After suggesting several fundraising options (carnival, casino night, catalogs) that were turned down by our PTA board, I decided to run a similar campaign. In just one week, we raised almost $8,400!
For the first time, we are letting every parent know how our money is being spent (not just those that request a copy of our budget from the treasurer) and parents have responded so well! We want to raise $20,000 in total.
Side note: We have almost 900 students in our school
We do a walk a thon in April which is sponsored by te school. The principal sets a goal - divides it by the number of students. Every class has a certain money goal as determined by the number of students in that class. The students have 1 month to ask friends and family to sponsor their walk. During the month the teachers may offer incentitives if their students reach a certain goal - maybe no homework that night. At the end of the month the top students and approximately 20 students - picked out of all students who meet their individual monetary goals - are announced. Those students are taken to Dave and Busters for lunch at a later date. Then the entire student body, teachers and family members who wish to participate walk a designated route through the neighborhood. This generally raises our school $10,000.00 to $15,000.00 which is used for improvements to the schoo or whatever is needed.
Several parents have mentioned that they would rather write a check to the PTO than have to sell fundraisers. One parent has even gone as far as to suggest we do a "Pledge Drive" in the fall instead of a catalog sale.
While it sounds good in theory and the parent is a sales person and willing to do the selling of the program, etc. part of the plan is that we wouldn't do other active fundraisers (especially in the fall). THAT scares me for a variety of reasons.
Has anyone ever done a pledge drive to raise PTO funds? If so how did it go? What were the "guidelines?" How did "membership" fit into it? Would you do it again?
