School Fundraising Ideas - Budgets Are Tight, So You Can Help Make Up The Difference

Schools are taking a hit because of the poor economy, but that doesn't mean that the band cannot get new uniforms, or the science and engineering club is unable to go to a competition out of town because the district has no extra funds. We, as parents of students, can make up the difference.

How Can We Do That?

By choosing an appropriate school fundraising idea and running with it. School fundraisers are common. They are held for athletic departments, booster clubs, and academic events. You name it, and some school somewhere has probably raised money for it. A school fundraiser is almost always successful because the parents, teachers and administration are genuinely concerned with the quality of education that is provided. Most of them will be willing to volunteer to help, as well as most of the students. Talk about having a large labor pool! With just a short e-mail to the staff and parents, or a note taken home by each student, you can reach hundreds of potential volunteers.

School Fundraiser Options.

Car washes in a parking lot, selling candy door-to-door, or an auction in which you sell donated items from businesses and families, or chili and pancake feeds are some options. Unfortunately they all require a lot of time. Some depend on the weather, like the car wash or the door-to-door sales. (I'm not crazy about the door-to-door sales, anyway. I retired from law enforcement, and I know of too many tragic stories in which youngsters were put in danger in a "safe" neighborhood.) Others, such as the chili feed, need a large venue for the operation, and you end up with a horrible mess when it is over.

"Work Smart, Not Hard."

My father always told that to me. It taught me that if there were two ways to accomplish a task, and one was much easier than the other…I should pick the least difficult method. It is simply common sense. Therefore, I suggest that you opt for the fundraising idea that has worked for me. That is the family style cookbook. It consists of the finest recipes from the best cooks in your school and community, all bound in a professional looking volume that reflects your school's positive image.

Tell Me More About It.

Personalized cookbooks have been a fundraising staple for decades. For generations, actually. One particular cookbook publisher has been in business since 1947! The industry is obviously a sound and stable one, and if an individual company can be doing the same thing for over 60 years, they must be doing something right. In other words, cookbooks are a well-established method of generating money for your school.

They work so well for several reasons. Once you have created it, most of the people in the school will buy one. Many parents will want one, as well. Everyone that contributed a recipe will surely be interested, too. Right off the bat you have a great customer base.

Next, it is also a unique keepsake. As people thumb through it years from now, they will see the names of the contributors by each recipe, and it will help them remember their old school days, the teachers, their friends, and the good times they had in school.

But probably most important is that it has such wonderful recipes in it. Only the best recipes will be offered, so you can be assured of some great eating!

The Process.

You first select a committee that will be in charge of logistics. They will be responsible for designing the cookbook, and for choosing the best on-line publisher. A good publisher is a key ingredient for a successful cookbook. Find one that allows you to make decisions on aspects like the cover design, how it will be organized, what style of pictures and graphics to use, what kind of dividers, and which kind of paper stock, ink, and font to use. This is your school's project, and you shouldn't be forced to use one of a handful of templates.

Next you must collect recipes. It is usually a very simple step for a school cookbook. The teachers, staff, administration and parents can all dig up at least one recipe for the cause. Send a paper home with each student, or use e-mail to contact them. Once enough recipes are amassed, and if you are working with the right publisher, you can use an on-line form to submit them all. That eliminates a lot of work.

A good publisher will have the tools and guidance available to walk you through each step. They should provide tips and tricks, the best ways to sell the cookbooks, and have answers to question like, "Should we sell advertising?" or "How many should we order?"

Find that perfect cookbook publisher and see how they can help you get started.

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Andy Barber is a retired police/fire/EMS dispatcher. After a quarter of a century of "stomping the pedal," as he likes to call it, he took an early retirement and became a freelance writer. Currently he is working for Cookbook Publishers, a company that has been helping people and organizations raise money since 1947. When Andy isn't writing, he spends time on his eastern Kansas farm with his wife and the 2 younger of their 3 sons. Andy also has a love for Harley Davidson motorcycles. He regularly criss-crosses the USA on his bike to meet with friends and see this beautiful country. Cookbook Publishers has been helping people with fundraisers for years, so check them out and see what they can do for you.