Top Tips for Planning a Successful Back-to-School Fundraiser in 2024

TL;DR: Planning a successful back-to-school fundraiser requires thoughtful consideration and strategic communication. This article provides essential tips on choosing the right fundraiser, setting clear goals, engaging your community, and utilizing various communication methods to maximize participation and support. Follow these guidelines to ensure your school fundraiser is both effective and rewarding for everyone involved.

Want more help getting started? Set up your fundraiser for f.ree on www.goaimly.com and get a complimentary coaching call with one of our expert fundraising coaches!

1. Choose a Fundraiser that Resonates with Your Community

To ensure a successful school fundraiser, it's crucial to get support from your selling team, which will naturally encourage buyers to participate. When selecting your fundraiser, consider factors like your community’s income levels and available free time.

2. Clearly Communicate the Fundraiser’s Purpose

Inform your sellers (and have them inform supporters) about the specific reasons behind the fundraiser and how it will benefit both them and the school. Clear, specific goals such as "funding school enrichment programs" will garner more support than vague objectives like "raising money for the PTO."

3. Establish Clear Goals

Be transparent about the amount you aim to raise and the participation levels you hope to achieve. You might set an overall goal as well as individual targets. For example, if your goal is to raise $15,000 and your school has 400 families, you might aim for 50% participation (200 families), with each seller encouraged to sell at least five items or raise $75 each.

4. Avoid Scheduling Conflicts

Check the school and community calendars to ensure there are no similar fundraising events happening simultaneously, which could compete for your supporters’ time and contributions.

5. Inspire Your Sellers

Explain the importance of their participation and keep them engaged throughout the fundraising period. Use creative communication methods like social media videos, newsletters, or eye-catching yard signs in front of the school. Regularly remind sellers about goals, prizes, and deadlines.

6. Offer Incentives

Exciting incentives can motivate students to participate, which in turn engages their parents. Incentives can be individual prizes, classroom rewards, or even a school-wide activity for meeting the overall goal. These incentives don’t need to be costly—sometimes, a willing principal ready to get messy can be the best motivation!

7. Encourage Broad Outreach

Provide your sellers with ideas on who they can approach beyond immediate family and neighbors. This can include friends from other schools, extended family, coworkers, and more. Remind them to use online ordering and payment options to reach potential supporters who live farther away.

8. Utilize Various Communication Channels

Expand your buyer base by using all available communication methods. Include easy ways to purchase or support your fundraiser, such as QR codes and short URLs, and highlight the convenience of home delivery if it’s available.

9. Ensure Team Coordination

Make sure the fundraising chairperson, board, and volunteers are all well-informed. This ensures they can promptly and effectively answer any questions. Monitor social media and email for queries and remind the team to support each other, even when answering the same question multiple times.

10. Announce Results and Express Gratitude

After the fundraiser, announce how much was raised and whether the goal was met. Accompany this with a thank-you message (and a visual representation of what was achieved, if possible) to everyone who contributed to making the event a success!

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By following these steps, you can plan a back-to-school fundraiser that not only meets your financial goals but also strengthens your school community. 

Ready to make a difference? Start your fundraiser today on Aimly and empower your school to achieve its goals while having fun in the process. Visit www.goaimly.com to get started and see how easy it is to make a positive impact!