School sponsors - PTO. Need help

[Boo Mc]

Does anyone have corporate sponsors for their school? I am on an elementary school PTO and we are interested in having companies "adopt" our school. I know lots of schools have sponsors but am unsure how to go about it. What exactly do you ask the company to provide? Do they give lump sum amounts, products or percentages of their sales? Do they receive anything in return for their sponsorship? What type of companies or businesses sponsor your school? Are local or national companies more receptive to doing something like this? THANKS!!

 

[Serena]

Hi, I've had a little experience with this.

First of all, I'd start with the kids that go to your school. Maybe you could send out a notice asking anyone if they know of a company that would be willing to be a corporate sponsor.
Maybe you have done this, but it's a good idea to have some goals or plans in mind that you can tell them, when they ask.
Your plans could adjust to what company and to what they think they can provide.

Next step would be going to local businesses and asking to contribute to different occassions. For example, a party, have McDonalds donate the punch, or a pizza joint, some pizzas for a discounted cost.
Having a relationship with the business is a big plus when asking for sponsorship.

We had a thing called "Run for the Arts". It was a fundraiser, but with corporate sponsorship and an alliance with a college nearby.
Each month we would have someone in the art world, theater, music, etc, etc come and have a show for the kids. The "Run", was simply running, each lap provided a certain amount of funds from your family and friends. The corporations provided ribbons, drinks, water, t-shirts, and things like that, and of course money.

Good luck. I'm not in it anymore, but if I can be of any more help let me know.

 

[cruisnfamily]

The first thing we do is send out a notice to all the students asking their parents if their place of business would like to be a corporate sponsor. There is a fee which is around $300 that they pay. In return for that fee, the business name is posted on every school newsletter and very large posters are posted at all the PTO meetings showing the corporate sponsors. The names of all the businesses are also posted on the back of our school t-shirt. Most (if not all) of our school's corporate sponsors are parents of children attending the school.

The donation thing is different, if we are having an event or fundraiser, we will solicit donations or money from area businesses and then they will be thanked in a one time letter to the parents saying "...and we thank Wal-mart, McDonalds, whoever...for supporting our jog athon"

Good luck!

 

[Kallison]

You might want to try Schoolpop.com for fundraising.

 

[shellbelle11]

At the school I taught at last year we were lucky enough to receive some funding from a local gas station. It was down the street from the school and many teachers- and students' families- took their cars there. People were asking local buisnesses and we lucked out.
They gave us a lump sum that we then used to publish a literary journal for each grade (1-5) that included a piece from each student in the grade. We were able to print up a wonderful book for each child.
Other teachers in my school received a small discount at Walmart in exchange for decorating a bulletin board at a local store.
The best chances I find come from asking the students' families. They often know of a company or group that you could ask.

 

[Boo Mc]

Thanks for all the ideas. I'll definitely send something out to the parents first as I know some of them have their own businesses. I like the gas station idea too since there's one right by our school so maybe they'll help out. We can definitely put their name in our weekly newsletter so maybe that'll be some incentive for them. Any other ideas will be appreciated. Thanks again!