While federal or state grants are a great source of dollars for worthwhile programs, there’s a wealth of ways to access the many other funding sources available to you.
Think Local
Be creative in building relationships with other community groups such as local foundations, businesses, or nonprofits. They’re often eager to support school projects that align with their mission. To bring people together in your community, consider virtual events:
- Virtual student talent shows
- Virtual Paint or Craft Night fundraiser
- Virtual walk/run
- Online auction
- Text-to-Give Campaign — let your community simply text you a donation. Partner with Text-to-Give services
PTA/PTO
Parent groups like your district’s PTA or PTO can be excellent partners in fundraising. Identify projects that need funding, then leverage these organizations to help you conduct fundraising events such as:
- Trivia night
- Silent auction
- School carnival
- Raffle night
- Book fair
Consider Crowdfunding
Thousands of schools nationwide are raising money for worthwhile ends through crowdfunding platforms. You can browse an online store such as School Specialty for the items you need, then tell your story to potential donors through the crowdfunding site and list the products you’ve chosen. This avenue gives total strangers the opportunity to help you, and their generosity can be heartwarming. Popular platforms include:
Celebrate Your Wins
When your funding drive succeeds, be sure to celebrate. This isn’t just for fun—it rewards those who’ve helped you make that positive outcome possible and builds goodwill in the community so they’re more likely to assist again. A “thank you” can take many forms.
- Send handwritten thank-you notes from you and your students to all who helped.
- Post pictures to social media and promote the success in district newsletters.
- Create a video showing the completed project and thanking the donors. Email it or post it on the school website.
Find Out More
To look for more ways to raise funds, check out these posts with information on grants.
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