Category Archives: Featured Member
Fundraising tips for schools – Billy Cart Derby Blog Tour
Billy Cart Derby Blog Tour
Fundraising tips for schools.
Donna M. Smith.
Thank you Angela for inviting me today. Billy Cart Derby is based on an annual Billy Cart Race around Happy Valley Primary School to raise funds for the school. In this story, the grade 2s want to beat the fundraising efforts of the grade 3 skateboard day fundraiser. The book has a class discussion topics section which focuses on fundraising for schools.
Fundraising for your child’s school is always a major contributor to their overall income regardless of whether the school is a public school or an independent school. All schools benefit greatly from an enthusiastic parent driven fundraising team. As the mother of three young children I have enjoyed being a part of playgroup fundraising teams, kinder fundraising teams, Girl Guides and Scouts and school fundraising teams and although the children vary in age the basic fundraising ideas still apply.
The basic idea is to raise as much funds as possible in a set period of time. This usually depends on the type of fundraiser you run and the promotion you push. Usually a fundraiser is run with a specific goal in mind; for example- a water tank, junior school playground, new picnic tables, books and so forth. With a specific goal in mind the fundraising team can then set about sourcing the goal item/s to determine the cost required to fulfil the goal. Once the team obtains the information and costs, the team can them outline a specific fundraising plan to raise the funds needed to fulfil the goal. For example;
Construction of new middle school playground – cost $12,000.
Fundraising plan to raise majority of funds – School fair.
School fair ran on a Saturday in November and raised over $100,000.
The middle school playground was built along with several new seating areas with the fund raised.
Fundraising chocolates are iconic and well known by families. However school fundraising teams can be far more creative and adventurous with their ideas. Kinders now enjoy aprons with the children’s hand print, clocks and art exhibition nights. Primary schools can enjoy so many varied fund raising days. Everything from footy days, school discos, school fair, Easter raffle, hot cross bun drives but my favourite is my book fair.
My book fair ‘The Book Chest’ is a primary school book drive which I run that enables schools to purchase books at a discounted rate and then receive a HUGE cash payment. Depending on the amount of sales received, the school receives a CASH payment which they can use to purchase anything from water tanks, ipads, books, sporting equipment and musical instruments. I arrange the drive and organise all of the orders and then deliver all of the books to the schools and happily write their fundraising cheques!
School fundraising teams play an important role within the school community and every cent which is raised helps their school.
Thanks Angela, I have really enjoyed visiting Blue Dingo today. You can read more about the ‘The Book Chest’ book drive on my site www.donnamsmithauthor.wordpress.com
