Understanding the Importance of Parent and Teacher Involvement
As a PTA, PTO or booster club leader, you know the challenge of getting help with fundraising. In fact, you’re probably feeling tired of always doing the job all by yourself.
We’ve created this guide to collaborative fundraising in schools to help you gain the assistance you need from other parents and teachers. In it, you’ll learn the basics of engaging parents and teachers, collaborating with them, and maximizing fundraising outcomes.
The Role of Parent Involvement and Teacher Engagement in School Fundraising
Parents play a crucial role in school fundraising. Their networks, skills, and resources can significantly boost fundraising efforts. When actively involved, parents bring enthusiasm and a sense of community, which can translate into higher participation rates and more successful events. Parent involvement also fosters a sense of ownership and investment in the school’s success, which leads to sustained support over time.
As for teachers, they are on the front lines with students daily, making them powerful and well-informed advocates for fundraising initiatives. When teachers are engaged, they can also help identify specific needs within the school, making your fundraising goals more targeted and impactful.
Exploring Effective Fundraising Strategies
Traditional fundraising methods like bake sales, car washes, and fun runs remain popular because they are community-oriented and relatively easy to organize. However, if you need help getting parents, teachers, students, and the community involved, you may need to change your methods.
Digital fundraising methods such as online crowdfunding, social media campaigns, and virtual events have gained popularity. These methods can reach a broader audience and are often more convenient for busy parents and teachers. Adding technology to your fundraising strategies can streamline efforts, making managing and tracking donations easier. For instance, a crowdfunding platform can simplify the donation process and provide real-time updates on the fundraising progress.
Technology can also help you promote your fundraising more effectively. Every campaign should have time earmarked for crafting its communication and marketing strategy. You can use a mix of personalized emails, social media efforts, and even traditional efforts such as posters and direct mail.
Consider the best ways to reach parents during their busy days and what communication methods will reach educators. Perhaps some in-person outreach will work where technology doesn’t.
Remember: People will only know you’re having an event or a donation campaign if you tell them about it. Also, they’ll only know you need help if you inform them of your need.
Challenges in School Fundraising
Despite the potential for success, school fundraising often faces several challenges, including limited time, resources, and engagement from the school community. Overcoming these obstacles requires strategic planning and a collaborative approach:
- Limited Time and Resources: Parents and teachers are often overloaded with responsibilities, making it challenging to find the time and resources to contribute to your fundraising efforts. Create flexible opportunities for involvement and let them know that any contribution, no matter how small, makes a difference.
- Engagement and Participation: Many parents and teachers may feel disconnected from fundraising efforts or need clarification on how they can help. Effective communication and clear calls to action are essential to overcoming this hurdle. Find places to communicate with them and explain why their participation is necessary.
- Donor Fatigue: Potential donors in the community becoming overwhelmed by frequent fundraising requests is a common challenge in school fundraising. To overcome this, focus on creating a culture of giving throughout the school year rather than just during a specific fundraising campaign. Create opportunities for regular giving or hosting events that promote giving throughout the year.
- Engaging the Community: Building relationships with community members and organizations is crucial. Look for new partnerships with local businesses or host events open to the community. This will allow us to share your group’s mission and how you’re helping students, fostering a sense of shared responsibility and support. Many businesses also seek ways to connect to people in your area so you can build a mutually beneficial partnership.
Involving Parents in School Fundraising
Instead of just having parents help out occasionally or attend meetings randomly, your goal should be to make them feel like valued partners. Here are some ways to create a collaborative approach that gets parents to invest their time and energy in your efforts:
- Get Them Involved Early: If you want more parent involvement in school fundraising, start by having them be part of your initial planning process. By seeking their input and acknowledging their contributions, they’ll feel a true sense of ownership in your fundraising efforts. Another way to do this is to create a fundraising committee at the beginning of the school year and open up your membership. If they’re starved for time, create an easy online survey to gather their ideas and preferences for future fundraising events.
- Communication and Engagement: Regular newsletters, social media, and school website updates can keep parents informed and involved in their schedule instead of attending an in-person meeting. If they have the time to meet, informational meetings or workshops can help them better grasp the goals and needs of fundraising efforts.
- A Variety of Ways to Volunteer: Provide various volunteer opportunities that cater to different schedules and skill sets. Every parent has a role, whether it’s organizing an event, baking goods, managing a social media campaign, or just sharing posts and putting up a flyer or two.
Engaging Teachers in Fundraising Activities
When you bring teachers on board, they can add so much to your efforts. To increase teacher engagement in fundraising, start by finding ways they can quickly get involved. They could share fundraising information with students and parents, participate in events, and offer their insights into the unique needs of the school. Here are some other ways to get them involved:
- Add Them to Your Planning: Just like parents, teachers will feel more ownership in your plans if you bring them in from the start. They’ll also be able to share their valuable insights into aligning your efforts with students’ educational goals and needs. With their assistance, your group can tailor fundraising initiatives for maximum impact.
- Offer Resources and Support: What can you offer teachers for their assistance? Consider ways to support their careers, such as providing needed supplies and professional development opportunities.
- Involve Them In the End Result: Teachers know exactly what their school and students need, as they’re on the frontlines year in and year out. This gives them a valuable perspective on where your funds should be directed once raised. Bring them on board and ask how you can best help students, whether that means school supplies, educational materials, and books, improved technology, athletic and band equipment, or creating outside-the-classroom learning opportunities.
Maximizing Engagement and Fundraising Impact
Your goal should go beyond your current event and look at how you can grow engagement all year. If you truly want to maximize the support of parents and teachers, you need to involve them in the ongoing mission of your booster group.
One way to do that is to acknowledge their contributions. Let others know what parts of your plan were created by others, and share the success of your efforts with everyone.
A great way to do that is by expressing gratitude, which is essential to build a supportive and engaged school community. Regularly thank volunteers, donors, and participants through personalized notes, public acknowledgments, social media posts, and celebratory events. A gratitude culture, where everyone’s contribution is valued and acknowledged, reinforces each contribution’s value, boosts morale, and encourages ongoing support.
Engaging parents and teachers in school fundraising efforts is vital for achieving fundraising goals and enhancing students’ educational experience. Remember, the key to successful fundraising lies in building a strong, engaged, and motivated school community where everyone feels valued and invested in the school’s success.