Teachers have a lot to do already during the day. Shrinking budgets and rigid curriculum requirements put a double squeeze on fundraising. It’s little wonder they really don’t have the time to deal with raising funds for the school or adding to their workload.
What’s the answer to this fundraising conundrum? Teachers can be very enthusiastic allies, so get one on board and see the funds roll in! Show class instructors what’s in it for them and their students. Explain the goal of the fundraiser. Is the money for school supplies? Is it for a class trip?
Show your teachers how the fundraiser will benefit their classroom directly or the school at large. If you are working with a fundraising company, some of them have incentives like offering top-selling classrooms a cut of the profits. That can be a big boost, particularly in those schools where teachers have to dip into their own pockets to buy school supplies. Yes, Virginia that actually happens. Teachers spend about $400 a year of their own money on classroom supplies.
Offer incentives: Encouraging teachers to participate through offering them incentives can be a big plus in helping you reach your goal. Consider offering a special prize to any classroom that achieves 100-percent participation or sponsors a contest for those teachers who sell the most items. Remember teachers have friends and family. That’s why rewarding their participation goes a long way.
Engage teachers in the process: Don’t have teachers just pass out brochures and
collect the money. Involve them in the planning process, too. Not all fundraisers involve selling. Some schools hold car washes or put on fun fairs. Others let the students shave the principal’s head, make them spend the night on top of the school building, or kiss a pig.
That kind of teacher participation can be fun, while not overly time consuming.
Don’t forget gratitude: Everyone likes to be appreciated. And since teachers have such limited time, you might want to reward them at the conclusion of the fundraiser with a gift card to a local restaurant.
Most teachers understand the need to have school fundraisers and generally are supportive. When you involve them in the process every step of the way you are enlisting a crucial ally who can ensure your efforts are successful and those fundraising coffers are brimming with new possibilities!