How to Raise Funds from parents for Better Results in Pre-School Functioning?

Are you tired of fundraisers that do not yield expected results? Do the parents in your program lack enthusiasm for

participating in fundraisers? Are you struggling to find ways to simplify fundraising efforts and keep the time invested to a

minimum while at the same time increase fundraising dollars?
 
This article will end your fundraising frustration by helping you decide when to sell, whom to sell to, what to sell, and how

to sell.
 
When to Sell
There is a definite season for fundraising, and it centers on the start of the school year. Some early childhood program,

like to hold their fundraiser in August to “beat the schools,” or in November when most schools have completed their

fundraising efforts. But conducting a fundraiser around elementary and high schools misses the prime fundraising season,

which lasts from early September to mid-October. Fundraisers held during this time period have the greatest success. A second

fundraising season takes place in February and March. Usually, this season is smaller in size and focuses on delivering

products for Easter.
 
Whom to Sell to
Picking a fundraising program is key to success. When choosing a program, try not to focus on what parents will buy or what

would be “fun to sell,” but on identifying who will buy the products. Most likely, parents of the children in your program

will have to sell to their friends, family, neighbors, and businesses.
 
What to Sell
Look around. What retail stores have the biggest parking lots? The answer is those with a variety of merchandise (Wal-Mart

and K-Mart). Variety encourages more shoppers, and more shoppers mean more sales dollars. Fundraising programs are a lot like

retail stores. Fundraisers that offer little or no variety have limited appeal. Catalog fundraisers with a variety of

products raise the most money.
 
When choosing a catalog, look at the quality of the printing and design. Does the catalog cover have a good visual appeal?

Does it say “open me”? Remember that the catalog will have to capture the interest of potential customers. If the

catalog/brochure doesn’t have “eye appeal” it isn’t going to do the job.
 
How to Sell
Once you have decided what to sell, you need to develop a sales force. Teachers and staff cannot do all of the fundraising.

The parents of children enrolled in your teacher training programme will need to participate as well, and not just as

customers. Keeping parents motivated, however, can be a challenge. Parents and the customer base they sell to burn out

easily. For best results, limit fundraising efforts to two or three fundraisers a year. In addition, tell parents of the

fundraising plans when they enroll their child at your facility. They will work harder if they know fundraising is not an

ongoing assignment.
 
Set a goal. Show parents and staff how the children will benefit from their fundraising efforts. If they can see how their

children will benefit, whether it be new playground equipment, games, materials for arts and crafts, or books, they will be

more inclined to sell.
 
Offer a reward. Ask yourself, “What would motivate parents to participate actively in their child’s fundraiser?”  A free week

of child care?  Dinner for two?  Movie tickets? By making an investment in a prize to the top seller or sellers, you help

encourage sales.
 
Promote! Promote! Promote! Advertising is everywhere…on television, on billboards, on the radio, in your mailbox, and even

through telephone calls to your home. Businesses invest in promotions because advertising increases sales. You want increased

sales, too! Promote your fundraiser by writing letters to parents that include the product catalog or flyer explaining the

fundraising program. In the letter, inform parents of the goal and what the money raised will buy. In staff meetings,

encourage everyone to remind parents personally about the upcoming fundraiser. In addition, put up a bulletin board (or two,

or three) for parents to learn more about the fundraiser, along with a picture of the item that will be purchased with the

money raised. One child care program actually got the item they wanted to purchase on loan from their vendor and put it on

display so parents could see it. Parents responded, and the center reached its goal.
 
Share the results. Encourage parents to share success stories with you, and then pass those success stories along to other

parents through word of mouth or through a newsletter. When the fundraiser concludes, let parents and staff know how well

they did. Share the sales results with them, thank them for their help, and tell them that they did a good job. Then when the

new item purchased with the money raised from the fundraiser arrives, invite parents to stop in and see what the money was

able to buy. This will help pre-sell them for the next fundraiser.