Fundraising is essential for many local organizations. It’s how they raise funds for supplies, activities, and other necessary functions. However, schools and clubs can’t do it alone. The success of a group’s fundraiser often depends on the support of the parents. If you can get parents involved in the fundraising process, you have a much higher chance of reaching your goals.
Yet, many parents are hesitant to get involved. They often don’t have a lot of extra time to commit to fundraising; parents already have a lot of responsibilities between work and home. However, they understand that fundraising is necessary for their kids to get the most out of school and activities. If you want to get more parents fundraising, we’re here to help! We’ve come up with 5 easy ways to get busy parents involved in the fundraising process.
1. Get the kids excited
Parents want to support their children. If they see their child is passionate about something, they’re more likely to get on board. Get your students or club members excited about your fundraiser and parents will follow. Just be sure to keep that enthusiasm up throughout the whole fundraising process. Otherwise, as the kids’ excitement fades so will the parents’.
Tip: If you need ideas on how to get kids excited about fundraising, check out our blog post: Fun, Cost-Effective Incentives to Get Kids More Involved in Fundraising.
2. Make it as easy as possible
The more straightforward a fundraiser is, the more likely parents will want to get involved. This means you need to be clear and specific about your fundraising plan upfront. The best way to do this is to send out an informational letter as early as possible. Outline the purpose of the fundraiser, your goals, how the kids will benefit, what the fundraiser will be, and what type of support is required. End the letter by asking for help from all parents by inviting them to get involved. By telling them exactly what you need and giving them plenty of time to plan, parents are more likely to be able to fit fundraising into their schedule.
3. Communicate using multiple mediums
Parents are busy people, so it’s easy for them to miss some communications. Especially if those communications are coming to them from a channel where they don’t spend a lot of time. Instead of using only one method to communicate, promote your fundraiser and volunteer opportunities through a variety of mediums such as social media, text messages, phone calls, and emails. Make a solid effort to meet the parents where they already spend their time.
4. Offer a variety of roles
Not every parent will fit into the same fundraising role. By asking for help in a variety of positions, you can increase the number of parents that are able to help. Here are a few examples of different roles parents can take:
- Organization: Some parents may prefer doing behind-the-scenes work. Planning the kick-off event or organizing delivery day are great opportunities for detail-oriented parents to get involved. This will also help you divide up the work of planning the bigger parts of your fundraising event.
- Volunteering: Other parents may want to take a more hands-on role. No matter what kind of fundraiser you’re hosting, volunteers can make everything easier. They can help by handing out the product on delivery day, collecting order forms, or counting the money collected.
- Promotion: Finally, parents that need a quicker and easier way to get involved can help boost your fundraiser. Whether this be hanging flyers or posting about the event on social media, parents can help get the word out to otherwise hard-to-reach audiences.
5. Show your appreciation
Because parents are so busy, they like to know that the time and effort they give is being appreciated. It can be as easy as sending a letter, making a phone call, or making an announcement at your next PTO meeting. And you don’t have to wait until the fundraiser is over to do so! Thank the parents who are giving you a hand before, during, and after your fundraiser. When people feel appreciated, they will do more for you and your fundraiser.
