The elementary school across the county makes their kids sell candles. When I was there we had to sell World's Finest Chocolate Candy Bars. I miss those! A few groups have sold candy, suckers, etc., but most recently groups are finding success with RC. They are $15 for a case of 20 oz, it seems that would be hard work though. The cheerleader's did a Tupperware fundraiser, I don't know if that would work for a large group.
This past year we had our very first catalog sale, yes most of it is useless stuff that I didnt even buy from(im guilty) However we made over $8000.00 with a school of 257 families and 487 kids. We kicked if off the second week of school, which was always a no no belief to our group. We would always wait til November for our first fundraiser But adding so many family nights means we need those BIG BUCKS!! It did get sent out after a SChool wide block party, so there was an event before it!! As much as we hate it, we know it truly helps ALOT,,,to replace those funds now...I dont even want to think about what we could do, our second biggest fundraiser ever was profit of about 5500.00...big difference
[ 06-20-2004, 07:57 AM: Message edited by: pals ]
"When you stop learning you stop growing."
The only time we raised more than our catalog fundraiser was when we did a major auction event. The auction required the incredibly hard work of about 15 core committee members, supplemented by probably 10 more volunteers who solicited donations. We started 4 months early, and had many group meetings. The committee had to coordinate dozens of details such as tickets, catelog, donations, cashing out, facility set up and decoration, food, marketing, etc.
Everyone who attended, including the tired committee members, had a great time, but it was a ton of work for the 2x more it brought us over our typical catalog fundraiser.
You can certainly eliminate the catalog sale and replace it with several "smaller" fundraisers, but then you'll be fundraising all year.
I heard of one PTO that raised lots of money with a new car raffle (they bought the car from the dealership at cost, using ticket sale proceeds); that's definately unique.
All in all, if you're making enough money on your catalog sale to support your budget, then your parents have not demonstrated that they are really sick of it. That may just be perception.
Our catalog "biggie" brings in--now hold on to your seats--I don't want anyone to fall off--MAYBE $4,000, and that's with 750 students!!!! But our PTA board members, Godbless'em, just can't stop beating that dead horse!
WOW--20-25K with 1000 students!! I don't care how sick of it they are--it obviously works! [img]tongue.gif[/img]
Events seem to be the way to go if you're well organized. Poke around these boards-you'll find a LOT of great ideas!
A well planned holiday Bazaar/ Canival can bring in lots of money. If you plan a small one to start and keep adding your 2nd or 3rd year can replace that catalogue sales. Elementary schools usually don't do well with dances. How ever if you have a admission cost Character Dinner (have parents dress as cartoon characters or book characters and have dinner or snacks with children)A walk-a-thon <this was a a BIG fundraiser in my elemenary school> Spirit night Dinner you can ask a local resuarant a % of sales to your PTO for one evening (We have a local fast food chain that does this for us we provide the costumeters they provide the money) Our high school football/cheerleading use to raise money by suppling a staff to work at a concention stand at sporting events they recieved 60% of the profit. just a few ideas we are in the process of trying to replace our catalogue sales as well. This year with our Bazaar and Spirit night dinner we feel comfortable enough to let go of our spring sale.
Are any other parents out there tired of the catalog fundraiser? What is something else to do in it's place that profits the same?
Our PTO holds 3 major fundraisers a year, fall (typically catalog), spring and our annual Ice Cream Social. All of them are a success but the catalog one brings in the most money. Pre-K thru 8th grade sell the items but it's mostly the K-4. We profit between 20-25 thousand with roughly 1000 students participating. The parents are getting sick of the catalog sales (so am I) and we would like to try something new. The school really depends on the money we raise, so we need it to be as profitable as the fall catalog as possible. Any ideas?
