School Fundraisers and the Needs They Meet

School fundraisers are invaluable to communities looking for better outcomes.

No matter what side of the school fundraising equation you find yourself on—buying or selling—you might have the same question: why does it seem like schools are always doing these crazy fundraisers?

Many public and private schools face nearly constant funding gaps that leave them looking to fundraisers to make ends meet. A 2014 study of San Francisco public schools found that over a decade, parent organizations had increased fundraising by 800% as student needs outpaced funding.

The goal of any school fundraiser is to enhance the educational experience of our students. Here are some common ways fundraisers help improve the academic experience.

School fundraisers support extracurriculars and field trips.

It’s no secret that some best learning occurs outside the classroom. Through field trips and extracurricular activities, students can take what they learn and see it in the real world. But these necessary learning opportunities do not often fit the school budget, so PTAs and PTOs rely on fundraisers to create the budget.

Noting examples of the experiences a fundraiser will empower a student is one way to get community buy-in and get your student excited about the outcome.

Books and supplies.

It’s almost hard to believe that teachers pay out of pocket regularly for classroom supplies. Time Magazine reported in 2016 that many schools are still working on recession-level budgets, resulting in $500 spent by each teacher for their classroom. This results in teachers feeling less valued as their income is spent supporting classroom initiatives, and it leaves students at a disadvantage when classrooms aren’t equipped with the tools they need for success.

Imagine being expected to buy all your paper, staples, pens, and folders for a corporate job; those expenses would add up quickly. Now think about students needing classroom supplies for a rich learning experience. School fundraisers are one decisive way to ensure students don’t get shortchanged in the face of austerity budgets in education.

Recess equipment.

Recent years have proven the inarguable benefits of play for children. It’s a chance to build social and kinesthetic skills and release some of that energy that builds up while sitting through lessons. Physical activity alone is a massive bonus for increasingly sedentary generations of students.

But, as with all outdoor equipment, even jungle gyms and swing sets can become unusable over time. Schools often have to close the door on recess because the equipment has become unsafe, and their budgets don’t allow for the expensive replacement.

School fundraisers are often oriented toward projects like these, where parents and teachers alike want to provide students with the opportunity to play, learn, and grow in their educational environment.

While more funding would undoubtedly be a more sustainable fix, school fundraisers provide an invaluable solution to communities looking for better outcomes in schools, whether through field trips, art classes, computers, or jungle gyms.

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.