Painless School Fundraising?

I've blogged many times about "Donor Fatigue" and spoken to groups about how tired supporters have become in continuing to support global relief efforts for a wide variety of causes. Sustaining that help for non-profit organizations continues to be a challenge, with it becoming harder and harder to ask people to "dig deeper."

Your point about painless fundraising is a critical one. The more painless giving can be, the easier it will happen.

I work with non-profit organizations to help them grow new revenue streams. My site, www.ClickBuyHelp.org ( http://www.ClickBuyHelp.org ) helps groups earn commissions from their supporters' online purchases. Donors don't "dig deeper" but instead, help the organization just by beginning their regular online shopping from the organization's page on Click. Buy. Help.

It doesn't get much more painless than this - just encourage your supporters to begin their online shopping (shopping they would do anyway) from your page on my site. You promote (with my help) and I take care of all the back end work and write a contribution check to the organization monthly.

If you want to help one of my groups or would like to establish a new revenue stream for your own group, please visit www.ClickBuyHelp.org ( http://www.ClickBuyHelp.org ) and see if it is right for you.

Many thanks,

Dave

My daughter's playschool sells coffee, reusable labels, and participates in a fundraising casino. I would so prefer to collect recyclables and box tops. It really is a MUCH better idea.

Lots of people who aren't "Green" are all about helping others who want to do the recycling.

We collected used (working) cell phones and used ink and toner cartridges from companies (and people, too!) and sent them in for cash. A drop off at the school works wonders.

Craft fairs are fun and non-committal (from parents). Just sell booth space and maybe offer a small snack bar. AND the kids don't have to sell the stuff, but can do their own inexpensive shopping for family and friends without Mom or Dad having to drag them to the mall and crowds.

The other AWESOME thing, that's not *really* a fundraiser... instead of exchanging gifts at Christmas or holiday time, as that donations be made to the class or school in the form of items that are USEABLE in/for the class. (ie reams of copy paper, pencils, EXPO/dry-erase markers, watercolors, etc.)

And hopefully, everyone will ENJOY doing it, which makes it FUNdraising (a newer perspective)!

lisa

Our school pairs up with both Kroger and Randalls to earn money in addition to the Box Tops program (neither of which I shop at). Those 2 are based on scanning the loyalty card. BTFE is just cutting the little squares off of things like Pillsbury cinnamon rolls or Betty Crocker cake mixes. The programs don't have to be in competition with each other. Maybe you can suggest that when BB gets into Kindergarten and you join the PTO/PTA. I'll for all the "free" money schools can get from whatever methods work for them.

Elizabeth

@texasebeth ( http://twitter.com/texasebeth )  and My Life, such as it is.... ( http://texasebeth.blogspot.com )

Our school did away with the selling things fundraiser this year and as asking for a flat donation of $50 per child. I love this. The kids don't get caught up in "getting" something for raising the most money and the school gets 100% of the money raised. We also do a jog-a-thon in the spring and of course box tops and other incentives from local markets.

We had a principal-kisses-animal fundraiser my senior year. Amusing.

As far as box tops go, our school pairs with a local grocery store that we don't shop at for box tops/labels. They have to be THAT store brand's labels. We don't do much shopping there except for produce and meat, as it's better than the other grocery. Produce and meat, of course, don't have labels/box tops. So, we're always going to be the loser parents and our sons will hate us with regard to fundraising. Yay?

Contributing Editor Jenna Hatfield (@FireMom ( http://twitter.com/FireMom )) blogs at Stop, Drop and Blog ( http://stopdropandblog.com ) and The Chronicles of Munchkin Land ( http://thechroniclesofmunchkinland.com ). She is a freelance writer and newspaper photographer.

Animals to be determined by student vote. $100 donated per student (621) will have Dr. Yvette Blake kissing a farm animal.
$85 per student - assistant principle
$75 per student - a teacher (voted on)
$50 per student - PTO president (not me)

It is actually a very popular way to raise money. The kids really get into it. Feel free to write a check out to Charlie's school! ;P LOL

And I will be taking photos!

Elizabeth

@texasebeth ( http://twitter.com/texasebeth )  and My Life, such as it is.... ( http://texasebeth.blogspot.com )

You're kidding about that, right?? If you aren't, I want photos.

Yes we still save boxtops. No, we never seem to manage to get them to the school. It should be painfree but it just isn't.

~Denise
BlogHer Community Manager
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