It’s no secret that today’s schools are underfunded. PTAs (Parent-Teacher Associations) are vital in helping schools fund everything from educational programs and sporting events to field trips and school assemblies. With the help of PTAs, schools can provide a well-rounded education for students and better equip them with the tools they need to achieve academic success. Below are four tried and true fundraisers your PTA can use to bring the community together and raise those much-needed funds for your school.

1. Fun Run

Fun Runs are among the most popular fundraisers for PTAs for a good reason. Not only do they offer excellent fundraising potential, but they’re the perfect way to engage the community and promote physical fitness. Here’s how to organize a successful Fun Run:

1. Set a Date and Location: Select a suitable date for the Fun Run. Saturday mornings or afternoons are ideal for family participation, while spring and fall are the most common due to favorable weather. A permit may be required if your chosen route extends beyond school grounds.
2. Recruit Volunteers: Check with school staff, PTA/PTO members, the school board, and student council members to find volunteers for the Fun Run. Consider asking local businesses to sponsor your event.
3. Choose Your Goals: Decide how you’d like to use the money raised through your fundraiser. Whether for new playground equipment, learning materials, or student enrichment, make sure to communicate your goals as you market.
4. Promote the Event: Inform the community about the Fun Run using school newsletters, social media, and classroom announcements. Have students ask friends, relatives, and neighbors for pledges.
5. Track Progress: Monitor progress per class or team as students run a designated course, keeping a tally of each lap completed.
6. Offer Refreshments: Keep your runners fueled for the race by setting up water stations or providing water bottles as needed. Increase earning potential by offering concessions or snacks.
7. Collect Pledges: Set a deadline for turning in pledge forms and donations. After the run, have students collect the donations from their supporters, whether per lap or a flat donation.
8. Celebrate Success: Recognize top-performing grades or classes with certificates, prizes, or a special event. Share the results with the school community to show the impact of their efforts.

Turn up the fun by making it a Color Run, where participants are doused with safe, non-toxic colored powder after each lap. Consider offering a marquee event as a grand prize goal for students, such as Mobile Ed’s SkyDome Planetarium, a portable planetarium experience that is both entertaining and educational.

2. Restaurant Night

Partnering with a local restaurant for a Restaurant Night can be an easy, low-effort way to generate more funds for your school. Families get to have a fun night out, all while supporting their child’s school and local businesses. Here’s how to organize a successful Restaurant Night in your community:

1. Talk to Local Restaurants: Ask local restaurants whether they offer fundraising programs and choose one that appeals to families. Participating restaurants will agree to donate a percentage (usually between 10% and 30%) of the night’s earnings to the school.
2. Choose a Date: Select a date and advertise the event well in advance so families can plan to attend. Make sure your date doesn’t conflict with major holidays or school events.
3. Promote the Event: Use flyers, social media, and school announcements to promote the Restaurant Night. Some restaurants will provide their own flyers.
4. Add Fundraising Opportunities: Add door prizes or a raffle to increase buzz and participation. In some cases, teachers or volunteers can even serve as waitstaff, raising additional funds for the school by collecting tips from diners.
   
5. Send Reminders: Be sure to send reminders to participating families a few days in advance. Instruct patrons to mention the school or show the flyer to their server while dining to ensure their payment goes towards the fundraiser.
6. Give Thanks: Show appreciation to the restaurant, volunteers, and participants by sending thank-you notes or posting on social media.

Schools love partnering with restaurants for a simple, low-effort fundraiser that invites families to have a fun night out with delicious food, all while contributing to their child’s education.

3. Movie Night

Movie nights are often among the most attended events hosted by PTAs. Not only do they help build community, but they are relatively inexpensive, easy to organize, and just plain fun for everyone. Here’s how to organize a successful Movie Night:

1. Select a Movie: Choose a G-rated film appropriate for all ages and set aside enough time to obtain a license before the showing. To generate more interest, consider letting students vote on a small selection of movies.
2. Choose Your Venue: Use your school’s auditorium for the screening, or consider a movie night under the stars by renting an outdoor projector screen from a local business and encouraging families to bring lawn chairs, blankets, and bug spray.
3. Promote the Event: Advertise the sale through school newsletters, social media, and flyers. Since children’s movies have broader mass appeal, consider extending invitations to the larger community to help bring in additional funds and donations.
4. Test the Equipment: Make sure all equipment is in working condition prior to the event!
5. Offer Concessions: Be sure to offer concessions like popcorn, candy, and soft drinks.
6. Give Thanks: After the event, don’t forget to thank volunteers and families for their support in bringing the event together—your gratitude can encourage future participation!

Movie Nights are the perfect way to entertain and engage your community, providing a rewarding experience for everyone.

4. Parents Night Out

A Parents Night Out is always a big hit for everyone involved. It gives students a fun social event to look forward to, gives parents access to affordable and trustworthy childcare for an evening, and is a relatively low-cost fundraising option for the school. Here’s how to organize a successful Parents Night Out:

1. Recruit Volunteers: Gather a reliable team of activity leaders and chaperones.
2. Select Your Venue: For a cost-effective option, use your school’s facilities, or choose a kid-friendly venue, such as a community center or church.
3. Plan a Fun Night: Choose activities that will keep students engaged the entire night, such as an open gym, games, a movie, or a dance floor with a DJ (or simply a playlist and a Bluetooth speaker). Stock up on concessions like soft drinks, chips, popcorn, or hot dogs.
4. Promote the Event: Advertise the sale through school newsletters and social media. Consider using a QR code or a link so parents can register their child and provide payment beforehand.
5. Communicate Safety Procedures: Verify emergency contacts for all attendees and ensure parents know the proper procedure for a safe drop-off and pick-up.
6. Give Thanks: Remember to thank volunteers and parents for their support following the event. Consider sharing photos from the evening on social media.

This fun-filled event is a big hit with students and parents alike, and is the perfect way to nurture a sense of school community while fundraising.

Conclusion

When it comes to fundraising, don’t waste time reinventing the wheel—instead, consider hosting a dependable, time-tested event. Whether you’re organizing a Fun Run, Restaurant Night, Movie Night, or Parents Night Out, you’ll be sure to motivate families, excite students, and encourage community involvement. These fundraisers are a surefire way to meet your goals and help your school fund the resources it needs to deliver the best educational experience possible. Happy fundraising!

Reward Your Students with a Trip to the Stars!

If you’re brainstorming exciting incentives to motivate students to raise donations for your event, look no further than Mobile Ed’s SkyDome Planetarium! There’s no need for permission slips or travel fees—this portable, inflatable planetarium travels right to your school, taking your students on an immersive trip around the universe. With detailed, panoramic projections of the sun, moon, and each of our planets, it’s no wonder the SkyDome Planetarium has become a fan favorite for students across America. Contact Mobile Ed today to make the SkyDome a highlight of your fundraising event!