PTA Fundraising: What It Is and Why It Works

How PTA Groups Raise Funds for Schools Plus Five Examples.

School fundraising is critical to provide a high-quality education experience. Fundraising supports providing materials such as books, funding school events and activities, including field trips and dances, and it makes it possible to offer extracurriculars, including sports and clubs. Anyone in the organization can take on school fundraising; however, it is common for the school’s PTA to take on this responsibility. This article explains what PTA fundraising is, why it works, and provides several PTA fundraising ideas.

What Is PTA Fundraising?

PTA is a national parent-teacher organization with formal membership. Your school’s PTA group focuses on maintaining and increasing the school's quality and all related things. PTA Fundraising supports this effort. Most PTA fundraising is directed at academic enrichment programs but may include extracurricular activities, clubs, field trips, daycare, and other projects.

Does PTA Fundraising Work?

PTA fundraising can be highly successful. The school’s PTA group links students, parents, faculty, and the community. This link provides several outlets to recruit volunteers, student participants, and donors. PTA members are diverse and provide a range of experience and skillsets. Fundraising requires many assets, including budgeting, accounting, planning, managing, and communications. The diversity found in a PTA group greatly helps in filling these roles.

Five PTA Fundraising Ideas

There are many ways PTA groups can raise funds for schools. We’ve listed five below for your next school PTA fundraiser.

1. Host A Parents-Only Event

Hosting an adult-only fundraising event is a great way to strengthen the parent network while providing a fun night out and earning additional funds for your school. Wine tastings, dinner parties, or poker nights are parent-only events.

2. Solicit Corporate Matching Gifts

The PTA group can inquire with their employers about corporate matching gifts and share information with other parents on how they can do the same. A corporate matching gift is when an employer matches funds raised. For example, if the board raises $2,000, each employer who has agreed to provide a matching gift donates an additional $2,000, which is a rapid and simple way to double your raise.

3. Sell School Merchandise

Selling school merchandise is a tried-and-true fundraising method. PTA groups can market to students but may also market to parents, community members, and alum. Selling items include calendars, bumper stickers, flags, coffee mugs, and key chains. Merchandise may be sold online, through email, social media, or even in person at major school events.

4. Virtual or In-Person Marketplace

Hosting a marketplace in-person or online takes work but has great potential to earn funds for your school. Ask community members, parents, and students to donate lightly used items that can, in turn, be sold in your marketplace. Funds earned to support your school’s cause. Be sure to advertise your marketplace fundraiser, including when it launches, what products will be available, and how to participate.

5. Charitable Drive

PTA groups can give back to the community while supporting the school's needs. Drives are great examples of charitable fundraising. Examples include shoe drives, can drives, and coat drives. Your PTA group must partner with an organization willing to pay for large donations to do this.

PTA Fundraising FAQs

Below are three of the most commonly asked questions regarding PTA school fundraising.

Why Do PTA Groups Need to Fundraise?

There are a variety of reasons PTA groups need to fundraise. While this isn’t their main priority as a group, it is an important task. It assists them in successfully achieving their main priority, which is enhancing the educational experience of their students.

What Are Other PTA Fundraising Ideas?

Additional PTA fundraising ideas include in-person or online auctions, direct donation campaigns, crowdfunding, and community-wide events.

Who Organizes A PTA Fundraiser?

The president of the PTA is typically in charge of designating fundraising responsibilities to PTA members. The president may form a fundraising committee in which each committee member has a specific role, such as budgeting or donor communications.

Can PTA Groups Outsource Fundraising?

Your PTA group doesn’t have to go it alone. You can outsource fundraising to partnering organizations, which takes a significant load of the responsibilities off of the PTA committee, including planning, money handling, and product distribution, allowing PTA members to focus on other essential tasks and duties.

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.