Help !! Fundraisng for our school's P.T.A!!

mollymoo

Hello...not sure if im posting this in the right place, so please accept my apologies if im not!

I have recently become a member of my Daughters school Parent Teacher association and we need to get Prizes and auction goodies donated by some very generous people to raise funds for some new computer equipment.. my question is.... where do i find these very generous people?! any ideas/tips that you could share with me? i was thinking along the lines of football clubs and the like ( although im sure the are inundated with these type of requests!) i havent a clue where to start!
thanking you in advance for you wisdom :-)

Mollymoo x x x

Bossyboots

We used to write to every local shop and business asking for prizes to donate. We were lucky as in our area there are several large national companies with office complexes so we would get quite a lot of vouchers. We also wrote to every supermarket in the area as well. This would usually get us some charity vouchers which you have to spend in the store but we would either use this for food for our Christmas or Summer bazaar or to buy prizes.

We would then draw up posters for the bazaar and list everyone who had donates something. We would tell them in our letter of request that we would do this for anyone who donated something.

Colin2511

HI,

as our PTFA has been very successful in asking parents to see if their companies can sponsor anything?, I know Barclays and several other big companies like BP do match funding, eg. money raised on a fete stall can be matched by them, also can local companies sponsor a calender/ school programme? - how about breaking the computer down and asking people to "buy" the mouse, the monitor, keyboard etc,

tee_pee_2

ASDA used to when I work there have a charity budget and if you can get them in the local paper for donating something to you they will def help.

They may also let you bag pack and raise money - the kids I mean not the PTA!!

We have just had a fund raising event and asda gave us a massive hamper, so big I made 2 out of it.

Also have a look on freecycle
HTH

Sallys_Savings

Hi, Hope this will be of use....As well as the normal businesses, shops etc..we've also asked local attractions for prizes too, and by giving a little advertising on the "donation board" (like Bossyboots poster) they are normally quite helpful. Many will give you vouchers to give away or at least a bogof offer. The bigger attractions aren't much help but places like local butterfly farms, indoor soft play area, bowling alleys, swimming pools, leisure centres (including the council run ones), farms, small theme parks, zoos, gyms (we have rec'd dozens of 5 day trials) etc. You could always try a local airport or flying club for a free glider trip etc.
If its auction goodies you're looking for too, have you thought about an auction of Promises or have a mixture of both?....where people donate their time rather than goods. We've had these before and go down really well and make a bit of a difference to the normal auction.Anyone can offer any skill they have to the auction, and leaves the scope pretty wide. Some things people would of paid out for anyway and this way your school benefit too. People don't have to be professionals but people who are good at something...i.e. bake a birthday cake etc...or maybe some manual work. In the past we've had a wide selection......A painter/decorator for a day, a hair cut, childminding between 10-4 on a saturday, Clean all the windows of your house inside and out, an hours time with a financial adviser, clean your oven (which I paid for),an hours private dance lesson, a make over, a gardener for the day, massages, A three course meal cooked in your home, Organise and arrange a birthday party for 6, a free starter karate lesson, car wash, declutter your computer, bake a birthday cake,....etc.
Good Luck!!

Sallys_Savings

oops forgot a few others that we received which are a bit unusual..perhaps you know a plumber/mechanic/carpenter etc...we had a MOT, service a boiler, and hanging doors too.

Savvy_Sue

All good ideas. My experience of writing 'begging letters' for the raffle is that you may need to follow up with a visit, and that the 'independent' shops are better than the local supermarkets for responding when you do this, although it depends on the size of the supermarket and the manager's discretion! Small is beautiful ... A follow up thank you letter is essential if you want to try your luck again in future!

There are some stickies at the top of this board at least one of which might be helpful. Can't remember what's in them, which is why I say 'might'! :rotfl:

MDUK

I read a thread last year that was full of great ideas, i have had a look and managed to find it for you here

mollymoo45_2

Oh WOW!!! Thank you all sooooooo much you have been wonderful! i love all your suggestions and will print them off and take to our next meeting....you're all stars!thanks again so much for all your time and effort. :-)

widgetcat

Hi there
Mu hubby was also a member of our school PTA. Last year one dedicated member visited lots of local businesses/restaurants/attractions and we ended up with some fantastic donations. Halfords donated a brand new mountain bike and helmet which was fantastic. Also try any local health spa, martial arts club (x number of free lessons or free membership), local balloon decorator (to decorate a party or carry out a fundraising balloon race) i'll try to remember some more .....!

DSmiffy

Local resatuarants will sometimes give out vouchers for a meal for two..
Macdonalds give out vouchers for free meals also.
Try the Barbers or the hairdressers and also beauty salons who may donate a pampering treatment.
Local shops are best, and if your school has a weekly newsletter, perhaps you could promist them some free advertising in it.