How to Get Parents to Tolerate Brochure Fundraisers

How to get parents on board with your fundraiser.

Your PTA committee’s done all the planning. You’ve found another brochure you think people will support and a prize program you’re confident your students will be excited about again. The date had already been set on the calendar because you always have your fundraiser this time of year. This way, your parents shouldn’t be surprised when the student packets come home. It’s almost like you’re on autopilot.

But have you ever stopped to wonder about what your parents think? Many sponsors don’t think twice about what happens outside their school. Their intentions are noble. They want to help the school. Yet, parents are tired of being inundated by the same brochure fundraisers every year.

One school got it. A Texas mom from the school shared a one-of-a-kind PTA fundraising letter that a school used to get around the typical fundraiser solicitation. The letter was original because the parents were given six check-the-box options to donate money instead. Only this was not your typical donation letter. One option was to donate $15 instead of having to bake cupcakes for the bake sale. Or, parents could donate $25 instead of having to hit up neighbors and friends to sell wrapping paper.

The letter was funny but thought-provoking. If you read the letter, you’ll understand what drove someone to create it in the first place. So how can you get parents to at least tolerate brochure fundraisers again? Well, it may not be easy, but here are two possible solutions that may help.

Announce Your Fundraiser Early

Student fundraising packets have a terrible habit of coming home unannounced. There seems to be no good time to receive sales materials. Yet many sponsors feel parents should expect them because it’s what the school does every year. But that’s making a lot of assumptions.

You should always plan to announce your fundraiser before the kickoff date. Consider using an announcement letter at least a week in advance explaining what you’ll be selling and the purpose. It would be ideal if you could also arrange to get some exposure at a parent night. Many parents are turned off because they’re asked to sell, but they don’t know why. By giving them a heads-up and a plan, you’re at least giving them something to consider.

Commit to Limiting Your Fundraising

Providing advanced notice about your sale is the right thing to do; however, committing to limit the number of sales builds trust. Just think if every group in your area cut back on their fundraising. People would probably be more inclined to support them.

How would your parents respond if you let them know that your group is committed to surviving on the money made from only one fundraiser, regardless of how much you make?

See our brochure fundraisers.

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.