That makes sense. I think that's the problem I was having. The 2 entities are both trying to raise money for 2 difference organizations. Then they have to split it leaving a little for each. It may be best to just create a Wish Upon A Hero group that students participate in. They raise money directly for people and need. That way 100% of the focus and financial are put toward the wish.
I agree with Tim. It's difficult for the PTO to align itself with a particular charity as there are so many. The PTO itself is a charitable organization and needs to focus on its own mission.
I especially echo Tim's second point. Your efforts would probably be best served marketing yourself as a potential service project for student groups - but again, be aware they have so many to choose from and tend to work on local projects.
Honestly, I think the flaw here is not the type of fundraiser but the initial approach.
PTOs (and high school booster clubs) exist to support a good cause on their own. So -- while there are tons of other great causes -- it gets tricky when the second cause tries to get the PTO or booster club to do its fundraising for it. Does that make sense?
Two thoughts:
1. Certainly there are times when the PTO may support a fundraiser for a non-PTO cause. Usually, there's a connection, though (student at the school has cancer and needs funds for a trip to Mayo Clinic and PTO helps organize the raffle), or a big movement (lots of PTOs raised funds for Katrina relief). The more standard stuff (the fire department needs a new ladder truck) is usually done on its own.
2. A lot of PTOs and boosters and student groups do like to add a community service element to their work. Perhaps your effort -- if you're looking to connect with PTOs -- could focus there, instead of trying to think of a perfect-fit fundraiser. If the PTO leaders think your cause is great and would make a good community-service fit for their group, they'll figure out what they can do to help (PTO leaders are nothing if not MacGyver-like).
I guess they don't need to sell anything and the students could just adopt a wish. So, the Wish Upon A Hero club would select a family or person in need and then send out memos and post flyers saying they are collecting for this person. At least 75% would have to go to the person and the other 25% could go to the school? I'm not sure...I think most people like getting things for their money.
As a mom of a highschooler, I've had at least 3 opportunities already this year to buy my son a customized t-shirt: football team, class shirt, school spirit shirt. I'm t-shirted out, and we're only in November. 200 is alot of shirts to sell. I think some of our high school clubs already do this sort of thing on their own, depending on if there's a known need like a fellow student with cancer or a family who suffers a house fire. Where would your organization fit into the picture?
I am the founder of Wish Upon A Hero (
Wish Upon a Hero
), a website where people can help people directly. I will be giving a presentation to high school honor students about the site and all it's benefits. I need to figure out how to create a fundraiser that benefits the school but also benefits the people in need.
I was thinking that they could sell custom t-shirts with the school name and the Wish Upon A Hero logo. The program would consist of taking orders (shirt sizes) and then having those orders fulfilled. Shirts generally cost $7 (in bulk), I guess they could sell them for $12, and make a profit of $5. The school would take a percent and the other percent would go to the needy family. If a school sold 200 shirts they would make a $1000 total.
Is this a good fundraising idea? Does anyone have any other ideas?
