Working with the youth of today, you have likely witnessed firsthand just how quickly technology is becoming a significant part of our everyday lives.
The digital age certainly has its drawbacks, including students scrolling through social media instead of paying attention in class, but technology also provides many benefits. One area your campus can benefit from in the digital age is fundraising.
The Benefits of Online Fundraisers for Schools
Moving fundraisers online can boost the success of many fundraisers your school holds. This is because online fundraisers offer benefits like:
- Boosted convenience.
- Greater reach and marketing abilities.
- Lower costs and necessary volunteer numbers.
- Enhanced sustainability.
A+ Strategies and Tools for Your School
Reap the rewards of moving your school’s fundraisers online with these four considerations:
1. Ace Your Fundraising Idea
There are many ways you can raise funds for your school’s needs. Think about which fundraising events will encourage participation within your community and brainstorm your fundraising ideas from there. Don’t know where to get started? We have gathered a few great fundraising ideas for you!
- Sell coupon books. Reach out to businesses in your area and build a coupon book to sell to your community. This fundraiser can be a great way to support your school and the community’s local businesses all at once..
- Create and sell custom merchandise. This can include t-shirts, sweaters, hats, stickers, water bottles, and much more. You can customize the merchandise with personalized designs of things like your school’s name or sports teams.
- Host a restaurant night. This can be a fundraising event that requires little effort on your part. Simply reach out to a restaurant within your community to ask if they would be willing to work with you on this booster event. The great part about this fundraising event is that many chains already have a program in place. Partner with the business to pick a day, week, or weekend to host the event and spread the word!
- Organize a school carnival. This event can be as simple or complicated as you choose. However, hosting a carnival can be a great way to get your community excited to send their dollars your school’s way. Simply gather some delicious food and fun games, and your fundraiser will be ready to succeed!
- Offer a car wash. This fundraising idea is a classic — and for good reason. Gather a few volunteers, some soap and rags, a water source, and some signs, and your car wash will be ready to suds up some funds for a good cause!
- Sell sweet treats. Pick a company to partner with to sell popular treats like cookie dough or chocolate bars. Students can assume the responsibility of selling them to friends, family, and anyone else they can think of.
- Hold a raffle or silent auction. Ask your community to donate some eye-catching prizes and hold a raffle or silent auction. This will be a great way to get potential donors excited about the treasures they may be able to bring home.
- Host a bake sale. This is another classic fundraising idea that you won’t want to miss out on. There are always parents and community members who are ready and willing to put their baking skills to good use for a worthy cause.
- Organize a fun run, walk, or obstacle event. Take advantage of your community’s competitive side by hosting a fun run, walk, or obstacle event!
- Hold an art sale. Amongst your students, there are likely many talented young artists. Have your students create a masterpiece to sell to your community.
- Book a book sale. Books are a great way to raise funds for your schools. Simply ask your community for book donations and then offer them for sale.
- Organize a talent show. Sell tickets to showcase your students’ many different talents! This can be a great way to bring the community and your students’ extended family members together to celebrate your students’ skills!
2. Tell a Story
To raise funds, you must convince potential donors that their money is going to a worthy cause. Storytelling can be a great way to make potential donors feel inclined to spend their hard-earned cash on your fundraiser. Share the story of how these funds will impact your students and, ultimately, your community. Set clear goals and share how the money will be used to help the kids in your district grow.
Don’t stop engaging with your donors, either. Keep them in the loop so they know just how big of a role their donation played in your fundraiser’s success!
3. Take It to the Digital Playground: Social Media
Social media can be a great way to get your story in front of potential donors! Take your story from the previous tip and share it online to ensure your fundraising needs and goals are reaching as many eyes as possible!
4. Build a Fundraising Webpage That Excels
Make your story, goals, and progress easily accessible in one spot by building a fundraising webpage! Doing so will allow potential donors and your school to reap benefits like:
- Granting an easier and more accessible way to pay it forward.
- Acting as a central hub for all the fundraiser’s activities, including tracking donations, managing donor information, and thanking those who have donated.
- Creating a cost-effective method for fundraising.
- Enhancing trust and transparency with your donors.
e~Funds for Schools offers its users a Fundraiser and Donation Webpage Builder that is customizable, tracks your fundraiser progress, and creates an easy spot for potential donors to share the wealth with a worthy cause. To learn more about how we can help your school build a webpage that excels, check us out here:
