School Finance & Fundraising

  It’s About What You Want FOR the Donor, Not FROM the Donor In today’s ever-evolving philanthropic landscape, Christian K-12 schools must adopt innovative strategies to secure the financial support necessary to advance their missions. Over the past several decades, philanthropists, donors, churches, and businesses have changed the way they support Christian schools. So, why

  Through fundraisers, schools, churches, youth sports, women’s leagues, veterans’ organizations, fire departments, pet rescue groups, and others raise money for all kinds of good causes. Some groups prefer to use a catalog and sell face-to-face to their neighbors, relatives, and co-workers. Others choose to harness the power of social media and sell to their

  Analytics refers to the use of data to visualize trends. Educators use analytics in a variety of ways to help make decisions about program offerings and potential donors, as well as to market those offerings, apply for credit, and meet accreditation requirements.  There are a variety of ways to collect the data used to

  By Erica Pettis Gratitude-based philanthropy, a well-established concept in healthcare, can also be embraced and applied to schools through a “grateful parent” program. Whether a primary, secondary, single-sex, or co-ed school, parents are important members of any educational community. Opportunities to discuss “grateful parent” fundraising are driven by key moments in a family’s lifecycle

  How can Christian schools successfully raise funds to meet their financial needs? School fundraising may be in order if your school needs new books, new gym equipment, or help to fund a field trip or other event. Is it worth the effort? We think so. While 35% of schools earn $0-$5,000 annually from fundraising,

  Fundraising events are often viewed as a dreaded task. It does not have to be that way. In fact, it can be FUN, with the right mindset and the right product to sell. Optimally, a fundraising event help students experience three principles that we call the “3 Ps”:  Pride, Purpose, and Passion. A fundraiser

  By John Hagarty A group purchasing organization (GPO) leverages the collective buying power of its members to obtain significant discounts on desired products and services. Some GPOs work with all markets and industries, while others have a niche segment. Examples of segments include service industries, such as faith-based nonprofits, schools, healthcare and hospitality. GPOs can be

  Over our years of fundraising experience, we’ve encountered some common misperceptions about why and how people give – and what motivates them to do so. Let’s tuck some of these into bed for a long-needed rest. “Planned giving is too complicated.” No, planned giving can be quite simple. To launch a simple bequest program,

  Every year, schools are faced with the need for fundraising for different activities and programs for their school. St. Elizabeth Catholic School in Kansas City, Missouri, has found one of the best fundraisers for their school. For over 35 years, St. Elizabeth has held a trash bag fundraiser and raised thousands of dollars each

By Tim Grable When you are the organizer of a Christian school fundraiser, it might not always be clear how you can tailor Christian values to the age group you are addressing. How can you best entertain school kids, while also conveying the proper message and the best-fitting rhetoric? To address this inquiry, here’s a

In every school that I have partnered with, cost continues to be an issue among parents. When I conduct a parent survey, I can predict that affordability will be one of the lowest rated areas of satisfaction and tuition will be one of the least liked areas of the school. Cost is the most identified

Support for school and youth group fundraising is strong in the United States, according to findings from a recent national survey commissioned by the Association of Fund-Raising Distributors and Suppliers (AFRDS). Six out of 10 adult Americans purchased consumer items, such as gift wrap, food, magazine subscriptions, gift items and other products, to support a

Fall may seem like a ways off, but when it comes to fundraising, it’s never too early to start the planning process. Finding ways to be proactive about your fundraising efforts is the best way to set your school up for future success. So, where do you begin? Consider these seven tips to help you

By Jeff Hensley While annual giving is the sustaining lifeblood of a typical non-profit or educational institution, major gifts can transform an organization, allow it to expand, or even endow its programs in perpetuity. Their size varies from organization to organization, depending on the organization’s size and average gift, but they represent gifts that dwarf

So, you’re set on having a fundraiser, eh? Before you jump in headfirst, check out the steps we’ve mapped out for you. If you take time to consider and work on each one, the fundraising process will go a lot smoother. You can’t go off to battle without a little training first, right? Okay, so

1. Select the best fundraiser for your school. Decide which fundraiser will best meet your needs and goals. You will be successful if you choose wisely. Look for tips on choosing a fundraiser further below in this article. 2. Plan ahead. Start planning at least one month in advance. Select your fundraiser early to assure