 to receive this Target grant. This contest is the latest in a series of education initiatives underway at the retailing giant, which reportedly plans to donate about a $1 billion to education by 2015. (Also, Target is the sponsor of our Family Reading Night kits.) Contests like this are becoming increasingly popular. We recently posted a story about how parents are responding to social-media driven contests. As Linda Golden can attest, they’re certainly great when you win!

My Tip of the Week: How To Avoid Fundraising Fatigue

Tim Sullivan — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 15:35:58 +0000

Fundraising fatigue is one of those alliterative terms that newspaper editors love. And the story of parents tired of getting hit up for more dollars seems to appear in one paper or another almost every month.

But is it true? And can your group overcome it?

I wrote a longer column on this topic, but in a nutshell, I think fundraising fatigue is way overstated and — where it does exist — most often self-inflicted.

It’s simple: If you want to have parents who complain less (and support more), then fundraise less but fundraise better. Stick to that mantra even when your budget gets low and even when the next neat idea is proposed at your meeting. Groups that have a higher fun and involvement quotient almost always raise more dollars, too. And groups that seem to fundraise all year long almost always see diminishing returns and a less effective parent group in the long term.

As you start thinking about your spring fundraisers or start reviewing choices for your next big fall fundraiser, check out these resources:

Our Fundraising Yellow Pages on ptotoday.com
This article on choosing the best fundraisers for your group
This additional column I wrote on ”profit percent” (and why it can be a bad measuring stick)

Good luck!

An Amazing Hay Maze

PTO Today Editors — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 11:31:38 +0000

A Florida PTO found a creative way to raise money and reinforce math skills at the same time. While walking through the hay maze built by the S.S. Dixon Primary PTO in Pace, students can use a handheld GPS and take measurements while trying to find a hidden package. The “Haystackular” hay maze is open during weekends in October. Teachers can also arrange field trips during the week.

Principal Gets Bieber Fever

PTO Today Editors — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 11:28:36 +0000

Nolensville (Tenn.) Elementary principal Ryan Harris told students he’d wear the school’s cardinal mascot costume if they raised $14,000 in the PTO fun run. But that’s not all. For each grade, the class that raised the most money could ask him to do something funny while in costume. It worked—students raised more than $20,000. At the request of students, Harris showed off his dance moves and sang Justin Bieber’s hit “Baby.”

My Tip of the Week: How Many Fundraisers Should Your Group Run This Year?

Tim Sullivan — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 21:26:26 +0000

We get this question a lot, and my answer is, probably fewer than you typically run.

For my full explanation, you can check out my column “The Fundraising Myth.” But three key factors make the case for running fewer fundraisers (but running your remaining fundraisers better):

First, groups that fundraise less (but better) actually make more money from their fundraisers in the long run. Parents who are connected and served by a group that isn’t all about fundraising typically open their wallets wider when it is time to support the group.

Secondly, volunteers and their volunteer time are precious. If you’re having trouble recruiting help, it could be because so many of your jobs are and so much of your focus is around fundraising. Volunteers aren’t clamoring to hit up their friends for cash.

Finally, your parents will appreciate your group more if you carefully choose a few great-fit options and run those few very, very well. Better promotion, better prizes, better products and prices. Asking parents to support two or three really well-run fundraisers is way better than reaching into parents’ pockets every month for nine straight months.

We don’t exist to fundraise. We fundraise (hopefully well) to support the great work that we do in schools and for kids. Make this the year your group decides to get a bit smarter about how often you ask parents for dollars.

Parent Groups in the News Round-up 6/17/11

Lisa Gundlach — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 20:25:05 +0000

A hearty congrats to all parent group volunteers for a job well-done in the 2011-12 school year! It’s exciting to see articles cropping up about how PTOs and PTAs are spending the money they worked so hard to fundraise this school year. So fun and inspiring to read about the range of ways that fundraising funds are spent. Several caught my eye:

Energy efficient water fountains
A butterfly pavilion
An outdoor classroom
Relief for tornado victims
Mountain bikes for a mountain biking class

And of course, technology and enrichment programs are the most popular way to spend earned fundraising dollars!

How did your school/parent group choose to spend the money you raised this school year? We’d love to hear your stories.

Video Blog: Can I Carry Money Over to the Next School Year?

Lisa Gundlach — Mon, 16 May 2011 19:48:22 +0000

In this week’s video blog Tim answers the much-asked questions: Can we carry money over to the next school year? — and — How much money should we carry over to the new school year?

Does your PTO or PTA have a rule of thumb for how much money you carry over to the next school year?

My Tip of the Week: The 3 Keys to a Successful Fundraiser

Tim Sullivan — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 15:42:37 +0000

Is your group making its fall fundraising plans right now? Perhaps considering early signing bonuses or cookie dough vs. gift wrap vs. a catalog sale?

It’s certainly good to plan early, so let me provide you with three key thoughts to guide your decisions. (If you want to read about these in more detail, check out the link below each section.)

Don’t mess with a good thing. Have you run a good sale with good profits and excellent customer service the past few years? If so, stick with it. Fundraising isn’t about the next new product; it’s about results that fund all of your good work. If you have good results, repeat the steps that made you succeed. And be thankful.
Rate Your Fundraiser
Do not get caught in the profit percentage trap. It’s about how much you make in total and how positive an experience your group, your volunteers, and your parents have. It’s easy to increase the profit percentage with too-high prices or lower-quality products or poor service. Don’t fall for that. Look for a track record of real success.
Good Fundraising Is More Than Just Profit
Fundraise less, but fundraise better. It’s preferable on every level to do fewer fundraisers but to execute those you do run more effectively. Eight different “hit the parents up for cash” efforts per year is just way too many. Instead, run two or three or — maybe — four, but do a better job marketing and a better job organizing and emphasize your good work more. And then get back to focusing on all that good work with all the time you save.
What I Know About Fundraising

Good luck!

Parent Groups in the News Round-up 4/22/11

Lisa Gundlach — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 21:29:15 +0000

With budget cuts plaguing schools across the country, many parent groups are looking to auctions to bring in the big money. The articles in this week’s news round-up demonstrate how PTOs and PTAs are getting more creative with their approach to school auctions, with impressive results:

A walk-a-thon and silent auction proved to be a winning combination for this California school. Congrats to this spirited group for raising $40,000 while encouraging healthy habits.
By combining a family bowling night with a silent auction this PTO hopes to build community and raise a little money. Sounds like a fun family affair.
Free admission, food, drinks, children’s entertainment, children’s art gallery and 50 themed baskets all add up to a fabulous family event and a fun auction.
Adults only for this Burgers and Brew auction event. Attendees get a chance to bid on some fun items while listening to the high school jazz band. We wish this PTA the best of luck on their first ever auction.
Online auctions seem to be growing in popularity. This school is part of the trend of schools kicking off an auction fundraiser with an online offering, followed by a live event. Very neat how they are following up their online auction with a small gallery walk featuring kids’ masterpieces and a dessert bar.
Kudos to this school for a unique auction experience. In addition to bidding on art, attendees get a chance to create art. Unique activity at this event: judging student’s edible art creations. How fun!
Love how this school takes the something for everyone approach to their family event/silent auction. To name a few, families can enjoy water activities, rock climbing, a game cave, and classic car show.

Did your school host an auction this year? Share your stories and event photos on our Auction page!

30 Rock Star Supports NYC PTA

PTO Today Editors — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 12:06:43 +0000

Want to get a celebrity for your next fundraiser? It helps if you’re located in an entertainment mecca. 30 Rock actress Jane Krakowski didn’t have to travel far from the set of her TV show to headline a Manhattan PTA’s fundraiser in January. The “Reading, Writing, and Cabaret” benefit featured Krakowski performing a cabaret show. The event raised money for the PTA at P.S. 84, the Lillian Weber School for the Arts.