We all have the best intentions for our school. But when fundraising goes wrong, what can you do? It’s easy to point fingers and lay blame on this person or that person. You may get distracted and start to look at the situation and ask how you got there, but the better question is how can you get back on track.
I’ve mentioned before the importance of communication and teamwork. They are essential for raising money for your school. I’ve talked about being specific in what you want the money for. I have had the pleasure of working with schools who are on their way to making HUGE changes in their fundraising. They are on track to raise more than they have in years past and that is so exciting! I have also worked with schools who thought they knew EXACTLY what they needed, only to find new ways that worked better than they anticipated.
PTAs and PTOs must be open to change, because it’s coming, whether you like it or not.
Schools are moving away from big, volunteer-heavy endeavors that bring in as much as they cost. Parents don’t really want to sell cookie dough and get 40% of the profits. It doesn’t make good sense. They want to connect with other parents and feel like a larger portion of the donations are going directly to the schools.
So if your fundraising has gone wrong, let me help you get back on track. If your organization could use some new ideas and a little help getting your numbers up, shoot me an email and let me know how I can help you! Together, we can make a big difference for the kids and schools! My fundraising assessment questionnaire is a perfect way to get started!
As always, I wish you success!
Sarah
Sarah has been fundraising for schools since 2008. She is the author of A Mom’s Guide to School Fundraising and has consulted for several schools and clubs. She has been featured on RetailMeNot.com, Scholastic: Parent & Child and The New York Times. She thinks all kids should be able to have a well-rounded education, team uniforms, instruments and support. Don’t you?
Photo Credit: Torrey Shannon