Topping up the budget with school fundraisers

School budgets are notoriously tight, and fundraising is often the difference between opportunities and resources for students, and having to manage without.

Fundraising can be whole-school focused, with the aim of securing funding that would benefit the entire school, or might be undertaken by a particular year level, school team or club, or a group of students hoping to raise money for a specific project. Your school might need some extra cash for upgraded facilities, school excursions, more books for the library’s collection, instrumental music lessons for students, and much more.

Read the latest print edition of School News online HERE.

Given it’s importance, careful planning is integral to the success of any fundraiser. In this feature, we look at how to ensure your fundraiser meets your targets without stress.

Organisation and planning

A winning fundraising venture relies on efficient organisation. For whole-school events, school parent communities, like the Parents and Friends Association often take the lead, and should work collaboratively with the school. Clear parameters should be established, including what the fundraiser is for, how and when details will be communicated with the school community and the wider community if appropriate, and the monetary goal.

Parent associations often contain many parents with expertise in a certain field. These expertise can be drawn on to enhance fundraising efforts. A person proficient at utilising social media platforms, for example may be tasked with coordinating social media content to promote the fundraiser; an individual with links to a local business may be asked to approach the business for support.

Choosing the fundraiser that’s right for you

You can run your fundraiser completely in house, or to relieve some of the organisation pressure, external providers can help to arrange your fundraiser. Organisations can provide a range of products to sell, including chocolates, first aid supplies, and wrapping paper. Baked goods like pies, lamingtons or hot cross buns for Easter are often a popular choice for schools. Other special occasions can be linked to fundraising activities, for example wrapping paper or baubles for Christmas, or keepsakes like photo keyrings or reuseable mugs for Mother’s Day.

To fund larger projects, or to establish a pool of funds for future use, a regular fundraising event may be suitable. These work particularly well for schools with a strong student alumnus, who appreciate the opportunity to give back to the school. Activities like giving days, sponsorship of a paver, bench seat, or classroom, or an annual gala dinner or long lunch, give the broad community a chance to offer their support. For auction items or raffle prizes, connect with local businesses for donations, particularly those run by the families of current or former students.

More than just a money maker

Many fundraising activities can tie to an educational outcome. A fun run, for example, teaches students the benefits of regular exercise; a reading challenge can encourage students to read regularly and often, and help to establish a love of reading; selling items like reuseable tote bags and bees wax wraps can raise awareness about the environment and sustainable practices, while the sale of first aid essentials can be linked to basic first aid education and training.

Depending on the scale of the fundraiser, learning opportunities for students could also include designing and distributing information about the fundraiser, building strong communication skills while selling items or tickets, and practising numeracy skills while calculating profits. Students can also build teamwork skills as they work together to achieve a common goal. Through volunteering their time to assist in running the fundraiser, students learn the value of service to their school and the community.

School fundraising can be an opportunity to make more than just money. A well-executed fundraiser can help to foster community within your school, with parent volunteers, staff and students working together to make a difference for the school at large. Students may also feel pride in their school and community, and a sense of belonging.

Planning, organisation and a great product will help your fundraiser to be a hit with students, their families and the broader community.

Fundraising ideas for your school

For more than a decade, Mish Fundraising has been supporting schools, ECEs, clubs and councils with low cost, high return disco and gala/fair fundraising. If you’ve been to a local council or school event where everyone is glowing, flashing and smiling, chances are that Mish were with you too, in the flashes!

Mish Fundraising provides straightforward, low risk fundraising opportunities in a form that tamariki love year after year. The team has had lots of experience and can advise you on products and quantities suited to your event. Mish’s school focused policy allows orders to be sent out prior to a disco event, allowing disco profits to be taken in before the invoice is paid, and unsold items can be sent back.

Do you, your students and/or your school use generative AI? Take our anonymous survey here! Results will be used to inform our upcoming term two special report on AI in education.