How to Get Parents to Support Your School Fundraiser: 4 Ways

Parent support is critical to successful school fundraising. Parents typically volunteer and serve on committees to keep the campaign running smoothly, and the example they set can shape how students feel about it. When parents are involved and positive, students tend to follow their lead.

Getting parents fully on board with your school fundraiser is crucial. Learn how to turn parents into fundraiser advocates and how to engage parents and the community. So how do you get parents to support your fundraiser? Let us take a closer look.

Big Fundraising Ideas has supported school fundraising programs since 1999. This guide covers four ways to bring parents on board, the barriers that keep them away, and how to thank them.

1. Share the Why

Be forthcoming with your campaign story. Share the need, and explain how the money raised will help you reach the solution.

For example, say your science books need to be updated. You can explain to parents how quickly the information is changing, the price of new books, how that compares to the school budget, and finally how much needs to be raised to buy the number of books needed.

Explain the benefits to students and how this will affect their education. This is the most crucial way to get parents to support your school fundraiser.

Put the numbers in simple form: the goal, what it buys, and what each family's help adds up to. See the fundraiser goal setting guide and how to set realistic goals. For a letter that tells the story well, see tips for writing compelling fundraiser letters to parents.

2. Make the How Clear

Be clear about your needs and how parents can help meet them. Sharing a list of tasks or roles helps, and it lets parents sign up for the ones that appeal most to them.

Once parents have signed up, walk them through their assigned task step by step so they understand it and feel comfortable from start to finish. Check in regularly to confirm they are on track and confident in their roles.

These times are suggestions. Adjust them to your school, and keep adults in charge of money and delivery.

For more on recruiting and keeping helpers, see recruiting fundraiser volunteers and running a fundraiser with few volunteers.

3. Use Peer Influence to Your Advantage

We have all heard the saying, "Everyone wants to keep up with the Joneses." Peers' opinions and actions influence people. If parents see that others are participating, they are more likely to join in.

Ways to use peer influence:

• Share What the Group Has Done: Post a running total of contributions made and volunteer hours logged by the group as a whole.
• Acknowledge Those Who Offered Support: Do this publicly, with their permission, and keep the tone positive.
• Ask Parents to Sign Up in Teams: Organize by classroom, grade, or neighborhood to make it a shared activity and build community.

A caution: avoid ranking individual parents or listing who has and has not helped. Parents with less time or money may feel left out, and ranking can discourage the people you most want to reach. Group totals and opt-in recognition keep the effect positive.

For more on keeping recognition fair, see Making Fundraising Inclusive for Every Student.

4. Show Gratitude

Showing appreciation makes parents feel good about their contributions and more likely to support your next campaign fully. Show parents that they have positively affected their children's quality of education and overall school experience.

How to Thank Fundraiser Participants

Several ways to thank parents for supporting your school fundraiser. Some options include:

• Thank-you Cards: Handwritten and specific, naming what the parent did.
• Phone Calls: A brief, personal call from a committee member or the principal.
• Recognition in a Newsletter or Assembly: With permission, and focused on the group's effort.
• A Thank-you Dinner Party: A good way to celebrate. If you serve food, review school food fundraiser rules.
• A Small Gift: Keep it modest and check your school's gift policy.
• A Picture of the Outcome: For example, students reading new books. Get permission before sharing any student's photo.

Timing matters. A prompt, specific thank-you carries more weight than a delayed, general one. For more ideas, see donor thank-you tips and how to format a fundraising ask and thank-you letters.

What Keeps Parents Away, and How to Respond

For more on keeping fundraising fair for every family, see inclusive fundraising for schools.

Where Parents Help in a Product Fundraiser

• Share With Relatives: Parents can send the link to an online store or the fundraiser details to family and friends.
• Help on Pickup Day: A short shift handing out orders. See school fundraiser delivery tips.
• Encourage Their Child: A positive attitude and a simple goal help students take part. See student participation in school fundraising.
• Keep Adults in Charge of Money and Delivery: This protects students and keeps the process clear.

If you want a format that asks little of parents, a scratch card fundraiser has no product to carry, and candy bars are easy to hand out and sell.

A Sample Message You Can Adapt

Hello! Our school is raising money to buy new science books for every classroom. The books are out of date, and the goal is to raise enough to replace them this year. Could you help in one small way? You can share our fundraiser link with five relatives (about ten minutes), or help hand out orders on Thursday from 3:00 to 4:00. Reply with your preference, and thank you for helping our students.

Frequently Asked Questions About Parent Support

How do you get parents to support your school fundraiser?

Four steps work together: share why the campaign matters, make it clear and easy to help, use peer influence by showing that other parents are taking part, and thank parents so they want to help again. Start with a specific, small ask instead of a general request for help.

Why is parent support important to a school fundraiser?

Parents typically volunteer and serve on committees that keep a campaign running smoothly. Their involvement also shapes how students see the fundraiser, so visible parent support makes it easier for students to take part.

How do you explain why a school fundraiser matters?

Be open about the need, the cost, and the goal. For example, if science books are outdated, explain how quickly information changes, the price of new books, how that compares to the school budget, and how much must be raised. Then show how the result will benefit students.

How do you get busy parents to volunteer?

Offer short, specific roles, such as a 30-minute task, so that parents can say yes without a large commitment. Let parents sign up for roles that appeal to them, explain each task step by step, and check in to help them feel confident.

Is it okay to recognize parents publicly?

Recognition works best when it is optional and positive. Share group progress, such as how many parents have signed up or how many volunteer hours the group has logged, and recognize individuals only with their permission. Avoid ranking parents, which can make people with less time or money feel excluded.

How do you thank parent volunteers?

Thank them promptly and specifically. Options include thank-you cards, phone calls, recognition in a newsletter or assembly, a thank-you event, a small gift, and a photo of the result of their help, such as students enjoying new books. Follow your school's policies on gifts and student photos.

What if parents do not respond to our requests?

Review how you are asking. Make the ask specific and short, use more than one channel, translate materials where needed, and ask parents who have helped before to invite others. People often respond to a personal request from another parent.

How do parents help in a product fundraiser?

Parents can help on pickup day, sort orders, share the fundraiser with relatives, and encourage their children to take part. Keeping adults in charge of money and delivery protects students, and short roles make recruitment easier.

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.