3 Best Ways to Get Your Fall Fundraising Event Started

​With the school year up and running, the stress of getting the kids back to school begins to dissipate. Books have been bought, lunches have been packed, and you may have even gotten used to the 6 a.m. alarm (hey, we said maybe!). Now that the summer is long gone, PTA efforts are in full swing. It’s time to focus on the fun stuff, like planning for a PTA fundraising event! We’ve put together the three best ways to organize your fall fundraiser. Learning your 1, 2, 3’s has never been so easy. 

1. PTA member with a plan: plan ahead  

​Organization is your golden ticket to running an event smoothly, and you not pulling your hair out. Create a checklist with basic items (budget, timeline, materials, etc.). Your fellow PTA members will look to your leadership to steer the planning process and keep them in the loop of what their roles are. Using online surveys to gather feedback, consolidate detailed information that’s pertinent to your event, and ask for volunteer signups can help cut down time on the back-and-forth correspondence between you and your members. 

2. Keep it inviting: send event invites

The sooner you get the word out about your event the more likely it is you’ll see a high turnout. We suggest sending invitations six to eight weeks before the event so attendees can mark their calendars. Our event module allows you to create an event page and send invitations. (You can even add your own PTA logos and images!) We recommend using our Smart List feature when sending events. Smart Lists let you generate email lists for a specific set of people based on the information they’ve submitted. For example, if you sent out an invite to get RSVPs, your next email can target those who replied “yes.” Once you’ve sent the invitations, you can use our event module to post updates and answer any questions guests have. Increasing your engagement efforts beforehand is a great way to build anticipation so everyone is as excited about the event as you are!

3. Sharing is caring

Social media is one of the best marketing tools around, and best of all, it's free! After you've created your event page, use the social sharing icons available to share your event directly from the platform. Ask your PTA members to share on their social pages as well. Each member has a vast and varied network that will increase awareness of the event, and likely boost attendance. The more people share, the more free publicity you get for your event, and your PTA efforts. Along with social media, make sure to ramp up your marketing efforts and spread the word via email flyers, posting information around your community, and publishing announcements on your school or group's website. 

Remember to make a plan, send your invites, and spread the word. Most importantly, have fun. The hallmark of a successful event is being able to enjoy yourself alongside your guests. 

Our event functionality, donation and email campaign features, and online payment options make it easy to plan for your entire year. So, what are you waiting for? Happy planning! 

Make it happen

PTA Simplified is a series of tips for PTA and PTO leaders to get the most out of managing their volunteer members and growing their membership all year long. 

Originally published: 10/12/17

About Hanif Boykin

A customer support guru who specializes in assisting clients with onboarding and any platform-related questions. He's a graduate of the University Of Nevada Las Vegas who loves sports (specifically the Lakers, Yankees, and Rams), the beach, as well as trying new foods and traveling.