Connecting Schools With Great Fundraising Ideas.

Today’s post is directed primarily at the people who are responsible for leading private school fundraisers. In a public school setting, fundraising events are usually funneled through the building principal, who is accountable to the superintendent, who, in turn, answers to the overarching school board. In most situations, your grassroots level efforts probably won’t rise all the way to the top.

However, in the case of a private school, the board of directors is very much involved in fundraising. In fact, some people would argue that the board’s most important function is that of ensuring the school stays well-funded. Remember, that in a non-profit organization, the board is the supreme authority.  The principal and all other employees are accountable to the board members. By the textbook definition, what the board says, goes. Therefore, it is wise to keep them happy and well-informed.

The goal of this article is to help a school employee or parent volunteer to think like a board member in order to move your plans forward with total buy-in and cooperation.

Think: Mission
The first thing I recommend doing before you make an initial presentation to the board about launching a fundraiser is to consider if your plans mesh with the school’s goals or mission. The last thing you want to have happen is that you rush in and make a grand proposal, only to have it immediately crushed because it flies in the face of everything the school holds dear.

For instance, I worked at a Christian elementary school that had a prohibition in its by-laws against any forms of gambling. That meant no raffles at our annual auction. Raffles can be a great source of income, and I’ve worked on raffles in the past. However, if I tried to change this policy at the Christian school, I would have been soundly rebuked and lost a lot of credibility with the board.

It is wise to remember that the board is charged with “protecting” the enduring mission of the school. In most cases, board members do not take this responsibility lightly. If you are new to the community or you have a novel idea, you should quietly ask a few people of influence if your idea fits the mission.

Think: Resistance
If your idea does fall within the parameters of the school’s character, the next step is to think about if you will meet any resistance to it. You would be surprised- even if your plans are as simple as a cookie dough sale, there might be someone on the board who objects to some element of what you’re proposing.

You can never be aware of every possible sticking point, so give yourself enough time before the board meeting and schedule individual conferences with each board member. This can be as simple as a phone call or an email. The point is to explain what you want to do and give each of them the opportunity to vent to you privately.

At this juncture, you can either try to solve the board member’s problem or decide to go in a different direction. Once you have assembled everyone’s opinions, you are then ready to introduce the topic at the board meeting. Assuming that you’ve been able to satisfactorily answer any concerns, you should have much smoother sailing now. Not lining up your support ahead of time could result in arguing, hurt feelings, and resentment.

Think: Troubleshooting
The next step in thinking like a board member is to really think through your plans very carefully. Troubleshoot every step of the process, down to the fine details. Talk to a trusted friend or spouse and ask them to play “devil’s advocate” for you. Poke as many holes in your plan as you can, so you can be ready with answers. If you have the time or ability, talk to other people who have run similar events and ask them for their advice on what worked and what didn’t.

Board members are notoriously busy people, who have a lot on their minds. They rely on the field troops (like you!) to take care of daily business. Therefore, they see their main function as trying to spot problems for you. If you can demonstrate that you’ve thought it through entirely and have come prepared with solutions, you will put your board at ease and gain their respect.

Think: Politics
I would also urge you to put on your political cap for a while, before dealing with your board. I know it sounds crazy, but boards can be highly political, even in school settings. This is a difficult topic to write about, since each situation is entirely different, but if you’ve spent any time around your board, you should be somewhat aware of how the board members relate to each other, how they relate out in the community, and how they relate right there in your school. If not, start to pay attention right away. This will be of great value to you going forward.

Again, I’ll go back to the example of the cookie dough. Even something as seemingly benign as this can have political ramifications that you should thoughtfully consider, if your ultimate goal is harmony throughout your fundraising event.

Think: Big Picture
Another item to consider when trying to think like a board member is the school’s overall “big picture”. How does what you’re proposing fit within everything else the school is doing that year? Does the school already have too many product sales? Has the board already scheduled a “fancy” event like a dinner auction? Does the school have a pet project in mind, like a new playground? Did last year’s pancake breakfast bomb to the point where they said ‘never again’? Regardless of the situation, you should get a grasp on what the temperature of the school is in regards to how they would accept your idea. Proposing a clunker of an idea will do little to gain the confidence and trust of the board.

Think: ROI
Another important element to board members is “return on investment”. (ROI) In a non-profit setting, however, the “investment” is not just money, but also time and effort of school employees. If you have an idea for an event that sounds like it would be wonderful, but it would require an entire team of people, lots of hours, lots of planning, and lots of elbow grease, but you’re only going to make a thousand dollars, the board could very likely decline your proposal.

In many schools, the board is keenly aware of the staff’s work load. Your particular school might be one in which the principal wears more hats than usual and the secretary’s been out sick much of the year. In this situation, the board is going to resist taking on anything that significantly adds to the responsibility of its staff, who in almost every case are overworked and underpaid.

Your proposal should be as streamlined as possible, requiring the least amount of effort for the greatest financial return. Show the board that you’ve considered this, and you’ll likely have a positive response.

Think: Communication
The last item I’ll mention in how to think like a board member is that of communication. Oftentimes, a board member is not present at the school on a daily basis. However, he or she may very well encounter a school family out in the community and be asked specifics about a school issue. Board members, like anybody else, don’t like to appear out of “the loop”. Therefore, I would recommend that you regularly send your board email updates or make phone calls to keep them “in the know”. This consideration will cement your status with the board and help to ensure their support for you and your idea.

Conclusion
Overall, being a board member at a school is a big job. There are many important responsibilities they face. Your active and informed participation will be welcome and supported, as long as you learn to think like one of them.

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