PTA Fundraising

[themummyonthebus]

Our PTA is currently not very active (as in 2 coffee mornings a year, the summer fete and that's it) and so next year we're having a clear out and we will all be "new" parents next year, as in no previous school aged children experience and only this year's poor showing and Mumsnet as a guide.

They didn't make any money last year at all so the goal this coming year is obviously to have regular fundraising events. But which ones work best? I've suggested a few of the MN staples but considering most of them crop up on here because people are moaning about them I'm not sure that's the best template

So tell me what your favourite (PTA) fundraising events have been please!

[themummyonthebus]

Camping night is an awesome idea! As is buying sets of wellies and leaver's book. I'd never have thought of that sort of thing.

Our school is right next to a local theatre where they have quite a few children's plays over the year so I don't think it's worth getting a group in but the idea of sharing ticket revenues with a local entertainer is a good one. I know the previous pta looked at having a clown at the summer fete but it was megabucks.

[Leeds2]

Easyfundraising.com is the easiest. Just need regular reminders to families to sign up to it. Your family and friends might help too, even if they don't have children at the school.

DD's primary used to run a tuck shop after school every Friday, inside when it was cold/raining, and in the playground if warm enough. It was very successful, but then some parents complained about the children being encouraged to buy sweets. It then became every two weeks, with fruit on sale too!

[Mummyiwant]

A lot can be achieved with v little
This year I was the only member of the nursery school PTA (meetings were v short)
We raised £3000 from Christmas raffle Easter raffle cake stall and we used a Thorntons scheme at Easter which was v profitable - you need to contact your local store about 8 weeks before Easter they supply all marketing material, you basically get eggs (which the store will personalise to order) at a discounted price and sell for whatever price you like. We made a profit of £1.50 an egg.

[FryOneFatManic]

We're a re-launched PTA with new membership. Also starting small and working up.

Small raffle for Easter eggs brought in some funds, plus eggs donated for a local charity.

Refreshments at another event. worked out we made 50p profit per drink. We used a tip from someone else; at an event where the PTA are just doing refreshments, we are not stating an amount per cup, just requesting donations. Seems to encourage people to part with more than they might have otherwise.

I'm looking at the ideas on here to see if I can nab any and happy to share anything that works for us.

I've heard of race nights before, might look into it. We're planning a disco near Xmas, and considering a summer fete next year (we launched too late for this year to work).

I've heard of one pta that arranged for someone to come in and give a talk to parents about dangers online. The PTA did refreshments and the talk was free. They didn't get many parents this time, but are planning to try again, targeting the new Yr 7 parents in particular.

Actually, is there anywhere on the board to have a PTA section? For swapping ideas, etc? Might be worth it, and of course chat threads do disappear. Education, I would guess, might be a good home.

[FryOneFatManic]

Ice-creams for sports day - at DS's primary, they arranged for an ice cream van to come on site. Parents could buy ice-creams etc, and the pta funded an ice-cream for each child in school (the kids had tickets to exchange for an ice-cream so the pta could tally up the cost properly).

Not really a fund raiser as such, unless the pta got the ice-creams at a cheaper price.

On other days, they've had a couple of parents selling ice-creams at home time on a friday. On warm days, they've certainly made a bit.

But I'm not sure that would work at a secondary.

[WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes]

OK, I'm not sure that would work with the way our Sports Day is run, the children all sit in their classes apart from when they are actually competing, there is no mingling with the parents. Although parents are invited to come in for a picnic lunch in between KS1 (am) and KS2 (pm), could do it then. We have a lovely handmade ice cream man with a van that comes to the summer fair. I'd be worried about everyone being able to get served on time though.

When we have done it as a giveaway we just go to Iceland and bring back a load of icelollies, averages about 15p each I think.

[TSSDNCOP]

If your school hall is big enough hold a table sale. You sell the table eg one of the ones they put up at lunchtime and people can sell their stuff. You can have big items on the stage eg cots/bikes and take a small fee for each. Have it in the morning on a weekend, charge a entry fee and if you start cooking back whilst the people are queuing you make a fortune on bacon rolls.

Halloween Hop. Disco and games in the hall. All round the edge apple bobbing, put your hand in a box to guess the content eg slime

If you live in a village a sponsored Litter Pick.

[themummyonthebus]

I've reported the thread so it can be moved somewhere more permanent.

Table sale is a good idea too.

Well done MummyIWant! That's an astonishing amount. I'd happy if we can make a fraction of that! We should think bigger I guess. Although I guess our meetings won't be so quick ;)

[TheWanderingUterus]

Whoknows - the sports day drinks and ice creams were mostly for the parents and younger siblings who have to sit in the sun with limited shade for a couple of hours. Some parents bought extra drinks for their competing children and some queued at the end as well. Made about £150 profit at the KS2 sports day and more at the KS1 (more younger siblings in attendance) - about £200?

[PercyPorkyPig]

How about a 'Pamper Evening'? Our PTA invited beauty therapy students via their tutors from local FE college to come into school to do: eyebrow waxing/threading, indian head massage, neck & back massage, reflexology/foot massage, manicure/ pedicure, facials & make-up... the charge was £5 a treatment. - split between college & PTA. Students (overseen by tutors) had ready & willing 'guinea-pigs', the 'guinea-pigs' had treatments maybe not experienced before. Students bought own massage tables & equipment with them, PTA provided sheets to rig up as screens where needed, although many parents were happy to be 'viewable'. Proved very popular - treatments had to be limited to 2 per parent as there were queues. Great fun too.

[Mellie80]

table top sale
recycle your uniform sale
dress up as your fav character
le petit artist - greeting card project
class fundraising - printed tea towels and bags project
disco

[MumTryingHerBest]

The PTA do a number of main events every year and fit smaller fund raising initiatives around school events (Spring exhibition):

Summer Fair (biggest event and raises the most money)
Christmas Fair (lots of work but raises a good amount, good for the community spirit)
Adult Quizz night (bring their own nibbles and drinks, the raffle does well once the drink is flowing ;-))
Family Quizz (lots of challenges and different game formats so takes a lot of pre-planning etc. Not a huge money raiser compared to the events above but good for community spirit and still a fair amount towards to the target.
Family Bingo (lots of bingo games all with different formats, takes a lot of pre-planning etc. Doesn't raise as much as the events above but good for community spirit and again a fair amount towards the target.
School discos with tuck shop

Our target for this year was £20,000

Low cost money earners (we don't do all of these at school but there may be an idea or two you can use):

Second hand uniform sale (all donations from parents and unclaimed lost property)

Second hand clothes sale (all donations from parents and unclaimed lost property - stick to next, gap and better quality high street brands - recycle all the rest. I found this raised quite a bit more than just recycling them all)

Second hand toy sale (all donations from parents)

Second hand book sale (all donations from parents)

Tin can recycling (bring a can in day and after a couple of weeks take them to a recycling centre. Will need a decent amount of cans though)

Clothes recycling (bring a bag of clothes in day, once school has started, off to the recycling, quick turnaround for minimal effort)

In the Summer - Friday ice lolly sales

Teas, coffee, biscuit and cakes sold at any school events taking place as a tag on (cakes & biscuits donated by parents).

Car boot sale (do you have a school car park or field, charge per car to sell and entry per person looking to buy)

Table top sale - sell table space (e.g. £12 per table) to local crafts people or those wishing to sell second hand quality items.

Raffles - contact local companies for donations and run the raffle as an add on to any events organised by the school or the PTA

Ebay shop - Sell any large or good quality donations that come into the school.

Facebook local sales - Sell any large or good quality donations that come into the school

Netmums local sales - Sell any large or good quality donations that come into the school

Fund match - some companies will match funds you raise for an event.

HTH

[Stillunexpected]

Sorry, but I am reporting your post. It is obvious from searching your name that you are spamming old threads with this company's details - is it your business? It's not the first time you have done it either. One of the threads you have posted on was started 10 years ago!