Fundraiser idea for son's school

[Goofymum]

My son's school district's budget has been cut and therefore so have the funds being put toward the kid's field trips and things that are useful in the classroom. To help out with this, the PTC is doing different fundraisers through out the year so that they will be able to pay for the field trips and so on. I remember when I was in school how forward I always looked to going on field trips and I would hate for any child to miss out on this experience!

As as I was working on my own website, a thought occurred to me as a way to raise money for the school. Please let me know if you think this is a good idea or not. I haven't presented it to the school yet and I don't want to if it is not realistic.

My Idea!

The teachers would have the school kids draw, paint or color different kinds of pictures for all kinds of occasions. Maybe as a special home project or if they have extra time during the day. I think it would even be cute to ask the pre-k/kindergarten kids questions and use their cute answers to put on cards.

The pictures would be scanned and uploaded to a website where they would be used as greeting cards like the ones that I have at Kingdom Club. When the sender has finished sending their card they will be presented with a webpage suggesting...but not obligating a donation to the school. When the recipient of the card gets their card, they too will have an option to donate to the school.

Donations will be made through pay pal where they can make a one time donation or yearly..or if they wish the address will be present for them to send check/money order directly to the school.

As an added incentive for businesses possible in the local area, a donation of X amount of dollars will entitle them to free adspace on the greeting site. Users of the site will know the business has contributed and they will be promoting their service/goods.

Letters would be sent home to parents with the web page address for them to send greeting cards to friends and family all over the world if they wish!

PROS & CONS

PROS - I could set this up for the school and there would very little - no cost for the school.

The program would basically run itself after it is set up except for adding new cards.

It's a fun idea, people can keep in touch with family and friends and potentially help fund their child's field trips ect.

No quotas or deadlines. Program can run as long as they want. No money invested means no money lost.


CONS: Not everyone has a computer and access to the internet.

I think that about does it! Let me know what you think please!

 

[Hillbeans]

In theory I like the idea, however it sounds very complicated and like something you'd need to spend more time on then you may have.

I often think the best fundraisers are 50/50's or things like the Kids entertainment coupon books.

Not trying to burst your bubble, but I know personally i'd probably not use the card idea. Sorry.

Edit to add I do however think it's great that you're trying to raise funds for your child's school. That's very important and the key is to make things as good for the kids as possible.

 

[missypie]

We have 3 kids in school and activities and are forced to become involved in LOTS of fundraisers. I know you're in Central Illinois going into winter BUT the very best fundraiser is the sale of flats of flowers. We sell them for gymnastics. $13 per flat. Here in Texas we do pansies now, and begonias, etc. in the spring. $13 per flat is a good price and people really truly want to buy them.

 

[WDSearcher]

Another con is that people are not required to donate. People could use the cards all day long -- send out hundreds of them -- and never once donate. Also ... aside from people who already support the school, how are other people going to find out about these cards? Will they come up, for example, if someone puts "postcards" into a Google search?

It seems to me that for a school fund raiser you need two things :

1) something that compels people to donate; and
2) something important to people outside of the immediate school group.

You want people who know nothing about the school to be compelled to give it money. Because otherwise you're always getting donations from the same people all the time.

I think the greeting card idea is a cute idea, but if you're going to do that, then either assign a mandatory charge per card (even 25 cents will bring in funds) or offer boxes of cards to sell. Either way you're guaranteed money for the work.

 

[MerryPoppins]

Sounds like a good idea if people would use it and if it isn't too much work. I've wondered in the past if you could take art work and make a calendar. Or even digital pictures from around the school? Everyone buys a calendar, right?

The best fund raisers that I've been involved with were:

bingo for donated prizes

auction night for donated prizes and something to represent every class in the school (some teachers had the class make something like a pair of pillowcases with handprints and names of everyone in the class, others offered dinner with Mrs. ___ at McDonalds and bowling for you and two friends) A big favorite each year was spending a day as the "principal".

carnival night (sometimes done in conjuction with auction night)

candy bar sales (parents can usually take a box to work and sell them quickly)

coupon books or gold cards

I've also heard good things about tubs of cookie dough, but we've never sold it.

 

[Goofymum]

The idea is just for a supplemental way of raising money for the school. If people donate..fine..if not fine..nothing is lost. If nothing else parents have a great site for sending cute e-cards to their friends and family that were made by their kids.

It is not really meant for people who have no affiliation with the school to donate anything. If someone finds the website and feels compelled to donate to them, then God Bless them. Otherwise the project would be more of a family thing. The children's own family would use the cards to send to their own friends and family whether they live five miles away or a thousand.

I thought as an extra incentive to use the website the school may offer prizes to the child that raises the most money via the website. Many fundraisers have this sort of incentive program to boost their sales.

It was just a thought...

 

[MerryPoppins]

I just had a brilliant idea. How about asking each class to come up with a theme such as a night at the movies or fun in the sun. You could give them a list to choose from if you'd prefer.

The class brainstorms ideas and then either gives money to buy items that go with the theme or bring something. In the end, the class puts together a gift basket that they auction off. Or people could buy chances and put them in a container by the basket of their choice. Kids would want to bid on their own basket.

You could sell candy while the people were bidding. Bet it would make a bunch of money and the cost would be minimal.

 

[Goofymum]

Originally posted by MerryPoppins
Sounds like a good idea if people would use it and if it isn't too much work. I've wondered in the past if you could take art work and make a calendar. Or even digital pictures from around the school? Everyone buys a calendar, right?

The best fund raisers that I've been involved with were:

bingo for donated prizes

auction night for donated prizes and something to represent every class in the school (some teachers had the class make something like a pair of pillowcases with handprints and names of everyone in the class, others offered dinner with Mrs. ___ at McDonalds and bowling for you and two friends) A big favorite each year was spending a day as the "principal".

carnival night (sometimes done in conjuction with auction night)

candy bar sales (parents can usually take a box to work and sell them quickly)

coupon books or gold cards

I've also heard good things about tubs of cookie dough, but we've never sold it.

I was thinking about the gold card/coupon book too. This all started when my son brought home a fundraiser thing to sell personalized pots and pans. I thought they were a bit pricey for a fundraiser. The school has been doing other fund raising stuff. For instance they are having a pancake/sausage breakfast next weekend.

 

[Goofymum]

Originally posted by MerryPoppins
I just had a brilliant idea. How about asking each class to come up with a theme such as a night at the movies or fun in the sun. You could give them a list to choose from if you'd prefer.

The class brainstorms ideas and then either gives money to buy items that go with the theme or bring something. In the end, the class puts together a gift basket that they auction off. Or people could buy chances and put them in a container by the basket of their choice. Kids would want to bid on their own basket.

You could sell candy while the people were bidding. Bet it would make a bunch of money and the cost would be minimal.

That is a great idea! I thought selling candy would be a good idea too but the schools are getting into a "healthy" mode. They have banned soda and stuff like that from school so I'm not sure if they are still doing candy sales.

 

[missypie]

Cookie dough sells pretty well. Our PTA Dads' Club does a pancake breakfast every year that does pretty well.

 

[The Duchess]

I hate fundraising! I always end up writing a check and making up names. I was totally relieved when T-Ball said they were raising registration fees instead of holding a raffle.
That said, the best fundraiser I ever saw was during the Thanksgiving Day Parade...6 packs of Krispy Kremes! I know they've taken a hit b/c of the low carb thing...but they were selling like crazy. I bought a pack and we ate them all at the parade.

 

[piglet too]

I think it is a neat idea, but does sound very time consumming for you.