Correct planning can give schools access to a whole host of fundraising opportunities all year round, which in turn provides elementary education support for numerous programs. Success is in the Detail/That is why having a fundraising event schedule at the beginning of the year is so important.
What You’ll Learn
Benefits for beginning the academic year with a scheduled fundraising plan.
How to Start Your Fundraising Calendar.
How you can make your fundraising efforts more diverse.
Advantages of having your Fundraising Calendar Planned
The more well-rounded your fundraising event schedule is before the first day of school, the better organized you will be over all to reach your goals. Intelligent demands have been proven to increase donations giving you a head start with your efforts and in turn several other benefits which can help you meet or exceed your fundraising goals.
1. Save Valuable Time
Being proactive with getting organized will save you a ton of time down the road. This gives you a chance to prepare the materials, volunteer hours and other resources you will need ahead of time. This insight means you act ahead of time, preventing a possibility of hectic last-minute rush which is quite time sink folk. Not to mention you will save time on finding overlapping resources for the multiple fundraisers.
2. Boost Fundraising Powers
Beforehand events that you do not want to miss out on opportunity for fundraising and get a sight of the whole year this way. With a top-down perspective, you can also keep a variety of fundraisers to develop only a few unconventional methods to rest your donors, students and families. Look for Werbylo to team up with you on your different issues from fundraising solutions.
3. Raise More Funds
Taking a planned-out approach to your fundraising schedule is important so you can uncover more money making opportunities When you mix it up — like holding a fitness fundraiser and then having a gear sale of your own — you give donors multiple points to contribute and higher chances for larger donations.
4. Prepare For Bigger Goals & Projects
The more funds you are able to raise each year, the less focus you need to put on immediate needs, and the larger projects you can start funding that go beyond basic stuff such as technology upgrades or large improvements with your schools. Having a long-term view helps to ensure that your school can commit resources towards its future.
How to Build Your Fundraising Calendar
1. Set Your Fundraising Goals
You can draw up targets with how much you want to earn in the current school year + long term. And based on clear goals, you would know which are the types and how many fundraisers to throw.
2. Identify Key Dates and Events
Find ways throughout the year to dovetail your fundraising campaigns with these days. For example, you might have a fitness event around Valentine’s day, or you can sell custom-made tumblers to people who want to give personalized gifts on Mother’s or Father’s Day. Related: Seasonal & Holiday Fundraising Ideas
3. Plan and Allocate Resources
This will help you to be more realistic about your fundraisers & the resources/volunteers needed for each one. Have a list of what you will need for every event to make it successful, and plan your more labor intensive fundraisers further apart so as not to burn out your volunteers.
4. Diversify Your Offerings
If you can provide different ways for donors to raise funds, chances are that they would be willing to donate again. Involve the parents by having a back-to-school gear sale, doing something with products around the holidays, or have a restaurant night to help alleviate dinner duty for families. Appealing to different likes and interests, these fundraisers will expand the scope of prospective donors.
5. Analyze Previous Fundraisers
Once the year of fundraising is over, assess what worked and what did not. This will help you crystallize your strategies as you get ready for the coming school year.
Creating a comprehensive fundraising event schedule at the start of the school year is key to achieving your financial goals. A well-planned calendar not only provides clarity on your initiatives but also helps you reach more donors, save time, and ultimately raise more funds.
Ready to get started? If you have questions or need assistance with your fundraising efforts, reach out to us at support@werbylo.com. Let’s make this school year a success together!
