School Fundraising Plan
Fundraising events in schools are not uncommon. In fact, they are a popular activity often headed by the students themselves. They help cultivate unity and creativity within each member of the class since it allows them to think of ingenious ways of earning profit. It can also build camaraderie and even lasting friendship because what’s better than teaming up to raise money? You may also see weekly plan examples.
Fundraising is just a clever name for working, often selling, to earn a specific targeted amount. But, of course, children wouldn’t want to be told to work. But they would love to be told to, say, sell cookies, or host a talent show. It could spark their interest and make them more energetic toward the concept. You may also like work plan examples.
Although fundraising events are headed by the students, they can’t be expected to do all the work. Especially with issues on budget, the school administration and the PTA officers, not to mention the parents of the students, need to be there to guide them on the preliminaries that are involved in a fundraising activity. You may also check out quality plan examples.
Speaking of which, the budget for the event is one of the most important aspects of fundraising events. After all, money is the main reason why an organization is conducting one. The budget must fit the funds without having to compromise the quality of the event that will be organized. You might be interested in financial plan examples.
This is one of the aspects that will be discussed in the fundraising plan, should you choose to create one. Aside from that, it will also help you create a timeline for all of the fundraising events that you will organize for one calendar year. By doing so, you can start with the initial preparations and thinking about budget constraints. A fundraising plan will also help you finalize a goal toward which all of your events will be directed to.
Simple School Fundraising Plan
School Event Fundraising Plan
2017 Fundraising Calendar
Steps to Designing Your Fundraising Plan
A fundraising plan for your school will need more than a target amount. It will need a careful planning that will, aside from budget, involve the teams who will work together, the assigning of leaders, and the activities that will be orchestrated for the year. Here are the basic steps that can guide you in making your school’s very own fundraising plan:
1. Set your school year’s goals.
There is no better time than the beginning of a school year to reevaluate your school’s goals, and to start working to accomplish them. Since each school is unique in this aspect, you must try and reassess the achievements you will set your eyes on for this calendar year. It is important that your fundraising attempts are in line with your school’s goals because both will just compliment each other. You may also see daily plan examples.
You should also specifically focus on the positive results that you can reap out of your fundraising attempts, and the way in which this affair can benefit the students. You should also have a view of where the money that you gather from your fundraising efforts can be spent. You may also like sales plan examples.
By having these two elements (the benefit of the fundraising to the students, and its purpose), people will be more inclined to support your activity since they can see that it has tangible prospective beneficiaries.
2. Create a realistic strategy.
After you’ve identified your school’s goals and the most basic reasons why you are going to conduct a fundraising activity, start finalizing the dirty details, the most important of which is your targeted money. Having a definite number as your professional goal can help you specialize your efforts to reach that specific amount. Without it, you will be left walking blindly around simply hoping you’ll get a couple of dollars enough to make you feel successful.
This is not a goal, and if it is, it is one of the most mediocre one there is. You need to know exactly how much you want and what you can do to get that amount. This should be the second focus of your strategic plan, along with the deadline which will help you identify how hard you’ll have to work for your target amount.
This part of your strategic plan should also include your prospects, or the people who have a high chance of donating to your cause. Instead of flattening out your resources and reaching everyone on your contact list, you can search your school’s fundraising history for the record of anyone who might be willing to help you raise money. This is a surer way for a sound return of investment. You may also see annual plan examples.
Aside from all of that financially centered planning, you also have to think of the resources you might need in the future so that you can prepare for it.
Unless, of course, you want to be faced with the problem of settling this issue when it comes to you in the future. Aside from resources, you must also try to look at the bigger picture of how you can achieve your goals. By doing so, your whole team can also start understanding the roles they play which can take your fundraising plans to a higher chance of success. You may also like project plan examples.
3. Put a team together.
Fundraising activities just can’t be organized by one man alone. There is just too much planning involved that it might be too much for one man to handle, especially for school-centered fundraisers where the targeted amount is considerable, and the crowd expected is enormous. You may also check out job plan examples.
The advantage of a fundraising activity for a school setting is that there will never be a want of capable hands. From the principal, the teachers, the staff, the students and their parents, the deans, and the coaches, there are just so many willing volunteers than you would know what to do with.
The only thing left for you to do is to manage them, and make sure that they know what is expected of them. Instruct and guide them on the tasks they are supposed to perform to help the whole team succeed. Creating smaller teams to focus on specific aspects of the fundraising activity, tell them what needs to be done, and leave the rest on the capable hands of the active people at your disposal. You might be interested in personal plan examples.
4. Host a fundraising event.
All of that effort and planning and collaborating will all boil down to this: a fundraising event. It is one of the most effective way of engaging with potential donors and to raise funds for your school. Come up with an activity that will be enjoyable to the guests, and unforgettable to the students who are expected to be more engaged in the event. You may also see action plan examples.
School Foundation Fundraising Plan
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Fundraising Events Ideas
1. Bike-a-thon.
A little twist to the ubiquitous marathon, a bike-a-thon is a more family-friendly activity since everyone of all ages can join (without the pressure on your cardio abilities).
As long as you have a bike, and almost every household is sure to have one, you can join the fun! Aside from the main (small) fee to register to the activity, you can also sell printed shirts for your bike-a-thoners and refreshments at the finish line. You can raise money and it’s a great way to raise the importance of physical health. You may also see assessment plan examples.
2. Sing-a-thon.
The best thing about this particular activity is that it doesn’t need its participants to be good singers, it just needs them to sing.
You can even set up a karaoke booth even in the cafeteria or in the school auditorium for a karaoke challenge. You can collect fees for each song. You can even ask the participants to pay to make someone sing. This is one of the most enjoyable fundraising activities that you can organize without having to plan too much. You may also like implementation plan examples.
3. Color run.
Since we’re already talking about fun activities, why don’t we add color run into the mix? It takes your classic marathon to a whole new level of fun, crazy, and, of course, colorful. Students will love the idea of starting the race with pristine, white shirts and finishing it with a wild combination of colors all over their faces and their bodies. You may also check out event plan examples.
4. Underwear run.
There is no certainty that this will be the last marathon-themed fundraising event in this list, but it is surely one of the wildest. There is a reason why college students love this activity so much—it’s a whole different kind of crazy and liberating. Although that won’t be the case if you do this during winter, but otherwise, it’ll be one of the greatest memories in a student’s life, plus it will help you generate money effortlessly. You might be interested in advertising plan examples.
5. Santa Speedo Run.
A little twist to the underwear run, Santa Speedo Run will be held during the winter months and, aside from wearing Speedo, the participants will also have to dress up in a Santa costume. This is another favorite of college students since it’s a unique way to bring out the festive spirit and raise money at the same time. You may also see evaluation plan examples.
Plus, the whole event is a gigantic photo opportunity! Imagine being under the cold weather with cheeks as red as your costume, and your friends standing beside you looking just as scarlet. (Okay, enough running and marathon-themed events.)
6. Bake Sales.
Another classic in the fundraiser handbook, bake sales are easy, fun, and cheaper compared to other event ideas. Plus, who can say no to a sumptuous dessert, especially if it’s for a good cause? You can also make the event more engaging by allowing the students to bake the pastries themselves.
7. Teddy Bear Picnic.
This one is perfect for the little kids in elementary. A teddy bear picnic is a picnic-themed event where the participants can bring their beloved teddy bear along. (Mr. Snuggletooth can meet new friends!)
You can sell picnic baskets filled with food to the guests, and maybe sell some baked goods (not the leftovers from the bake sale please) as well. This is perfect for the children and the children at heart. It’s a whole avenue of creativity and playtime in the great outdoors! You may also like parenting plan examples.
8. Sleepover at the school.
Why not utilize the empty boring halls of the school at night for a greater cause? You can open it up for sleepovers. You can raise money by selling tickets for the event. What’s best is that it’s not going to be limited to the students but everyone in the community who wants to attend.
9. Formal Day.
Who said that gowns and tuxedos are limited to prom? For this event, students can pay to be allowed to wear formal clothes to school for a day. The students can all pretend to be ladies and gentlemen from the ’40s and the ’50s just enjoying their lovely new hats and pointy, shiny shoes. It’s a great way to break the ordinary day in school. You may also check out research plan examples.
10. Pajama Day.
When your students are tired of dressing super fancy, they can go with super casual with this pajama-themed event. Of course, this is not only limited to the students. The rest of the staff are welcome to join as well. Imagine scary old Mrs. Savannah who every student fears dressing up in cute lacy pajama bottoms. Math won’t be as scary now, will it? This is especially perfect for kids in elementary and middle school. You might be interested in training plan examples.
Sample Monthly Fundraising Plan
Fundraising Event Planning Checklist
Fundraisers are a noble way to earn money, not just for school but for every other nonprofit organization or charity. You’re doing more than just asking and begging since you are using your resources and abilities to create fun activities and quality products to be worthy of their donations. It’s a lot like a business where you will have to sell your products and services in exchange for money. You may also see company plan examples.
The difference is that you will be doing it for your school.
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