4 Tips for a Successful Preschool Fundraiser

Raise more money with these preschool planning tips.

School fundraising programs rely heavily on students to carry out the selling of fundraising products and brochures. Exciting prize programs incentivize these students, and schools leverage their volume of students to help raise as much money as possible.

Preschool fundraisers have fundamentally different dynamics that need thoughtful strategies to navigate for fundraising success. Preschool fundraisers are different because:

• The students are a bit too young to facilitate the selling process.
• The student base is generally smaller than an elementary, middle, or high school.
• Parents will play an even more active role in helping a preschool reach its fundraising goal.

When planning a preschool fundraiser, remember these factors and strategies for success.

Preschool Fundraisers Should Engage Parents in Early

Parents of preschool children will form the critical mass of fundraising power. Since preschools can’t rely on student sellers like primary and secondary school settings can, communication between the teachers, administrators, and parents is critical to success.

Utilize drop-off and pick-up times to put helpful information into the hands of parents and caretakers. You can leverage these brief interactions to ensure parents know how they can get involved with the fundraiser and the goals and deadlines.

Also, consider putting copies of important fundraising information in take-home folders that your preschool uses to get paper into the hands of parents. Start sending notices about the upcoming fundraiser a few weeks ahead to give parents a “heads-up” so they can plan to block out some time to help your preschool meet its fundraising goal.

Preschool Fundraisers Should Focus on the Importance of Early Education

It may be more challenging to secure community buy-in for a smaller preschool fundraiser, mainly because there may be gaps in understanding how vital this critical phase of education is.

Frame your messaging in terms of the long-term impact of early education. From the scientific side, younger brains have the potential to form more connections, which makes a brain more potent throughout a lifetime. On the practical side, this means that a school equipped to send students home with books or engage in constructive playtime can dramatically increase developmental opportunities during a critical window.

Make sure you emphasize these points in your preschool fundraising sales pitch. They are compelling messages that connect your short-term mission to long-term impact and can encourage customers to offer more support.

Preschool Fundraisers Should Consider Price and Volume

Preschools are typically much smaller than local primary and secondary schools. A small student body means that preschool fundraisers can’t necessarily rely on volume alone to help them reach their goals. Luckily, preschool fundraisers also tend to have goals proportional to their smaller size. A preschool fundraiser can still raise significant money with the right product or brochure.

Strategic selection of the right product or brochure fundraiser can be critical in hosting a successful preschool fundraiser. Please take advantage of closer relationships with parents, and solicit their input about what fundraiser appeals to them most. Moms busy with young children may love the brochure fundraisers that offer nifty household goods that make life a little easier. If parents are excited about the products themselves, they are more likely to participate in helping your preschool reach its goal.

Always remember the importance of ensuring early learners have everything they need to succeed. When community preschools succeed, the entire community wins!

Download our free fundraising tips eBook from our school fundraising tips page for an additional resource.

Author Bio

Clay Boggess has been designing fundraising programs for schools and various nonprofit organizations throughout the US since 1999. He’s helped administrators, teachers, and outside support entities such as PTAs and PTOs raise millions of dollars. Clay is an owner and partner at Big Fundraising Ideas.