Frank Sennett - FUNdraising: 50 Proven Strategies for Successful School Fundraisers

For Nicholas,
who injects fun into everything he does

Copyright 2008 by Corwin Press

All rights reserved. When forms and sample documents are included, their use is authorized only by educators, local school sites, and/or noncommercial or nonprofit entities that have purchased the book. Except for that usage, no part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Sennett, Frank.

FUNdraising : 50 proven strategies for successful school fundraisers/by Frank

Sennett.

p. cm.

Includes bibliographical references.

ISBN 978-1-4129-4981-1 (cloth)

ISBN 978-1-4129-4982-8 (pbk.)

1. Educational fund raising. I. Title. II. Title: Fifty proven strategies for successful school fundraisers.

LC243.A1S46 2008

379.13dc22 2007020185

This book is printed on acid-free paper.

07 08 09 10 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

W hen it comes to fundraising, ethical considerations are critically important. Thats why Exploring Ethics is the first chapter of the book. But legal issues sometimes must be addressed before moving forward with a given event as well. So whenever applicable, review laws governing games of chance, the serving of alcohol, and any other areas of potential legal concern.

M any fundraising guides exhaustively explore the basics of recruiting volunteers, setting up a handful of standard events, executing them with precision, and keeping close track of the cash they generate.

And theres absolutely nothing wrong with that.

But youre holding something quite different in your hands.

This is an idea book for leaders in the school community who can oversee a basic fundraiser in their sleepyet long to wake up to creative new approaches and clever twists on classic events. (Its also for newcomers who want to make a quick, positive impact by exposing the schools veteran fundraisers to fun, fresh concepts.)

The 50 ideas are supported with lists of potential outside partners/sponsors, savvy organizing tips, and real-life examples of administrators, teachers, parents, students, and local supporters who have pulled off popular and lucrative fundraisers.

If you want to host events that raise spirits along with money; if you want the community to view your fundraisers as necessary entertainments and services instead of unnecessary evils; and if you want to look back at your schools revenue-raising efforts with pride rather than relief that theyre over, well then

This may be exactly the book youve been waiting for.

Several nonprofit educational organizations publish low- or no-cost guides that outline the basics of setting up a school fundraiser:

PTA Fundraising Essentials is available to local PTA chapters through www.pta.org . (The site also features articles on fundraising fundamentals.)

National Association of Elementary School Principals members can access A Principals Guide to Fundraising and related articles through www.naesp.org .

The National Association of Secondary School Principals publishes Fundraising: Not Just a Cakewalk Anymore, which promises to take readers step-by-step through every phase of organizing and carrying out a successful fundraiser. Its available through www.principals.org .

Download the free, 103-page New York City Charter Schools Fundraising Guidebook at www.nycchartercenter.org/2006_Fundraising_Guidebook.pdf .

I ll start with a special thank you to Lizzie Brenkus both for asking me to write this book and for being one cool cat. Further thanks go to Robb, Hudson, Diane, Desire, Veronica, the crack marketing team, and all of the other wonderful folks at Corwin Press who make these projects possible. They are a treat to work with. Im also indebted to the innovative educators whose fundraising ideas inform the text; theyre an inspiring bunch. (Thats especially true of DonorsChoose.org creator Charles Best and John Deasy, who pioneered a school fundraising equity fund in Santa Monica, California.) And, as always, Im grateful to my family for their continued love and support.

Corwin Press gratefully acknowledges the contributions of the following individuals:

Mary Ann Burke, Grants Coordinator

Oakland Unified School District

Oakland, California

Gerard A. Dery

Director, Zone 1, National Association of Elementary School Principals

Principal, Nessacus Regional Middle School

Dalton, Massachusetts

Gary Lee Frye, Director of Development and Grants

Lubbock-Cooper Independent School District

Lubbock, Texas

Joen Painter, Education Consultant

Yuma, Arizona

Bonnie Tryon

Director, School Administrators Association of New York

Principal, Golding Elementary School

Cobleskill, New York