Now that we are truly into September and the whole country is back to school, I'd like to provide three quick recommendations for resolutions that can make a big difference for your group. Unfortunately, all three of these can be easy to miss.
 
1. Avoid guilt in all of your communications. Telling parents what they "should" do or implying that your core volunteers are doing so much and therefore every parent should pitch in a little are the worst ways to get help. You’ll find more on this in “Escaping the Guilt Trap.”

2. Limit the number of fundraisers you present to parents, even if some of them seem like the proverbial no-brainers. Getting known as primarily a fundraising group is a big reason why groups struggle to add volunteers and engage parents. We fundraise to exist; we don’t exist to fundraise. Here’s my full article on why fundraising fatigue is a huge drag for groups.
 
3. Get insured. Like going to the dentist, no one loves the thought. But it’s the smart way to operate and is a small price to pay for the protection gained.