OT Need new PTO/PTA fundraising ideas

[Sydnoahmom]

I'm looking for some suggestions from all of you PTO/PTA parents out there. Our local PTO (approx 800 kids grades pre-K through 8) is in a slump with fundraising. All of profits come from catalog sales-Little Casears, Fannie Mae, Butter Braid are the big food sales. Our biggest sale of the year is through Marketday in the fall. It is a gift catalog-wrapping paper, jewelry, kitchen items, calendars, magazines, etc.

I don't know if it's the economy or that people are just tired of buying the same things over and over. We really can't afford the decline in profit. Our school district doesn't have a lot of funds available for extras and the PTO has been purchasing items the district would have done in years past.

We have recently teamed up with some local restaurants. The last one was with a pizza place. We sold tickets for $20 for a med 2 topping pizza, appetizer and 2 sodas. Our profit was $10. It was our 1st event like this and we made around $500 right before Christmas. There are 2 more scheduled throughout the school year with other restaurants.

What are your school districts doing for fundraisers? Any suggestions are greatly appreciated!

 

[tchrrx]

Our school has a silent auction that raises quite a bit of money. Each class chooses a theme & fills a basket with items. Local businesses also donate items to the sale. Tickets are purchased ($20 individual or $35 couple) and dinner is catered in. It's a very nice event that earns us quite a bit. It's a lot of work, but I think it's worth it. (of course, I'm not on the committee that does all of the work, I just get to enjoy the results. )

 

[Disneylush]

Sucker days for holiday's:
we sell holiday themed suckers from maredy .com
Sell them a buck each for 6 suckers for 5.00.
The kods can get them after lunch and the teachers let them ea them in class.

Our kids wear uniforms and one day a month they can pay a dollar to be out of uniform. It is a fast $800.00 every month. We have a purpose each month like Sept. was pay a buck to be out of uniform and help put new gravel on the playground.

we have found things don't cost much and repeat over and over work the best. We also get a higher involvement.

 

[Disneylush]

Oh and I forgo the teacher raffle in the spring.

Each teacher offers something like "basketball game with Mr. G and have 5 of your friends" or a special lunch or something.

Then at lunch kids pay a 1.00 on a chance to win that prize with that teacher.

 

[lovetoscrap]

This caught my eye. I am newly in charge of fundraising for our Middle School. Here are a few of the things I have come up with and I am interested in hearing other ideas.

1. Pajama Day: Pay $1 to be able to wear pj's to school-- have someone taking the money at the school entrance and give them a sticker to wear to show they paid.

2. Hat Day: Same as above--Theme will be "Put on Your Thinking Caps" and timed before the standardized testing

3. Casual Dress Day: Same as above if your school wears uniforms.

4. Gum Day: Allow kids to chew gum all day--same rules as above AND sell gum for those that forget to bring some!

5. Fun Raffles: We are going to do a Special Lunch--winner gets a fancy table in the cafeteria with a table cloth, real place settings, and a homemade/catered lunch (I am donating the food) and the principal/vice principal will be the waiters.

We also are planning a "Best Seat in School"-- the winner will get a comfy office chair or a beanbag chair (a Lazy boy would be GREAT!) to sit in for class that day.

6. Vote for the April Fool: We are getting as many staff (teachers and admin) involved as possible to volunteer to be the April Fool. In March the kids will vote (paying to vote--25 cents a vote?) for who they want to be the Fool. The "winner" will have to wear a costume (chicken, bunny, maybe dress as a woman?) on April 1st We are still working on the details for this one.


7. Water Balloons: Get as much staff involved as possible and kids pay $1 or $2 per balloon to throw at a favorite teacher. When DD's school did this we had to prepay and preorder our balloons.


Hmmmmm, there was one or two more but I can't think of them right now. I will add them when I remember.

I would love to hear other ideas!

 

[Luv Bunnies]

Our biggest event is a walk-a-thon in the spring. We usually raise about $20,000 for this one event but it includes lot of different things.

The kids collect pledges for the laps they will walk around the track (1/4 mile per lap). They can walk off and on during the day and get their card punched for every lap they complete.

We have the classrooms make themed baskets that are bid on in a silent auction. We also sell raffle tickets for other donated items. Each teacher donates time to take the winning child on an outing (to lunch or to the bookstore to choose a book, etc.).

We also have a cake walk and carnival games going on. Most of the prizes are donated by families or local businesses. We also sell food all day.

Combining all of these various things helps make this a big ticket event.

We also have movie nights once a quarter. We show a movie on a big screen in the cafeteria on a Friday night. Kids come in PJs and bring their pillows and sleeping bags. We charge $2 per person and sell pizza and other food.

 

[lovetoscrap]

Oh yeah, some local businesses will allow you to have fundraiser days/nights and donate a portion of the proceeds to you for those that come in from your organization (school). You set up a date, pass out the fliers at school asking families to go out to eat to that place that date.

A few I know of are:

Fuddruckers
Silver Diner (you have to be the wait staff)
Tropical Smoothie Cafe
Uno's Pizza
Pizza Hut (maybe? Could depend on local ownership)

If anyone knows of others please let me know!


At our Elementary School the Spring Carnival is a HUGE moneymaker. Lots of work, but great money.

I have also heard of things like the walk a thon but adding a twist by allowing dogs if you want to make it different. Bark a thon

 

[KristiMc]

We did a read-a-thon where the students got pledges for each minute they read. It worked out very well.

 

[smylie1]

We begin gathering donations of prizes during the summer from places like Carolina Panthers, Disney, Carowinds, Gatilinburg, NC Aquarium, and other attractions as well as area restaurant gift cards. We purchase a big screen TV (Best Buy usually gives us a good deal on a floor model). Then beginning the first week of school, we sell raffle tickets for those items. For every 2 books of tickets each child sells, they are invited to a popcorn and movie celebration in the gym. Every child who sells 4 books gets to go to a local recreation center that has an indoor pool for an entire school day (we take them on activity buses).

THEN, after about a month of selling tickets, we have the grand finale called Pirate Palooza. (We are the RCES Pirates). We have emergancy vehicles, BBQ and hotdog plates, funnel cake, cotton candy, and all the ususal carnival type foods, a rock climbing wall, 6 infalteables, silent auction baskets provided by our classroom teachers with help of their grade parents, local bands play, we have a hay ride, mechanical bull ride, the HS cheerleaders come and perform, as well as the dance and gymnastic groups in the area, facepainting, etc. Year before last, the NCSHP helicopter and the Carolinas Medical Center helicopter landed in the parking lots for everyone to look in. We are in eastern Burke County, so if you know anything about NC, you know we are NOT a wealthy district, but we have parents who have connections.

We usually bring in, raffle and Pirate Palooza together, about $27,000 with about $21,000 profit. It is the only fundraiser we do all year. The community really appreciates not have to sell/buy all the "stuff" all year long, and Pirate Palooza is like a community event that people actually look forward to.

I'll tell you, the first year we did it, it was SO much work and planning. We were worried that we wouldn't be able to pull it off, but we've got great parents and it was a huge success.

We've done it for the past 3 years and it's been easier and better every time.

 

[HeatherC]

Around here, Hebert's candy bars are a good fundraiser. They are a $1 a candy bar and seem to sell very well. I think they come in boxes of 50 bars.

I think people are more inclined to buy a couple of candy bars for like $5 than pay $20 for a raffle. I know I think that way. Especially with money being so tight these days, people get annoyed when they are asked to lay out big bucks for fundraisers.

Just a thought.

 

[smylie1]

Around here, Hebert's candy bars are a good fundraiser. They are a $1 a candy bar and seem to sell very well. I think they come in boxes of 50 bars.

I think people are more inclined to buy a couple of candy bars for like $5 than pay $20 for a raffle. I know I think that way. Especially with money being so tight these days, people get annoyed when they are asked to lay out big bucks for fundraisers.

Just a thought.

We only charge $2.00 (two dollars) per ticket. Like I said, we are NOT a wealthy community so if they were more than that we would sell very few. Our school is about 65% free and reduced lunch families so we have to make all fundraisers as affordable as posssile. We set up tables to sell tickets at the high school atheletic events, outside our local supermarket, and a few parents incorperate them into yard sales. Not charging more than that makes us have to find other markets than just sending them home with the students. If you're looking for an "easy" fundraiser, this is definitly not the way to go. We work really hard, but then when it's over (Pirate Palooza is the first Saturday in October), that's it for the year. Parents like that and teachers love it because their not constantly taking up money.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

WHy not have a supermarket bingo night? You have each class donate to make a specific basket- a cleaning basket, a pasta night basket, a Christmas basket etc. Then you sell tickets to the event and include on free bingo card with the ticket. At the event you also sell snacks and coffee etc. Solicit business so you can get bigger prizes and then you can sell raffles for those prizes. When you win bingo you win one of the baskets. People have a lot of fun at these and the whole family can go. Oh- and of course you can sell extra bingo cards at the event. With a minimal investment you can easily net $10,000. at these. Good luck!

 

[jenb1023]

Our Elementary school's PTO's biggest fundraiser is the May Fair. I don't know all of the details as this is my first year in the PTO but they have numerous games that you buy tickets to play, sell food, silent auctions for class baskets, etc.

Another big fundraiser that takes zero effort is A+ School Rewards. I don't know which grocery stores do this but in PA Giant Grocery stores give local schools 1% of all purchases for bonus cards registered to that school. So, parents, family, etc. register their bonus card for our school on the internet or on the phone and Giant gives the school 1% of all purchases made by those bonus card members.

We also do box tops for education which also requires little effort.

 

[momma2minnie]

Loving all the ideas. DD4 started pre-K this year so I decided to join our PTO.
We will have a cake bingo in Feb. I understand this is a pretty good fundraiser for our school as we are a small community of bingo lovers. Will also sell treats and have items for auction.

 

[CRdisMom]

No one mentioned BOX TOPS for Education. It is easy money. Also promote Target Charge cards. I just got a check from Box Tops for $1,200 and Target $3000. It is easy money. BTW I am the PTO treasurer for a private school. I feel your pain.

 

[BigMike10]

At any event, hold a 50/50 raffle. We do this at every football game , basketball game etc. Keep the tickets cheap maybe 2 for $1.00. Arms length for 3. Also, sweatshirts, t shirts with the school logo. I like these because the kids can actually use them and your school can make money.

 

[Sydnoahmom]

Thanks everyone for the great ideas

We also have a Booster Club that supports extra curricular (sp) activities and they already do a lot of these things. They seem to get more support than the PTO b/c it involves sports. But hey, why books when you can buy basketballs.

Okay, I am a little bitter-long story, short version. If your kid is in sports, plays, speech, you are automatically a member of the Booster club b/c those activities are not required for the school. The booster club then tells you when you have to work for an activity. For the PTO, membership is voluntary and we are not allowed (nor would we ever) just assign people to work. There are also numerous other double standards that just irritate me, but I am trying to move on.

I have been actively involved in PTO since DD12 started school. She is now in Jr High and goes out for almost everything, so I am a Booster member too. I work when assigned if it works in our family schedule. I used to go the meetings so I could give input, but only board is allowed to vote on anything (not how we do it for PTO), so why go.

Please don't misunderstand me, I fully appreciate the value of these activites, but I believe academics have to come first. I think our administration is sending the wrong message about the importance of these activites by not having them play by the same rules as required for the education aspect of the school system.

PTO has noticed a decline in our fundraisers since the inception of the Booster club 2 years ago. Most businesses and parents don't understand the difference and think they are donating to both. We are trying to educate people in a positive way.

I really like the Bingo idea and will present it at our next meeting. Thank you all for listening!

 

[minnie4me]

I highly recommend Box Tops and Campbell's labels....they are "free" money or rewards. You and others in your family or friends etc... have the items anyway, just take the time to cut (neatly along the dotted line for Box tops).

Our school this year is having a contest among the classes for Box tops. Every 2 weeks each class submits their box tops and the class with the most points "wins". Winning is a Box Top Champs trophy that stays in the room for the next 2 week period. The class the has the highest total over the entire collection period (until mid Feb.) gets the trophy for the rest of the year (plus a classroom reward like a movie or icecream). It is working out so far.

 

[Suz D]

We did a scrapbook/crop night for a fundraiser. The cost was $15.00-$20.00 to share a table. We had several people who were reps of scrapbook companies (I'm with Close to My Heart and we also had a Stampin' Up rep). The PTO provided dinner (sandwiches) and snacks and also encouraged people to bring a snack to share. I offered a free make-n-take and donated the supplies as did the Stampin' Up rep. It was from 6:00-12:00 on a Friday night but you could also have it on a Saturday afternoon or even all day. We also looked into getting food donated but the time ran out before we could get that nailed down.

We also had each rep have a table of things to purchase and we donated a portion of the profits. Fun evening and not too hard to put together.

I got the idea from a CTMH rep who did this for her daughter's school and they had about 75 women come (they had it in the cafeteria). That's a pretty good profit margin.

 

[Erin1700]

I love how all the suggestions involve events. Around here they want us to sell from the "Catalog of Crap" . We do not sell!! But I would support events like you have discribed.