Fundraising just not working.

[bjf1]

As part of the committee at a charity preschool, I have tried lots of ideas for fundraising, but seem to be getting nowhere.
The parents just aren't interested and we are in a small village, so have a very small area in which to advertise events and such.
We really need to branch out of the traditional fundraising applications and try something new, but what?
The last thing we tried was a school cookbook. I really thought the parents would go for it....the opportunity to see their little one posing in a chef's hat next to their favourite recipe. how wrong was I?
We only got 3 orders.
Am so dissilussioned and frankly ready to throw in the towel.
how can we get the parents to support us or do we need to think outside the box?

How about some of the traditional things that get a group of people together, like a bake sale or a clothes swap with an entry fee of say 2 quid on the door?

You could have a raffle if someone locally could donate stuff - like a meal for two in a restaurant (free advertising, potential repeat business). Or 50% off a haircut at a local salon, stuff like that?

Because I don't know your town or the people in it, I don't know what's going to float their boats, as it were, but some of the above stuff has got folks going where I live.

Hope helpful!

Timing can be essential. Things like the cookbook need to go out in late November for Christmas presents.

We have at Christmas: Cards (designed by the children) the teatowel with their self portrait on. Both get started in September, order forms go out beginning of November, reminders end of November, Received in December.

I'd try a questionaire: Would you buy? Christmas cards, tea towel, hanging basket, cakes, DVD of production, other suggestions
What price seems reasonable?

Would you be interested in attending the following? Quiz night, ball, children's disco, family photo sessions...
What price would you pay?

Proabably ask people face to face and get them to fill it in there and then if they don't tend to reply.

You need to use pester power. People are often more willing to spend on their children than themselves.

Our school has one mufti day a term and the kids have to put £1 in the pot in return for wearing own or themed clothes. We always say what the mufti money will be used for (new books for the library, sports equipment etc.)

The PA serves coffee and croissants at a fair price at class assemblies and soft drinks and cakes at sports day and parents' evenings, which are popular. The trick is to give them something they want, at a price they don't mind paying, which still brings in a profit.

Kids' events such as Halloween and Christmas discos, film nights, end of term parties, fun days with bouncy castles etc with a basic entry fee, are all good earners round here.

Agree with racingheart. Offer something regularly eg after school on every last Friday of the month run a hot dog stall (hot dogs, bread rolls, onions, ketchup, that's it).

• Calendars in the run up to Christmas
• T shirts (with kids designs)
• Tea towels

Have a look easyfundraising. It's a good way of raising funds without asking parents to keep coughing up.
[http://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/panel/ here]]

Try again

Film Night works brilliantly at our school.

£4 per child
Watch film
Popcorn and drink

Tis cheap childcare for them too.

do it themed so you do a Xmas film at Xmas etc We just showed Hop at Easter.

Do you have a shopping portal on the school's website? So that if people do online shopping through it the school get's commission from Amazon etc etc?

Our school PTA make most money from the shopping portal, the Summer and Christmas Fairs, especially when they get an Estate Agent to sponsor all the advertising boards. (Estate Agents get their boards printed up with details of your school fair instead of the bit that says 'For sale'. You do have to get parents or other people to agree to have a board up outside their house. The EA pays an amount per board - quite a lot of money, usually!

Do you need to fundraise?

If it costs £x a week to run the preschool then the option is to charge enough to cover it or charge £y plus fundraising.

Maybe have a meeting and canvas opinion. Parents may prefer to pay more a session and not be bothered with having to find extra money/time for fundraising.

DD's Rainbows had a similar meeting explaining how little money they had and what was needed for the year - parents opted to increase payment each week. I live in a very deprived area but everyone opted for this - easier to budget.

At this time of year, ice cream sales are very popular - all that's needed is a freezer (from freecycle?) and a couple of parents to stay behind after school for half an hour or so after school.

I remember my own primary school making a killing on ice pops, fab lollies etc. :o