Creating a Successful Fundraiser
Compiled by Julie Yamada
Fundraisers big or small ca n take a lot of planning and organization. This can make it seem a bit overwhelming with all the other things that need to get done at the Center. Making a point to stay ahead of the planning can help keep you organized and the one way that this could be done is to keep an outline of the year of when things need to start happening or need to be done by. The more you do a particular fundraiser the more you may add to your list and the better you will get at it.
An article entitled “Keys to Success in Raising Funds” by Roger Neugbauer has some great tips. The first tip is to:
Clearly state your Purpose - As you begin to plan your fundraiser it is important to be specific about why or what you are raising the funds for. If donors have a clear picture of what their donation is going towards they are more likely to give. Donors are more likely to support a new climbing structure than general operating expenses.
Set a Goal – Setting a goal can help keep everyone focused on reaching the specified amount. Making the goal amount visible and how much has been given helps everyone to rally to reach it. A poster out in the lobby could be a good place to keep everyone informed.
Know Your Audience – The type of fundraiser you are planning has an audience and it depends on how you are raising the funds. Are you planning to reach out to community members and business? If so, it is best to contact them directly such as a phone call, letter explaining what you are raising funds for, or set up an appointment to meet with the person in the community who donates to causes or to the business manager or owner of a particular business. Do you primarily ask the parent to help knowing they may not be able to donate much themselves? The parents could offer goods or services to people they know in return for donations. These could be cookie dough sales or a silent auction of items or services donated. Before planning a fundraiser it is good to decide on which audience you plan to focus on.
Make it Fun – Choose a fundraiser that both staff and parents can get excited about because they are the ones who are going to be volunteering their time to reach the goal. Have them be part of the process in giving ideas about which fundraiser they would be most likely to help with.
Build on Strengths – Do you have staff that have talents they would be willing to share to create a fun fundraiser? Singing, cooking, art, sewing, etc. Maybe combine a dinner night with music from the staff, have everyone contribute a recipe to put together a cookbook, host a painting night for families and community, have each child decorate a quilt square and then each classroom can have a quit made to sell at a school auction. Think about what would work well with your group of parents and in your community.
Build on what works – Once you find a fundraiser that works for your Center and everyone gets excited about then stick with it. The more often you do the fundraiser the more others in your community will hear about it and donate. You will also have the current parents, former parents and possibly future parents who will donate or help in some other way. Build on your success!
Be Cost Effective – Not every fundraiser that brings in money is worthwhile. Some things to consider would be, the expenses of putting together the fundraiser, the amount of time everyone spent on the fundraiser, and how much was actually raised.
Advertise the Fundraiser – Be clear on what is being sold and what the funds are for. Let families know ahead of time when the fundraiser will be happening and what they can expect from the Center. Prepare handouts to give out and posters to put around the Center. If the fundraiser is a dinner or other type of event then place posters around town, send out announcements to the community or have parents sell tickets to the event. “Centers that have the most success with fundraisers are those which have mastered the art of getting the right message to the right people at the right time.” (Neugebaur, R., 2008)
Send a Thank you note – The fundraiser could not have been a success without all those who volunteered their time or donated money, goods and services. Sending a note to say thank you will go a long way in showing how appreciative you are. Including information on how their time, money or other donation helped the Center reach a goal for a project or resources will remind them what all their work helped you achieve.
Resource
Neugebauer, R. (2008) Keys to Success in Raising Funds. The Art of Leadership Managing Early Childhood Organizations(156-158). Richmond, WA: Exchange Press, Inc.
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Fundraiser Ideas
Christmas cards or Calendars – Collect children’s art and make copies at a copy shop to make Christmas cards or calendars. These could be sold to families and out in the community.
Walk-a-thon or bike-a-thon – Children and parents collect pledges for a certain amount of laps or just give a flat amount. Make a fun day out of the fundraiser with a picnic/potluck for everyone to enjoy after the event.
Night at the Art Gallery – Collect children’s art throughout the year and once you get closer to the event have the pictures framed. Display the art work around the school and invite parent to a “Night at the Gallery” to eat a light dinner and bid on art or buy it then.
Cash for Trash – Have the children take part throughout the year by bringing in things that can be recycled such as old cell phones, used ink cartridges, cans, bottles, etc. Have a contest between classrooms  as on who brings in the most recyclables in a month. Once the items have been turned in for cash, share with the children how their hard work helped the school get a resource or new item for the school.
Resources
Kirinch, K. (April/May 2014). Fund-Raising Ideas for the Preschool Classroom. Teaching Young Children, 7(4), 6-7. Retrieved from http://www.naeyc.org/tyc/article/fundraising
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Directors' Workshop Highlights
Communication and PR Workshop
by Ray Tetz, Communication Director of the Pacific Union Conference
Communication Assets
Strengths
Opportunities
Aspiration
Results
Key Elements of Your Story
Information
Education
Inspire
Empowerment
Communicate with Confidence
Roots
Culture
Reputation
Promise
Four questions to help fill out the Data Wheels:
- What strengths are discovered, affirmed, and nurtured by valuing our faith-based roots?
- What opportunities for creating an ever-renewed organization emerge from the culture that values being faith-based?
- How are hopes and aspirations affirmed and secured by embracing and valuing the reputation derived from being valued as a faith-based organization?
- How can we chart the measurable results that result from fulfilling the promises our faith-based organization makes to each other and to those we serve?
On the Data Wheels, write down the indicated number of words that describe your preschool program. From each box choose one word you like the most and place it in the large oval. Select the one word from the oval that tells your story the best. Now you have, in your own words, a starting point and a focus for all marketing and communication. Tell your story!
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Books recommended by our worship presenter, Pastor Wendy Witas:
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In this book Dr. Jennings introduces you to the Integrative, Evidence-Based approach of understanding scripture. This method harmonizes scripture, science (including neuroscience), and experience. Ultimately, this book will make a compelling, evidenced-based case for a God of love and His methods of love that is easy to understand and brings to a practical level why it is so important to live in harmony with God and his design for life.
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The key to our health and happiness is love--God's love for us and our love for others. It seems simple, but we are experts at complicating things.
In The God-Shaped Heart, Dr. Jennings exposes a single idea, misunderstood and deeply rooted within Christianity, that has prevented millions of believers in God from experiencing the freedom and healing of His unfailing love.
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Accreditation
“Early Childhood Education Accreditation Orientation” presentation by Julie Yamada. The North American Division ECEC Standards of Accreditation 2016 is now available in pdf form. If you would like a copy of the pdf, call 805-413-7342 or email.
Preparing for Disaster
Presentation by Jamie Sanbonmatsu
Valley View Children's Center
Licensing Updates
California Department of Social Services
Most Commonly Cited Deficiencies
Child Care
Immunization and Tuberculosis Requirements Tool for Licensed Child Care Facilities
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Join the Pacific Union Conference Early Childhood Educators Facebook page for more frequent updates and articles!
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New Updated Policy
5405.D.6 Local ECEC Program Board – Functions
To ensure that official minutes of each meeting of the board are kept and a duplicate copy filed with the local conference office of education. If the ECEC board also serves as the K-8, K-12 or local church board, then the ECEC board minutes are to be recorded separately from the K-8, K-12 or local church board minutes.
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Grants!
ECEC Curriculum Grant
Purchase the CREATION Kids curriculum and/or support books, and your preschool program is eligible for $100 grant. All you have to do is forward the receipt you receive from Inkling when you purchase the curriculum and/or the books. Submissions will be accepted until November 30. Email.
ECEC iPad/Tablet Grant
The Pacific Union Conference Early Childhood and Care Division has been awarded a grant for the purpose of giving $150 to each preschool that purchases an iPad or tablet to use with the CREATION Kids curriculum. This grant is to be used for current purchases, and expires November 1, 2017. After this date, it will be open to those who have already received a grant to turn in another application. The second round applications will be due by November 20, 2017.
The application is posted on our website. Please take advantage of this offer! |
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Upcoming Events
Facebook page
NAD 2018 Teachers Convention—August 6-9, 2018 in Chicago. You can register for email updates by clicking on the image, which takes you to the webpage for the convention. Contact your conference liaison for more information.
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