PTA - idea's for fundraising needed

[kslatts]

I am going to the Parents Association AGM at the school my kids attend next week, I feel the PTA do a fantastic job, but in the past I haven't really got too involved, I now feel I should make the effort and attend.

I would like to put forward some fundraising ideas that I could organise, but I work full time so it needs to be something I could organise easily out of work hours, I don't mind taking a day off for the event. As a working Mum I cherish the time I get to spend with my two dd's so ideally something they would enjoy helping with.

The idea I am thinking of is a pool party, I know a local outdoor pool does private hire and another local school held a pool party there and it was a great success, it would obviously have to wait until the summer term though.

Any other idea's woul be greatly appreciated.

I used to be Chairman of my sons' school PTA. There are loads of really easy ways to make money - the easiest of all being a Sponsored Bounce. Hire the BIGGEST bouncy castle you can find and offer prizes to the kids who get the greatest number of sponsors (NOT the most money!)
Get the kids to come out a class at a time during the school day - the teachers will be happy to co-operate. Get about 8 bouncing at a time with the rest cheering them on. It makes for a fantastic atmosphere in school that day. Don't forget to put posters up to advertise the event and MOST IMPORTANT make it clear that children will only be allowed to bounce if a parent has returned a signed sponsor form, which should include a disclaimer stating that neither the school nor the pta can accept responsibility for any loss or injury. Also make sure that you see an insurance certificate from the operators of the bouncy castle.
If a parent at the school works for Barclays Bank, they will match fundraising up to £750 subject to conditions if your PTA is a registered charity. (Which, incidentally, it has to be if it's income exceeds £1000 per year - very unlikely that it doesn't!)
Another idea... We had a 'Pampering Evening' to which we invited local therapists. Some of them donated their time for free as it was good publicity. Charge mums about £3 per ticket entry to include a glass of wine or fruit juice. Have stalls selling jewellery, candles etc (you can charge them £10 for a table at your event. The ladies attending then pay between £3 and £10 for a 'taster session' depending on what the therapy is. If you can find a psychic reader they're always popular for some reason! Also Reiki, Shiatsu, Massage, Aromatherapy, Manicure etc. Don't have more than two of each type of therapist.See if a local florist will donate a bouquet as an attractive raffle prize. These events are quite popular, so it may be worth placing an ad in your local paper. Distribute leaflets at mother & toddler groups in the catchment area for the school, pointing out that it's an ideal way to take a look at the school their kids will go to.
We also held a disco every term and sold sweets, drinks and pocket money toys. Make sure you hire a disco who specialises in children. Again, make sure they have public liability insurance. We were making around £500 at each disco for very little effort.
Have fun - you'll get a lot of satisfaction from doing it

Hi fortyplus, thanks for your ideas, I especially like the pampering evening.

How about using fund raiser catalogues as a stop gap. I am on the committee at DD's pre-school and we've used these. the ones we have are Yellow Moon and Daisydaze. Both have seasonal catalogues out right now, great for the approaching Christmas season.
Parents spend money on thier purchases and the school gets back a percentage.

Uor school did a ladies night, similar to pampering evening, with people selling chocs, Avon etc, was v. good. Free wine a bonus, might have had a couple of glasses too many.... How about getting a local firm to deliver fruit and veg boxes to school where parents can collect them? The firm will save on delivery costs so should give school a nice cut of profit!

One ongoing fundraising idea we set up last year was online shopping using www.buy.at. The webshop pays the school a % commission on all sales ? all you need to do is promote it through your school & wait for the cheques to pop through the post! In 12 months we have earned £230 ? not bad for nothing really! Look at our webshop www.buy.at/rothwellstmarys - on the A-Z tab there?s a list of all retailers (it?c osntantly changing) and buy.at have their own link. If you decide to set a webshop up and use this link ? our school earns £1 - !!!!!!!!!!

Quiz Night
Duck Racing
Letters from Santa

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Naughty how do Letters from Santa work ??

These guys are quite good,

The rolls are £3.00 of which 75p per roll goes back to the school and it is very good quality.

Copper drive works well . for a set period of time the kids bring in coppers (money) from home . the one with the most money per child per class wins a prize . You collect the money in large fizzy drink bottles with a slot in the side cut out . . and you have a running total in assemblys to show the kids . Works very well .

What about an auction of promises? You invite parents to put forward promises (e.g. cook a meal for 6 or do someone's garden every month for 5 mths) and then hold an auction night where people bid for them. I did an Italian meal last year that someone paid £160 for (which went to the school).

Thanks, kslatts. Is your pta a member of the NCPTA? If not it's well worth joining - membership includes £10million public liability insurance.
On the subject of coppers... we did a 2p day once and got the kids to make a line round the school. We printed a sheet with all sorts of silly facts, the teachers joined in and did weighing & measuring activities appropriate to the age of the class with the coins. Was hell collecting them up and counting them, though!
Don't forget also that registered charities can claim Gift Aid of 28p for every £1 donated - this doesn't apply to things like ticket sales, though, but it's good for a sponsored event.

Here's a simple fundraising idea which I think could work if lots of your parents give teachers presents. Put it to teachers and HT first obviously.

Put a letter or simple leaflet together about a Christmas Pot which should ideally be signed by all staff. Explain that teachers receive many small bought presents from children these days. As a lasting reminder of people's thanks, encourage parenst who want to give something to donate to the Pot.

With the money, buy books, decorations, prints, something pretty for the school. Put up a simple notice in the school about what was bought.

(This shouldn't stop home made gifts or notes)

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Hi Orinoco

Have you actually used these people, were they reliable? Did you raise much money?
Thanks

We have used bags2school for several years - ace and pretty easy was of raising funds.

Thanks for that, we may give it a try (I could probably fill a truck just from my house)

our very small preschool raised £40 for minimal effort. And I know they raised several hundred pounds at school when they do it.

Thanks have contacted them already

WE did a Fashion show recently. we raised quite a bit of money (it was a firm called "just a second") we supplied the models which the kids were fighting to do and we raised a lot through entrance tickets. . a worthy night.

Any one else got any ideas/suggestions?

god, it's so bloody annoying when people "try to help" like this! If you're running a business, pay the paltry £25 orwhatever it is to MN to post on the business ads like everyone else and butt off other threads! And don't pretend you didn't realise

Today I thought about a beetle drive for the kids, or even bingo - sat or sun pm?

We held beetle drive at our small school and raised nearly £200 in couple of hours for pretty minimal effort.

Ooh, tell more! How did it work?!