The Fundraising Revolution
New Program Changes for Schools by F&EG Staff -10/2008
If you say you want a revolution you know you can count me in because with gas prices and high school dropouts on the rise (Time Magazine reports one million American Students dropout every year), and funds for schools on the decline…we are in desperate need of more positive and productive changes that will protect and insure the survival of schools that educate our children.
The times they are a changing, as we are actually in the midst of several major positive and productive transformations and changes in the school arena. Take a look at the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) plan to reshape the method of teaching and learning in schools at www.naesp.org. We’ll also share important information on organization, marketing, motivation and advice from fundraising CEOs and the North American Booster Club Association. Be sure to check out the old and new revamped fundraising programs that offer more innovative, healthier and practical options for schools and booster clubs.
The NAESP ‘Reshapinging Plan’
Preparing our children for the future and making them whole… is the new NAESP plan, proposed in their Spring 2008 report entitled, Leading Learning Communities: What principals should know and be able to do. NAESPs Vision for 2021, also the 100th year celebration for NAESP, frames a preferred future for schools and school leadership, “Many principals are disseminating the plan now, says Karen Tucker, Associate Editor for NAESP. These ‘words of love,’ may win our hearts this time as this plan aims to revolutionize schools by transforming and redirecting its teaching methods in leadership and learning for children nationwide.
This whole new approach directs its learning focus to application rather than theory. The plan proposes that the making of decisions should be based on data, rather than age old traditions. It also recommends preparing students for a changing global economy and society by bridging together school and community, therefore paving the way for new educational programs that redirect and reshape education for the betterment of quality education and keeping children in school. “This is our blueprint of where schools are going and what they need to do to for the future,” exclaims Tucker.
This new long-overdue ‘reshaping’ plan comes with a price as it will not only require implementing new strategies and teaching methods for principals and teachers alike, but it will also place more demands on new educational programs for students that will require more funds and in turn more fundraising.
The Fundraising Face Lift
While all of this reshaping and transforming of schools is being contemplated and implemented, the fundraising industry has undergone a face lift of it’s own. In fact the fundraising revolution has already begun.
Old and new fundraising programs are now injected with additives of enhanced value, quality and practicality. Many of these value added fundraising products and programs are packaged with simplicity and convenience, nutrition, safety, edutainment and easier, less time consuming features. In k-12 schools and booster clubs, online fundraising has improved and substantially increased its userbase worldwide. On-line fundraising companies now offer just about anything you can buy off-line including time saving, no cost programs like the Microsoft-Scholastic ‘Search and Give’ fundraising program that allows you to make money just for searching on the internet.
Refresh Your Fundraising Plans
To keep up with current programs and fundraising buyer desires you might need to ‘Make a New Plan Stan.’ You don’t necessarily have to get out the back Jack’ but you do need to be a little more ‘coy Roy.’ And now that the new school year has begun, if you haven’t already done it, sit down with your volunteers to put your basic plan in place including items that you want to improve.
Out with the old and in with the new may not be the only route you have to go but be willing to incorporate some changes in your previous fundraising agenda in order to meet the needs of your contributors and families.
For example you might want to add these to your to do list: make more money, cut down on paper waste, add a healthy fundraiser, sign-up for more online fundraisers, more efficient marketing to families and volunteers.
Touch-ups for Traditional Programs
As the new age of fundraising evolves many well respected, traditional fundraising companies have modernized their fundraising programs to meet the needs of a rapidly changing online fundraising arena.
One of these earlier birds, Educational Marketing, Inc., has been offering a more modern approach to fundraising, for the past 15 years, with their convenient online ‘Value Card.’ This proven and successful program has virtually remained the same, other than updating their website and adding more selections and discount cards. “We work extremely hard to ensure school fundraising success by securing the best possible discounts from merchants that are actually in your area,” says CEO Phil Dattilo.
Customized with logos, these cards contain up to 20 various local and national merchants. Take a look at their great selections of ‘Value Cards’ at www.emicards.com
Incorporate Education, Enrichment and a Dose of Self Esteem into your Fundraiser
As the face of fundraising continues to change, many academic and organizational fundraising programs have begun to evolve into something more than just selling. PTA/PTO’s are turning to fundraisers that can be fun, innovative and have a positive impact on the kids and their education– while still bringing in the funds they need. Instead of simply peddling high margin items to reach a specific dollar goal, some kids are raising money through programs that educate, enrich, and directly align with the school or organization’s mission.
Raising money in a way that offers academic benefit or enrichment to the children along with some fun is an undeniable win-win experience for the kids and their school, organization or club. Parents and teachers who continue to explore ways to maximize children’s school experience love the ability to build brainpower through a fundraiser.
Choosing fundraisers that can enhance children’s reading or writing skills or creative abilities creates a balanced approach that produces the needed funds but also helps the kids in the process. Creativity allows self-expression and builds communication skills that are an essential building block to academic advancement for children. Reinforcement of reading and writing skills improves articulation, literacy and boosts kids’ self- esteem.
ArtStamps, a program that allows students to design their very own official U.S. postage that can be sold to family and friends to raise funds for schools and organizations, was designed to incorporate an invigorating educational experience into fundraising. This fundraiser encourages the student’s creative abilities in the drawing and design of the stamps. It also promotes writing, as the children are anxious to write letters and thank you notes in order to use the stamps they designed.
The sense of pride and self-esteem that children experience when their parents and relatives use their postage creations on mail during the holidays or on special occasions is invaluable. To add to that sense of accomplishment, every child who participates in the ArtStamps program is eligible to win a National Artistic Achievement or Literacy Award. All winners receive their own artwork in a custom frame and it is displayed on the ArtStamps website for all to view and purchase.
By offering fundraisers with underlying merit, schools and their students benefit from the supplemental value and parents are thrilled with the learning enrichment opportunity.
Leveraging the inherent creativity of youth to create unique and extraordinary fundraising experiences fosters support of both school programs and a strong education. Vist them at www.myartstamps.com/fe
Practically Speaking
A great concern for most fundraising directors, PTAs and PTOs is the time and energy that goes into fundraising. Many schools choose to simply ask for a donation from the parent rather than asking them to buy a product. One example is Park Dale Lane Elementary in Encinitas, Ca. This PTA group asks for a donation from parents and and throws a couple of ice cream socials to make up the difference.
This plan makes practical sense to some parents as they believe that by donating money they will save themselves time and money because they have previously bought products they didn’t really need in the first place.
Others feel the opposite way as they believe it just isn’t practical to give a donation without getting something for it. So the story goes.. practical for one person is not necessarily practical for another. You might say that practicality is really in the eye of the beholder.
Contrary to the belief of the donation supporters, many fundraising products have a lot of practical options available to parents. They really can purchase something they actually need, find useful or simply want for themselves anyway.
One example of a practical fundraiser is a stadium seat fundraiser. It will make you more comfortable and help your back while you sit in a bleacher at a sport or performance event. This idea actually has 3-way practicality:
- It earns money for the school;
- Saves a person time and energy without having to go looking for a bleacher seat;
- It’s good for your health. Even if you hadn’t thought of buying one it is actually a great idea to help your back and posture while at the same time earning money for your school. “Our stadium seats help people get more enjoyment out of the sporting event and other bleacher sitting events they are attending,” says Randy Fletcher of Bleacher Features. For more information on this fundraiser go to www.bleacherfeature.com
The Progression of School Internet Programs
Access to online learning systems in public education has shown a dramatic growth over the last 5, 10 and 15 years and today just about every fundraising company has its own website or has partnered with other companies to offer their products online and take orders.
About 15 years ago many progressive fundraising companies hopped on the internet band wagon at the onset of their program offer and led the way for older traditional programs and new online fundraising programs.
Back then, for schools especially, it was a much slower moving internet arena with much less of a percentage of schools online. Only 35% of all public schools were online in 1994 per the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). Non-savvy computer users, who were ahead of their game, took the plunge for hopes of more convenient and easier accessed fundraisers through the internet. It worked!
The most current NCES online school information reports that in the year 2000, 98% of all public schools were online. In the last eight years a good percentage of schools have also added additional online access to individual departments. For more educational statistics you can visit www.nces.ed.gov.
Computer Electronics
At its Best Good things come in small packages and Pexagon’s flash drives are one of them. The flash drives are developed and manufactured by Pexagon Technology, a well respected leader in educational supplies. “Flash drives are the latest computer craze that most teachers want for their students,”says Pexagon President, Brian Campbell.
This fundraiser is just what you have been waiting for as the program was designed to make it easy and less time consuming for you and your PTA/PTO or booster club group. There is No cash up-front (prepaid cards are assigned) NO inventory, NO order taking and No delivery because they ship directly to the home.
Pexagon presents an impressive website that allows you to download flyers and the one page form for sign-up. You can choose from 14 vibrant colors, 32 different themes and tattoos and individual or school mascot customized laser-engraving. Excitedly Campbell adds, “Teachers would love it if every student in their classroom had one.”
The flash drives can hold a huge amount of data and are available in 512MB, 1GB, 2GB, 4GB, 8GB and 16GB. (Prepaid cards available in 1GB, 2GB,4GB) For more information about PexagonÕs great flash drive fundraising program Visit http://edu.pexagontech.com or call 203 458-3364.
Your Approach to Healthy & Indulgent Food Fundraisers
Indulgent food is is still at the top of the list in nationwide fundraising purchases. Many PTAs, PTOs still want to offer these tasty items as part of their repertoire, in spite of the Institute of Medicine (IOM) recommendations to add more healthy fundraisers to their agenda.
The IOM recommended trimming an excess of the following in school foods and beverages: dietary sugars, added sugars, non-nutritive sweeteners and soda, flavor, fortified and carbonated waters and sports drinks and banning caffeine in schools. They also recommended limiting after school snacks to 200 calories per portion.
Many schools added healthier food items to their lists like nutrition bars, sports drinks and real fruit like River Royal’s delicious fresh fruit fundraiser. And if you like pickles, there is a great new product called, ‘Bobs Pickle Pops,’ a frozen pickle popsicle made with pickles, vinegar and other healthy ingredients. You can find them at www.bobspicklepops.com.
However, what’s good for some is not always good for everyone, so if your school or club still allows it, adding a couple of ‘gourmet’ food items to your fundraising selections might please those who miss the treats. ‘Let them eat cake,’ (This quote is believed to have been stated by Marie-Antoinette, the Queen consort of Louis XVI, 1755-93. It is believed that she said this when she was told that the French populace had no bread to eat.)
There’s nothing like gourmet food when it comes to eating. When you hear the word ‘gourmet,’ one envisions a private chef at your home or a fancy restaurant preparing a perfectly delicious and indulgent meal.
If you are going to indulge in gourmet food fundraising, than the key is to offer healthier gourmet foods. What are healthy gourmet foods you might ask? They are usually made with fresher ingredients and manufactured by more health conscience companies. Unhealthy food products are made with unhealthy food additives, like hydrolyzed protein and lard, that contribute to disease and obesity.
One really popular food fundraiser is gourmet popcorn and ‘Popcorn Palace’ is one of the best because they take pride in what they do. They use the finest and freshest ingredients available and the popcorn is packed in its bag within minutes after it is cooked. With no minimums you’ll earn up to 50% profit and they provide you with all the tools you will need to sell their delicious popcorn. To request a catalogue call all 800.873.2686 and you can visit their easy website at www.popcornpalace.com.
Considered to be ‘America’s favorite comfort food,’ the ‘Sweet Stacks’ gourmet pancakes will make a delicious breakfast fundraiser and bring them back for more. Sweet Stacks owners, Elaine and her mother Delphina Babauta, brought the age old recipe back from their home town in the Pacific Islands. For more fundraising and product information go to www.sweetstacks.com.
Healthy Cleaning Product Fundraisers
Howard Newell of Lik-Nu Service & Distribution has developed a great way for non-profit organizations to benefit from dirty carpets across America!
Soap-free PROCYON’ is the best carpet cleaning solution on the planet! It’s all natural and soap-free. It has been tested and used in some of America’s most prestigious locations including The White House, Air Force One and The Environmental Protection Agency. Now, it is available to you and your non-profit organization!
Simply go to www.healthier-cleaning-concepts.com and register to become a fundraiser affiliate. Select a username and password to gain access to your ‘back office’ where you track your commissions. From there you can see how many purchases have been made from your organization and how much commission you’ve made.
They do all the rest! All you have to do is refer friends, family, parishioners, or members to the site. . . That’s it! When someone you know makes a purchase, your organization is rewarded with a handsome commission, each and every time! It’s a win-win-win situation! For more information contact Lik-Nu at 1-866-624-3196.
We hope you have a great time with fundraising this year. Stay motivated and focus on your goals! Be sure to contact us at info@fundandedutain.com if you have any extra questions about fundraising, edutainment or other programs.
