It’s that time of year again. The temperature is rising and kids are dreaming of summer instead of school days. The school year is wrapping up and coming to an end. You know what that means? If you are involved in the school parent group, the summer is the perfect time for you to plan your fundraiser for next year.

You’ve heard it before: “The early bird gets the worm.” Today, the trend is to start fundraising later in the semester.  Instead of waiting to start planning your fundraiser until school starts, and then waiting even longer to actually host the fundraiser, learn from the birds and start your fundraisers at the beginning of the school year.  Starting your main school fundraiser the second or third week of school will maximize your profits, and kick your school year off with bang!

Avoiding “Fundraising Fatigue” by Getting a Head Start

By mid-semester, students will have completed several homework assignments and will already be concentrated on final projects. Don’t contribute to their stress by adding a last minute fundraiser. And students aren’t the only ones who need a break. Starting earlier almost always guarantees that parents and the community around your school will be energized after a long summer break, so they will be ready to get started on your fundraising efforts.

Beat the Competition

By starting your fundraiser early, you won’t compete with sports team and club fundraisers, who usually begin their fundraisers mid-season. You also gain the advantage of being far enough from the holiday season so you won’t have to compete with major retailers and their sales as well.  There will also be a much less chance of delivery issues such as backordered or out of stock items and delays due to chaotic holiday schedules.

Jump-Start Your Summer Fundraising Plans With These Tips:

1) Plan your fundraiser before the school year starts, taking advantage of the summer vacation.

2) Launch the kickoff the 2nd or 3rd week of school with a big student assembly that energizes and captures the attention of the students.

3) Meet with parents early on so that other sports and club fundraisers aren’t scheduled at the same time as the main event.