How to Maximize your Back-to-School Fundraising

Making the most of back-to-school fundraising is crucial for setting your school year up for success. Fundraising benefits extend from improving school facilities to keeping extracurricular programs up and running for students.

Getting donors excited to give to your school can be challenging, so we are sharing ways to maximize your campaign and boost your efforts. Unique school fundraisers can effectively engage your community and help your school collect more money than ever.

11 ways you can promote your school fundraiser 

Explore the following ways you can make the most out of your back-to-school fundraising campaign this year. 

1. Get the kids excited

A successful back-to-school fundraiser begins with the students. The kids are the ones who will inspire their parents to get involved, so it is crucial to get them motivated and excited to start working towards their contributions. The key to meeting your fundraising goals is getting the kids so pumped up that they cannot wait to participate. 

Kids will typically care more about what prizes they can win than the fundraiser’s goals, so giving them great incentives is crucial for maximizing their participation. If you want to get your students begging their parents to help them out, offer a fun incentive like a:

• Field day
• Ice cream party
• Bounce house for recess
• Game day
• Limo ride
• Pizza party
• Pajama day
• Outdoor class
• Movie party
• Water balloon fight

2. Promote on social media

Social media is a valuable tool for sharing and maximizing your efforts. These tips can help you promote your back-to-school campaign on various social platforms:

• Share all the details: When posting about your fundraiser, be sure to share all the important details — the more information you include about where and how to contribute, the better. 
• Be clear about your goals: Clarify your specific goals for your campaign and be transparent about how the funds will benefit the school and the student body in your posts.
• Create a special hashtag: Using a unique hashtag for your back-to-school fundraising allows you to keep track of your posts and shares. 
• Utilize photos: Incorporating eye-catching photos is a great way to help your fundraiser posts stand out. Using images can make them more engaging than only including text.
• Share on multiple platforms: Extend your campaign’s reach by sharing it across different social media platforms. 
• Maintain your visibility: Social media feeds can be very busy, so it is vital to post your fundraising details multiple times. Post regular reminders to keep your event at the front of your followers’ minds. If the platform you’re using has the option, you can also pin an informative post to create an easy way for people to find the details.
• Encourage sharing: Don’t forget to ask people to share and repost your fundraiser details. Your school could even do something special like a pizza or ice cream party if a certain number of people post about the fundraiser. 
• Link back to an online fundraising page: Your school can use social media to guide supporters to virtual fundraising pages where they can donate directly. 

3. Use online giving forms 

Your school can maximize your back-to-school fundraising by utilizing online giving forms. Digital forms make it simple for supporters to donate to your efforts, letting them submit donations wherever they are.

Consider the following suggestions for crafting the most effective online giving forms:

• Use your school’s logos and colors: Make your form look more official by incorporating images of your mascot and school colors.
• Keep it simple: Convenience is the number one reason to use an online giving form, so it is beneficial to keep it short and straightforward. Filling it out should take less than a minute. 
• Suggest donation amounts: To make your online giving form even more streamlined, add buttons with donation suggestions so donors can easily choose their gift.
• Utilize recurring donation options: Another way you can enhance your form is by adding a feature that allows donors to opt-in for recurring donations. 
• Optimize your form for mobile: Your school can make online giving forms especially convenient by ensuring they work well with mobile devices. That way, people will be able to donate right from their smartphones. 
• Share a fundraising thermometer on the form: Showing your fundraiser’s progress with a fun graphic can encourage donors to give more to get your campaign closer to its designated goal. 

4. Host a “non-a-thon”

Your school can also use online giving forms to hold a “non-a-thon” and collect donations with minimal work from students and parents. Getting parents and donors interested in supporting your back-to-school fundraiser comes with its challenges, but a “non-a-thon” allows donors to contribute without any hassle. Consider the number of people who would rather give money than worry about baking treats for a bake sale or selling raffle tickets! 

A “non-a-thon” fundraiser is beneficial for getting donors who would typically opt out of your efforts entirely. This type of fundraiser works by setting up multiple levels of giving on the online form. Supporters can choose from these options to make an efficient, streamlined donation.

5. Hold an online auction

A “non-a-thon” may not catch everyone’s attention. Another way to engage donors who are not interested in actively participating in your back-to-school fundraising event is to hold an online auction that allows participants to give with little effort. Like a traditional auction, online auctions allow those involved to browse auction items, place bids, and receive winnings. 

These tips can help your fundraising team host the most successful online auction:

• Get the word out: Be sure to promote your online auction. Share social media posts with links to the auction page, make announcements to the student body, and distribute flyers to ensure people know about the event. 
• Utilize great photos: Since your participants will not see the auction prizes in person, be sure to take high-quality pictures of the items to post on the online auction page. 
• Pay attention to regulations: Check in with local and state laws to ensure your auction is completely legal.
• Ask for additional donations: You can maximize your online auction by asking for donations in addition to bids for prizes. 

6. Use school merchandise for fundraising

School spirit is a powerful tool for boosting your back-to-school fundraiser, and selling merchandise can help you meet your goals. Items that showcase your school’s mascot and designated colors can be big sellers for your fundraiser. 

School-branded apparel is a great place to start. You can sell the following items to encourage parents and students to get some new pieces to showcase their pride and help you meet your fundraising goals:

• T-shirts
• Sweatshirts
• Beanies
• Hats
• Jackets

You can also sell branded school supplies and merchandise as part of your campaign, such as:

• Pencils
• Pens
• Notebooks
• Folders
• Pencil pouches
• Mugs and cups
• Flags
• Towels
• Posters
• Lunch bags 
• Backpacks
• Stickers
• Magnets 
• Tote bags

Your teams can sell merchandise in a couple of ways. Setting up an online store is an easy way to get people to buy products from anywhere and on their own time. You can also have your supporters shop in person at designated merchandise sales where they can see the products in real life. 

7. Fundraise at school events

Another way to make the most out of your back-to-school campaign efforts is to utilize school events such as:

• Dances
• Field days
• Concerts
• Shows
• Concerts
• Orientations
• Carnivals
• Fairs

These events are a great way to engage with the local community. Setting up a booth to sell raffle tickets or collect direct donations is especially easy and can be very effective. 

Since target donors are already present at school events, you can talk to them about your goals and how their money will be helping the student body. One of the most significant benefits of utilizing school events is that they allow your campaign to reach a larger group of supporters and collect more donations from the community. 

8. Utilize athletic events 

Fundraising is the lifeblood of school-sponsored sports teams. Athletic departments often rely on yearly fundraising efforts to afford things like:

• Uniforms
• Field and court maintenance
• Equipment
• Scoreboards and lights 
• Concessions
• Travel

With so many expenses, sports teams require a lot of donations to keep their organization up and running. Consider fundraising at athletic events to find donors who will be eager to give money to the team and athletic department. Here are a few ways your campaign can use games and matches to your advantage: 

• Passing out flyers: You can distribute flyers with detailed information about silent auctions and virtual fundraising. 
• Selling raffle tickets: Sporting events are great for selling and drawing raffle tickets. Utilize your concession stand or have your fundraising team ask spectators to give from the stands. 
• Setting up a school merchandise table: School gear is a big seller at sports events when camaraderie and spirits are high.
• Announce your fundraiser details: Ask the announcers to shout out your fundraiser and be sure to let the fans know how their donations will help. 
• Hosting a bake sale: Ask parents and students to donate baked goods and sell them along with concessions at games and matches. 
• Asking for donations: Simply asking for contributions is another effective way to meet your campaign goals. Have your team walk through the crowd and ask spectators to donate. Every dollar counts!

9. Leverage school “celebrities”

Another way to enhance your back-to-school fundraising is by leveraging your “celebrities.” Every school has a few staff members who fall into the “celebrity” category, meaning they are especially beloved and connected with the students. 

Whether it is the principal or a few popular teachers, you can use these figures to your fundraiser’s advantage. Get them involved by having them do something special if the students meet donation goals. Some fun and wacky ideas include:

• Dunk tank: Set up a dunk tank at a student assembly or pep rally and allow students to attempt to soak the “celebrity” for a funny way to celebrate meeting your goals. 
• Pie in the face: Seeing someone get a whipped cream pie in the face is always a good laugh. Your fundraising team can set up a pie-in-the-face station, allowing people to pay to toss the pie at their favorite teachers and faculty members. 
• Head shaving: A hair-shaving event is a unique way to celebrate meeting your donation goals, and the faculty’s bald heads will be a good reminder for the students of their hard work. 

10. Launch a peer-to-peer fundraising contest

Peer-to-peer fundraising can be very advantageous for collecting money for your school. 

This strategy requires participants to fundraise on behalf of your back-to-school campaign using their personal networks. Make it a competition with a prize for the students who collect the most donations to get the kids more motivated to be involved! A little healthy competition can work wonders for campaign efforts. 

Here are a couple of tips to boost your student’s peer-to-peer fundraising efforts:

• Set the students up for success: Before starting the contest, ensure your students are prepared and understand your fundraising goals. Give them tips for asking for donations and communicating with potential donors. 
• Keep it fun: Encourage your campaign participants to keep it fun and not take the competition too seriously. Keeping the efforts lighthearted can inspire more kids to get involved. 

Your school can utilize peer-to-peer fundraising software to manage these donations and keep administration simple. 

11. Get the parents engaged

One of the most effective ways to maximize your back-to-school campaign is by engaging parents in your efforts. Parents require different motivators than their kids, and it is essential to make participation as convenient and easy as possible for parents. Give them different options for how they can get involved, such as:

• Sharing on social media: Some parents won’t be able to help in person but may still want to contribute. They can spread the word using social media and create fun posts to promote your fundraiser instead. 
• Volunteering in-person: A few parents will not be interested in the behind-the-scenes organization of your fundraiser and would rather volunteer at in-person events. 
• Organizing events: Different types of fundraising events will require various levels of support. If you have parents eager to help out, they can assist in event organization and the behind-the-scenes work.

Ensure your school shows its appreciation for your parents’ engagement and hard work. Send thank you cards and spotlight parents that were especially helpful during your back-to-school fundraising efforts. 

Improve your school fundraising with GiveSmart

GiveSmart’s industry-leading fundraising and donor management software can help boost your back-to-school fundraising this year. With our various solutions, your school can manage an unlimited number of campaigns and stay connected with all of your donors in one streamlined system. 

Let us help you make your school campaign satisfying instead of stressful. The GiveSmart platform allows you to easily facilitate all kinds of events, from silent auctions to peer-to-peer fundraising. 

Are you interested in learning more about how you could improve your school fundraising efforts with the help of GiveSmart? Request a demo to get started today!