Many communities are setting up school fundraisers to augment budget shortfalls and finance various school programs, including marginalized schemes and those deemed impossible. Some institutions pursue fundraising to support the construction of new facilities or the renovation of current ones. Fundraisers also aim to support the varsity or academic competition with other schools. Despite the many noble goals behind fundraising, they remain secondary to the main purpose of schools: education remains an integrated effort involving learning students, supporting parents and teachers.

1. Ensuring the Success of a Fundraiser

Goals, financial targets and schedules must be clearly set when planning a fundraising program. A start and close date must be established, with copies of the timetable printed and distributed to all participants. Extending the fundraising beyond two weeks should be discouraged, as it could eventually be counter-productive. An adequate number of volunteers must also be available to manage the fundraiser.

- Organizers should make the community aware of the fundraiser

- Participants can be requested to name friends, family and relatives who are likely to support the activity

- Organizers must also be very clear with the target audience

- Campaign should be tailored to catch the attention of the nearby population

- Put up posters, community postings, and print parent-teacher letters to promote the activity

- Kick off your fundraiser with an event or rally

- Offer a prize to the top performer to encourage competition and spur higher profits (if your fundraiser involves selling)

2. Learn From The Pros

Schools should also learn from the experience of veteran fundraisers and tap them accordingly. Such help would enable institutions to take immediate action to correct any error that may emerge in the course of the campaign. At the end of the fundraising, officials leading the effort should collect all monetary gains, related order forms and tabulate the results. Order forms and any related documents must also be kept for possible tax questions.

School officials must impose fundraising restrictions. The absence of regulation would exhaust resources and volunteers and minimize potential gains from fundraisers. Ideally, the principal must impose strict guidelines before approving any activity - as an example, limiting fundraising to one per semester will better promote enthusiasm and reduce the likelihood of burnout.

3. Be Aware Of Your Competition

The school administration must be aware if their counterparts in the community that are also selling the same products to avoid competition. Basic knowledge of the fundraising strategy in other institutions will help organizers work to make the school