PTA/School fundraising that doesn't cost anything?

denton6

earthmother wrote: »

Thank you all for your ideas - lots to take to the next meeting in a couple of weeks time.



Just out of interest, for those actually on the PTA, how do you keep yourselves in the parents minds, and attract new members?

We have a very good PTA that struggles for lack of bodies at many events - there is so much more we could do if there were the manpower.

Hi we have much the same problem only the same 6 of us at each meeting trying to do it all.We send letters out to all parents and put notice on the noticeboard but no newcomers,think most people see it as being to much like hard work being involeved,even though it's all our children that benefit.

little_lil

earthmother wrote: »

Thank you all for your ideas - lots to take to the next meeting in a couple of weeks time.



Just out of interest, for those actually on the PTA, how do you keep yourselves in the parents minds, and attract new members?

We have a very good PTA that struggles for lack of bodies at many events - there is so much more we could do if there were the manpower.

We also do a monthly newsletter and on the back each time is a simple form that parents can complete if they wish to help at any event or have any ideas for us. We don't get a huge response, but we do get a number of parents volunteering to man stalls etc cause they know they are not making a committment to anything longer term.

Also our monthly sales really help - most of the parents know who we are because of this and they have a poster which is put in bookbags to act as reminder about the event a couple of days beforehand.

DaisyFlower

I have the opposite problem, my little boy has just started reception and our PTA is crying out for new members. However they hold their meeting at 3pm on a day I work so no chance of attending.

I raised this at a 6pm meeting to do with the after school club when it was mentioned more people had attended than all the PTA meetings put together. Yet they were not willing to even look at amending the time!! If they took on board peoples comments the PTA would have far more members.

For fund raising, we have discos for halloween etc, the lucky number scheme has just been introduced this week (although the DDM option sounds fab) and we have the easy fundraising and yellow moon.

The chocolate catalog would go down a treat i'm sure, although parents would be spending money, at this time of year they would probably be buying similar items from the shops anyway - choosing at home and collecting from the school would certainly be an option I'd use.

jhp

uglybettie wrote: »

hi, this is my first go at this, bear with me. My PTA is looking at a scheme whereby because they are a charity they get the franchise free, then parents et al sign up to receive their utilities from The Utility Warehouse, which is a network marketing based company, all above board - Police Federation are reps! and the parents save a load of money, the school receives a percentage of each family's use on electric, gas, phone, internet and mobiles each month every month!!!! it's fab, no contracts for most things so no worries about disgruntled parents, seems a really good idea???? try www.telecomplus.org.uk/beth for more info. good luck (100 families roughly £300 per month!!!!!!!):T

UTILTY WAREHOUSE SPAMMER !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :eek:

cookie54

We did the choc thing and it did bring in some money but not loads but it did take up loads of time amd space as all the bags had to be stored carefully to stop things breaking and also as some bits were a surprise the children couldnot take them home and some melted due to being in a hot school to long and we have split orders so it was hard work

Shineyhappy

My junior school used to collect vouchers for free things from coffee/washing powder/cereal tokens and anything else. Often these schemes will require ten tokens for a free calender and a normal family will only get two or three but if you pool unwanted tokens then someone in the PTA could send away for the freebies and then use them as part of the raffle prizes for fetes.

Or what about an auction of promises?

aiminghigh

This post is in resonse to the person above who called someone a utility warehouse spammer


At the big conference this sunday, utility warehouse announced a new scheme for community fundraisers which ptas would be able to access.

For £25 they are provided with posters, brochures, fliers and a cd with a template for more, badges etc AND a dedicated sales team with an 0800 number to call that the pta just needs to refer people to.

No matter what your opinion of the Utility Warehouse (who have reduced prices again) this is a genuine good fundraising idea.
Once the income builds up from the parents utility bills, this income would come in every month and could be relied upon NOT hit and miss as some schemes are.

There is very little work involved for the pta and when 12 customers have been introduced even the initial £25 is refunded.

This is a good idea for churches, youth clubs, scout troups, any group were a regular income would be useful. Even my local rotary club is interested, so try to see the wider picture for once and take the blinkers off.

chris

dianadors

I worked for RBS and they offered every employee chance to participate in the "Community Cash Back" scheme. By being a PTA member, I got £250 each year for the school. 2 of us on the PTA worked for RBS so that was £500 very easy pounds per year.

I also organised a "Treasure Hunt" for the kids that they took home to complete. All I had to do was photocpy a treasure hunt sheet with items that they needed to find ie 2p coin, Oak leaf, milk bottle top etc and attach a sponsor sheet behind it. First they gathered the sponsors, then were instructed to bring the completed treasure hunt back to school by a certain date where a teacher signed to say they had completed it, then gathered the money in. Most kids just got parents/grandparent/Aunts etc to sponsor them, but 1 mother took it work and got us over £300! It was a very easy way to raise money.

jhp

aiminghigh wrote: »

This post is in resonse to the person above who called someone a utility warehouse spammer


At the big conference this sunday, utility warehouse announced a new scheme for community fundraisers which ptas would be able to access.

For £25 they are provided with posters, brochures, fliers and a cd with a template for more, badges etc AND a dedicated sales team with an 0800 number to call that the pta just needs to refer people to.

No matter what your opinion of the Utility Warehouse (who have reduced prices again) this is a genuine good fundraising idea.
Once the income builds up from the parents utility bills, this income would come in every month and could be relied upon NOT hit and miss as some schemes are.

There is very little work involved for the pta and when 12 customers have been introduced even the initial £25 is refunded.

This is a good idea for churches, youth clubs, scout troups, any group were a regular income would be useful. Even my local rotary club is interested, so try to see the wider picture for once and take the blinkers off.

chris

Yet again another Telecom Plus Spammer.

Might i suggest you read the rules of this site.

1.Don't post links for personal gain. Except in the referrers section and always declare any interest (which is what the poster i commented about was doing).

2.http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=387161&highlight=utility+warehouse

"All Telecom Plus Distributers must declare it when they post"

( Which you failed to do).

theblindman

I had someone from UW respond from an appeal for financial help in the local paper for a charity that I am a trustee for. It is not a charity fundraising scheme, it is a route to market for UW salespeople, quite clever but be under no illusions that it is not your charities interests at heart.
I do not want to imply that the charity I work with supports in any way a particular company, and if they are so convinced of what a wonderful way to raise funds, why charge £25 to join the scheme.?
Do your supporters expect you to be trying to gain by giving thier details away, there could be implications under Data Protection should you give suporters contact details to UW reps.
If you want to enter into this agreement do so with your eyes wide open as to the implications for your organisation and it's reputation. It is a business proposition plain and simple, you get rewarded for those who you sign up, and UW reps still get thier cut, not out of the goodness of thier heart.