School Fundraising Success in Any Economy
Encouraging Statistics a Signal for Boosters to Stay the Course
Jul 26, 2009
While many government-funded school programs were drastically reduced or eliminated due to the recession starting in late-2007, other programs paid for primarily by the fundraising efforts of parent support organizations avoided the axe. And for good reason.
According to the American Association of Fundraising Counsel, overall charitable donations by U.S. citizens (individuals and household donors) in 2008 totaled $229.28 billion. Education accounted for 13 percent of that, or $40.9 billion. While most financial indicators in 2008 pointed to global economic disaster, the dip in overall donations was only 5.7 percent compared to 2007, when adjusted for inflation.
Most of the money was freely given, as opposed to being revenue generated from sales of fundraising items. Not that school fundraising efforts shouldn't include products; the Association of Fund-Raising Distributors and Suppliers (AFRDS) reports that eight out of ten parents purchase fundraising products, as does 75 percent of the overall American public.
Fundraising isn't the Problem
These statistics clearly indicate that most parents and extended families, as well as the overall population in general, prioritize the welfare of the nation's students over many other financial concerns.
Unfortunately, when tough economic times hit, some school booster organizations automatically assume that severe cutbacks are mandatory, then make plans based on that assumption.
It's understandable. For example, if a parent has lost income due to a furlough or layoff, it's going to be very difficult to explain to his or her child the reason for not being able to go on that special field trip. And since school fundraisers are driven by parent volunteers, the leaders and the teachers they support would often rather avoid putting some parents in that sort of position than pursue fundraising and the projects it pays for.
Perhaps a better approach would be to view economic changes as an opportunity to reevaluate old practices and expectations, and come up with new ways to achieve goals. The money is there. What's needed is leadership to bring it in.
School Fundraisers That Everyone Can Support
The solution is to account for there always being some students whose families simply can't afford extras in any type of economic climate. Parent leaders and teachers can pull everyone together by establishing a system by which all students contribute equally and benefit equally. In short, everyone pitches in and everyone gains because the fundraising and budgeting are designed to make sure nobody is left out.
When the economy declines, organizers can adjust the scale and scope of projects that the school fundraisers are intended to support. Or maybe adjust the timeline out a little to compensate for the dip.
With a little creative thinking, and a willingness to listen to parents' concerns, school fundraising organizers can continue helping to provide students with a quality education – including all the trimmings – even as the rest of the economy struggles along.
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