| 6 min read Fundraising Strategy
Mrs Boin, Mr. Gabelein and Mr. Jones are teachers from Coupeville Elementary School. They have come together to launch a fundraiser to ensure their fourth grade classes have everything they need to succeed. Their school supply drive has one aim – to ensure that every child has access to the same supplies.
They are just one group of teachers nationwide who must pay for their own classroom supplies. School supplies aren’t free, and it’s often the teacher who ends up footing the bill. Schools help out a little, but the majority of the expenses are left to teachers. Even though there is some support available for teachers, multiple surveys, including one by the U.S.Department of Education, show that 90 percent of teachers reach into their own pockets to purchase classroom necessities. Back-to-school fundraising for teachers can help make up the difference.
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How much teachers spend on school supplies
In the United States, the Internal Revenue Service allows teachers to deduct up to $300 of unreimbursed trade or business expenses a.ka. School supplies. But on average, educators spend somewhere between $500 and $750 of their own money every year on supplies their students need.
What is a school supply drive?
A school supply drive is a charitable event when people collect school supplies for students who would otherwise not have them. They are typically organized by schools or community groups. The aim of the drive is to collect enough supplies so that no child goes without.
How to organize a school supply drive fundraiser
Teachers should not be expected to shoulder the cost of school supplies. The success of back-to-school fundraisers shows that parents agree, and understand the need. A school supply drive is a great way for teachers to ask community members to help shoulder the costs.
How to organize a school supply drive depends on the teacher and the community, but a few classroom fundraising tips can help to make it a success. Here are a few school supply fundraiser ideas for teachers looking for a little help.
1. Understand the need
Teachers know better than anyone what supplies their students need to be successful in furthering their education. Creating a general list of the supplies needed and their average costs will help potential donors understand how their donations will be used. These supplies might include books, calculators, laptops, science equipment, and more.
2. Collaborate with other teachers
Your classroom isn’t the only one that would benefit from additional supplies. A team fundraiser can make a bigger impact by supporting many teachers working together. Talk to the principal and organize a school-wide supply drive. Donors will be more likely to help because they’ll know their donation doesn’t just help out one class but many.
3. Start collecting donations
Asking for donations can sometimes feel awkward. But it doesn’t have to be. The hardest part is often asking for help, but once you do you will see that people are more than willing to help. There are a couple of different ways to ask for donations to your school supply drive.
Collection Bin – Placing collection bins in strategic locations like schools, community centers, or stores where people can drop off supplies.
Create an online fundraiser on GoFundMe – Crowdfunding for teachers is popular on GoFundMe because it’s a trusted way for donors to support, knowing their donations are protected. It’s also a good choice for teachers because GoFundMe does not require the fundraiser goal to be reached before funds are sent to you. Find out more about how GoFundMe works.
4. Promote your drive
Share– A fundraiser performs best when you take time each day to share it with others. Additionally, asking your friends and family to spread the news will broaden your fundraiser’s visibility. Share your fundraiser on social media. GoFundMe automatically creates links that donors can share on Twitter and Facebook. It also gives your fundraiser a short, easy-to-remember link that you can text or email to contacts.
Partner up– Collaborate with local businesses or organizations to sponsor the event or contribute supplies.
Events: Host special events or activities to encourage donations, such as back-to-school fairs or community gatherings.
SDCCU Stuff the Bus fundraiser
After learning that in the last school year in San Diego more than 21,000 children were identified as experiencing homelessness, San Diego County Credit Union decided to do something to help. They partnered with the San Diego Office of Education to collect monetary donations to purchase back-to-school supplies for local students in need. They asked their community to help them ‘fill their virtual school bus.” The bank also enlisted the help of iHeart Media radio stations and Jersey Mike’s in San Diego County to help spread the word about their fundraiser. They have raised more than $90,000 so far.
5. Get your students and parents involved
Hosting special events or activities to encourage donations, such as back-to-school fairs or community gatherings. Almost every teacher has spent his or her own money on school supplies. However, they don’t have to do it alone. Summer back-to-school supply drives can help ease the burden. At the same time, they remind the community just how much teachers do. Students who join in may receive an education beyond what they usually learn in school: a lesson in generosity.
Start your school supply drive today
If you need extra financial support to help pay for school supplies, know that help is out there. Before you organize your school supply drive and create your fundraiser, check out our crowdfunding tips on how to build a fundraising team and how to write your fundraiser story. Take a look at our school fundraising ideas, high school band fundraising ideas, and fundraising ideas for small groups. With these tips and ideas, you’ll be on your way to reaching your fundraising goals. We are on hand to answer all your crowdfunding questions so why not get started today. If you aren’t ready to start a fundraiser yourself, you can still support other teachers by donating to their food drive.
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