Fundraising Tips for School Teachers

By Jennifer Lawton

Teachers and activity leaders like band directors, coaches and sponsors are often the ones who are looking for fundraisers. The teachers are often the ones who keep track of orders, distribute candy for sales and keep students motivated. Even when the parent led group or booster club plans a fundraiser, it just would not be possible without the teachers!

Here’s 5 Tips for Teachers When it Comes to Fundraising

1. When choosing a new fundraiser, think about the ones that your group has done in the past that the students and parents really got excited about (and that worked!)  Choose a fundraiser that’s fun AND profitable and you are more likely to get more volunteer help!

2. Make your search for fundraisers easier by using a service such as SuperFundraiser.com  Based upon your answers to a few simple questions you'll discover which fundraisers will work best for your group.  This will narrow down your search to the most profitable fundraisers for your type of school group. 

3. Get “buy in” from the principal, parents and other decision makers. This one is a must! Make sure those who are in authority, and those who would be likely to volunteer for your fundraiser agree with the type and timing of the fundraising program.

4. Plan ahead! Easier said than done, right? Well if you can start planning in the spring for fall’s fundraisers you’ll be one step ahead of the game. If you haven’t planned ahead be realistic about how much time a particular fundraiser will take. Events usually take several months to plan… product sales like food fundraisers can usually be done and over with in just a few weeks.

5. Empower volunteers…there’s nothing worse for a parent than volunteering and then feeling useless! Find out what abilities and time availability your volunteers have and tailor assignments accordingly. And really, don’t fall into the perfectionist trap of thinking you have to do ALL the decorating, cooking, planning, etc. yourself!

By choosing a great fundraiser and working with parent and students, teachers can lead their school group in a great fundraiser!

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About the Author: Jennifer Lawton is a frequent writer for SuperFundraiser.com a site which helps schools and other groups find ways to fund their programs.