Connecting Schools With Great Fundraising Ideas.

Greetings!  Well, here we are at the end of August.  A lot of you have started school already, while many others wait until after Labor Day to head back to the classroom.

I hope you’ve enjoyed the selection of articles on TopSchoolFundraisers. com this month.  I’ve tried to focus on a number of issues that are important for starting your fundraising year off right.

As always, if you are looking for fundraising ideas or great products to raise money for your school, please head on over to FastTrackFundraising.com!  They have an amazing selection of products with proven results.

In addition to this blog, we also have a sister blog, StepByStepFundraising.com.  That site has a broader non-profit focus, but there are some terrific articles that would be helpful to anyone looking to learn more about raising money.  Below, I have posted some links to articles that appreared on StepByStepFundraising this month.  I hope you take a few minutes to check them out!

Thanks, and we’ll see you right back here in September!

Step by Step Fundraising Articles, August 2001

Is Your Board Strong Enough to Make Hard Decisions?

10 Time Management Tips for Nonprofit Communicators, by Gayle Thorsen

Super-hero Guide to Beating Burnout, by Maureen Carruthers

If Donors Knew What Others Gave, Would They Give More? By Gayle Gifford

How much should you request in your foundation grant proposal? By Pamela Grow

You’ve Gotta Have a Plan! 3 Tips to Develop Winning Grant Proposals, by Betsy Baker

What one piece of advice would you give to a friend just starting out in the non-profit world?

Guest Video Post: Amy Eisenstein on Smart, Creative Fundraising

Would You Do It All Over Again?

What are the Traits You Most Admire in Your Non-Profit Colleagues?

Top 10 Things I Love about Fundraising Part I

Top 10 Things I Love about Fundraising Part 2

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When I was the administrator of a private elementary school, I realized very quickly that the teachers on our staff were also my front-line sales force. Not all of the teachers relished this role, but it was a fact, nonetheless.

As you are planning your school carnival, you must start to think of them in this capacity, as well.

The simple truth is, if the teachers want something to happen, it happens. If they don’t see the importance of an issue, it “mysteriously” fades away.

This is why you do not want to alienate the staff in any way. You are counting on these people to make sure fliers get passed out on time, important announcements are stressed to the students, auction projects are well-thought out, well-crafted, and done on time, and that they actually show up to help on the day of the carnival with big smiles on their faces.

With the many responsibilities a teacher has, you’ve really got to make a strong effort to gain their full attention. Here are some suggestions:

1. Butter them up- a cup of gourmet coffee, a small plant, a modest gift card, or just a simple note of appreciation goes a long way toward winning a person over. You should have volunteers whose sole job it is to sprinkle the teachers with affection.

2. Be clear with your expectations- put everything that you want the teachers to do in writing. It’s way too easy for them to make a verbal promise and then get busy and forget. Teachers need clarity and specificity from us. If you want them to remind students to make sure their money is in for the pre-sale wristbands next Friday, put it in a memo and hand it to each teacher individually. Don’t ever assume that a teacher knows what we actually want to happen and when. continue reading

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Here it is, the end of the month once again.  As is my custom, I am posting links to all of the articles I have written for FundraisingIdeas and Step by Step Fundraising.

I hope you take a few minutes to check out these posts and don’t forget to visit our friends over at FastTrackFundraising for all your fundraising needs!

See you in May!

- Jim Berigan

FundraisingIdeas.org

10 Fundraising Clichés That You Should Avoid

Would You Do Something Absolutely Crazy for Your Non-profit?

Sound Fundraising Advice from 1970s Television

A Creative Way to Get Your Non-profit’s Competitive Juices Flowing

The Value of Non-Board Board Members

The Pressure of Coming up with a Catchy Fundraiser Name

What Do You Have to Think About When Choosing a For-Profit Fundraising Partner

What If You Didn’t Throw a Fundraiser and Everybody Still Came?

Make More of What You’ve Already Got

Two Unusual and Profitable Fundraising Events You May Never Have Heard Of

An Excellent Example of a Non-profit Partnership in Action

4 reasons your staff should donate money to your non-profit first

5 Things You Can Do to Avoid being the Non-profit that Gets Cut from the Family’s Donation Budget

The Advantages of Working for a Non-Profit over a For-Profit

Step By Step Fundraising

A Quiz for Perspective Board Members

6 Ways to Increase Optimism about Fundraising at Your Non-profit

Shrink those floral centerpieces at your benefit auction, by Sherry Truhlar

10 Reasons to Contact Donors Other Than to Ask for Money

Mobile giving: 4 trends nonprofits should consider, by Gayle Thorsen

Is Your Organization Grant Ready? by Betsy Baker

Your nonprofit doesn’t need a blog, by Joanna Miles

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of Nonprofit Leadership, by Amy Eisenstein

Surprise! Are You Ready to Fundraise?

Are you overwhelming board members with hidden expectations? By Gayle Gifford

Online Fundraising for Tiny Nonprofits: A Case Study, by Maureen Carruthers

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Each month, I read dozens of news articles and blog posts about non-profit fundraising.  I am able to write about a few of them, but not nearly everything that catches my eye.

Here are a few links to the articles I liked, but wasn’t able to get to this month.

Enjoy!

- Jim Berigan

A Low-Key Family Event = Way to Recruit Volunteers From the PTO Today Blog

Asking for Money – Thoughts on Elementary School Fundraising From the BelieveJay Blog

Would You Like to Make More Money at Your Next School Carnival? From Everybodyhatesfundraising.com

$4,428 in ‘Tips’ at Don Jose’s Mexican Restaurant Goes to CV Schools From the Castro Valley Patch

Chance to put your own stamp on carnival fun From the Cambridge-News UK

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Would you like to learn more about school carnivals?  

Check out Jim Berigan’s “School Carnival Money Making Guide!  It’s 186 pages of advice, suggestions, and ideas that will help your school make the money it needs!

After having written about school fundraising for three years, I can tell you with authority that one of the most popular subjects I have posted on is the school carnival.

So many schools have carnivals, and most people who run them are always looking for new ideas to keep their carnival fresh.

Here is an article I put together for the website EverybodyHatesFundraising.com. If you are in the process of planning a carnival, it might give you a few novel thoughts.

Good luck!

First, a disclaimer: The following list is just a mashed-up collection of carnival games and ideas that I have come across on the Internet over time. I simply thought that this might be a helpful resource for people who were searching for game suggestions.

If you are interested in dozens of more great carnival ideas, check out my e-book, The School Carnival Money Making Guide. It’s full of helpful advice, words of wisdom, tales of fundraising glory, and a few laughs.

Thanks!- Jim Berigan

1. The Beauty Salon was a popular booth at our Fall Carnival. The boys and girls loved getting their hair colored, blue, green, pink! Combine this with fake-tattoo applications and face-painting, and you’ve got a real destination!

2. Karaoke was also very popular this year! Try getting the principal to sing a few songs and really liven up the crowd!

3. About three years ago, our room moms rented an electronic bull. (I can’t think of the right name!) The line never ended! The kids and adults loved it! (Editor’s note: check with your insurance company first!)

4. My sons’ school has a Kissing Booth. They didn’t get actual kisses, but they did give you a Hershey’s Kiss instead. They also have a lips stamp, and they stamp your face with it! And you see TONS of kids running around their carnival with several kisses! Very cute!

5. We played “Bingo for Books” in the media center.

6. Snack Walk- like a cake walk but kids picked out bags of chips, a box of Little Debbies, bag of cookies, 2 liter bottle of soda, etc. Maybe put in some broccoli for a booby prize! continue reading

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