If you’ve ever received an email from your child’s elementary school announcing its upcoming fundraiser, you might have had the thought: “Why do we need to fundraise? How does school fundraisers truly function?” It’s a question many parents ask, and it’s one worth exploring further.
In this blog, you’ll learn:
Why fundraising is important for schools
What fund-raising can do for your school community
How Werbylo could help you with your fundraising efforts
The fact of the matter is that most schools do not get sufficient dollars from state, local and federal sources to meet all their needs. Many schools remain underfunded, even years after the Great Recession, according to the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP). These cuts make it impossible for schools to provide the quality education and student experiences they aspire to.”
That’s why fundraising is essential — to help fill those financial voids and provide some of the additional resources that can tip the scale.
What Are Safety Nets for Schools (NK3, NK6)
At its most basic level, fundraising is simply giving schools the extra support they deserve. As Steven Puckett, the principal of Harrisburg Elementary in Fort Mill, SC, writes:
“As a school leader, I know firsthand that external funding sources provided to us are frequently inadequate to meet all of the academic, social, physical and emotional experiences we need for our students to excel. We need to look outside of our traditional sources of funding for the gaps THAT WE HAVE.”
School fundraisers help schools raise money to purchase necessary resources, such as always-updated technology, new playground equipment, special needs resources and countless others. They also offer families a chance to become more deeply involved in the school, creating a closer school/students bond.
What Can Schools Buy with Fundraised Money?
In these ways, schools can raise resources which the schools can use to fund initiatives that support student engagement and well-being. For example, Steven Puckett says that his school spent proceeds from fundraising on:
New technology for classrooms
Books and resources for students and teachers
Outdoor playground equipment
Then, Trisha Cooper, PTO president of Oak Mountain Elementary based in Birmingham, AL, shares what their school was able to buy:
A canopy at the entrance for improved weather protection
Teacher training programs
Updated technology
At Birnham Woods Elementary in Spring, TX, PTO President Stephanie Provo details how their fundraisers empowered them to offer this:
Playground gear and shade structures to keep kids cool
Tablet based Chrome carts
Teacher scholarships for professional development events
How Does Fundraising Help Students?
Fundraising supports additional resources that are essential to the student experience. For instance, Puckett cites how the dollars raised to purchase new books and technology translate directly into improved student learning, especially in reading and literacy. By putting as many grade-appropriate books into students’ hands as possible, his school is making students better readers.
The funds also allowed Harrisburg Elementary to install an obstacle course-style playground system that has energized students and inspired greater activity.
What to Look for in a Fundraiser for Schools
When it comes to deciding on a fundraising method, consider one that is interesting, impactful, and educational. As Steven Puckett said, “FUN, FUN, FUN! The more fun and engaging, the better the outcome.”
The key is selecting a fundraiser that aligns with the school’s goals and can touch as many people as possible. That’s where Werbylo steps in.
How Werbylo Can Help With Your School Fundraiser
And Werbylo is an all-in-one fundraising platform designed to help schools plan and run successful fundraising campaigns. With Werbylo, you can:
Easy to Create Fun Campaigns: Werbylo takes care of the details involved in creating enjoyable fundraising events for students and parents. Now, whether in a virtual event (new age, people!), an auction or something even more amazing, Werbylo makes sure you will never forget the most sophisticated fundraiser you’ve ever attended!
Extend your Community: Werbylo has the ability to share campaigns on various places to ensure you reach more of your school community and also those who may have only been affiliated in past years (for example, an alumni). This gives you the best chance of raising the funds that you need.
Track Your Progress — With Werbylo’s real-time tracking and reporting features, it’s easy to track the success of your fundraising efforts and adjust as needed to meet your financial goals.
Make It Easy for Families to Get Involved: A platform like Werbylo makes it effortless to donate and get involved in fundraising events without selling cookie dough or magazine subscriptions.
Why Fundraise Every Year?
Fundraising is not just a one-time need — it is an ongoing requirement. As Trisha Cooper reminds us, schools, like households, have recurring costs and things that need to be replaced. Government funding doesn’t pay for everything, which is why we rely on annual fundraising.
Stephanie Provo says rising costs of educational resources and a growing number of students means schools need to fundraise every year. “We don’t have to do another fundraiser all year long with Werbylo. We all can attain everything we need in just one event while having fun for the students while teaching them many good character traits.”
Conclusion
Fundraising enables us to deliver a high quality education for students. It helps to supply the additional resources schools require to achieve their goals and further progress. Now your school can partner with Werbylo to have a fun, easy, and effective fundraiser that gets families involved and raises the money your school needs to support its students.
Ready to get started? Visit Werbylo to find out how we can help your school with fundraising and achieving your goals.
Author
Werbylo CM Team
