How to Budget Wisely for Fundraising Success

Creating a budget is essential for any project, and that is just as true when it comes to fundraising and budgeting in parent-teacher associations (PTA). PTA groups are designed to help enrich a child’s educational experience by providing support, encouragement and funds to supplement the classroom. How should PTA’s wisely and responsibly create a budget for the year? Read on to see what steps PTA’s should consider when budgeting funds.

Effective budgeting means mindful thinking. Create a list of goals and ambitions for the year. Establish what is financially feasible, and develop a written portfolio, a detailed spreadsheet, a map of financial funds and goals - whatever it is that your PTA finds necessary to meet your financial goals. Whether for reception funds at concerts, field trip funds, or for special group interests, you will want to be well prepared for the year’s activities and needs.

Learn from last year’s successes and mistakes. Study treasurer’s reports and budget from previous years to determine how well the budget met the association’s needs. Maintain connections with organizations your PTA partnered successfully with last year to ease any planning processes for the current year.

Keep the necessary, trim the non-essential. Determine projected financial needs while taking into consideration what funds are needed for approved programs, projects, events, and development. Develop trustworthy sourcing for these funds to meet all the requirements necessary.

Begin forming a budget. From here, a PTA can begin developing a budget, one that includes allocated expenditures for the remainder of the year, existing funds, and plans for obtaining funds. Make sure to include ample adjustment room funding as well, otherwise known as an emergency fund.

Don’t resist the urge to update. Whether an event went more successfully than you imagined or an unfortunate emergency arose, return to your budgeting process and readjust to make the most of your funds. Keeping a watchful eye on one budget can mean allowing for more space and leverage on another, so don’t assume funding cannot be moved around.

Mindful and effective budgeting can help you take your goals to the distance. For more resources, check out these articles from Parent Teacher Organizations Today for more information.

How to Save Big on Back-to-School Shopping

It is that time again; September is fast approaching. It is time to review your child’s back-to-school checklist and find all of the necessary items for the upcoming school year. Shopping for school supplies can be time-consuming and quite spendy. We have compiled a few tips on saving big while school shopping:

Search Around the House

Before going school shopping always search your home for items. You may be surprised on how many leftover items your child has from the previous school year. This will help you save money and will prevent you from purchasing unnecessary items.

Stick to the List

When shopping for school supplies it is very important to stick to what is on the list. Often times, especially when shopping with kids, parents will buy extra and unnecessary items. Ask yourself, does my child need the magnetic locker pencil organizer or will a pencil pouch do the job? When it comes to items you buy every year, simpler is always better.

Buy the Most Important Items First

Make sure to always buy the most important supplies first. This will ensure that you are getting the items your child needs while preventing unnecessary spending.

Shop Online

Check sites such as Amazon, Craigslist, and Etsy. They have lots of great deals this time of year on supplies. Often times, these items will come in bulk as well, which means you will be getting more while saving.

Be Thrifty

When buying items such as backpacks and clothing, check out you local thrift stores. Thrift shopping is the best way to find bargains and still get quality items; you never know what treasures await!

Buy Standard, Then Personalize

When school shopping kids always want the coolest folders and notebooks with pictures and sayings on them. But in reality, these are the most expensive folders and notebooks you can buy. A cute and fun idea would be to buy plain colored folders and notebooks and have your child spice them up using different crafts. This also lets your child be creative and is a great opportunity for bonding time for the two of you. Check out this great tutorial for some inspiration!

So when school shopping this year, make sure you follow the tips above. You will save more money and still get the items you need. In the meantime, check out our website to learn about the various fundraising campaign choices we offer. We wish you the best of luck this school year!

Valentine’s Day Treats for Students

Teaching about Valentine’s day is important, and thinking of appropriate gifts for students can be tricky. Instead of buying generic cards treat your students to homemade ones. Need some ideas? Here our some of our favorite clever cards, perfect for the classroom!

Photo from Parents.com

 1. Catch of the Day: Make these treats of-FISH-ial by using Swedish Fish and printing out small fishbowl cut outs. This may not only be a great gift to give your students, but it may even be a craft all your students can create together! Use small clear plastic bags so they are easy to take home!

Photo from Beg Borrow Steal

2. Flutter Pops:These adorable butterfly candies are a quick and easy treat! Simply just cut out wings using construction paper, then in the middle of the wings create a slip through pocket where you can stick a tootsie pop!

Photo from Mother Nature Network

3. Cupid’s Arrows: Using a straw, red heart gummies, Big Red gum and some red pom poms assemble these arrows easily with some scotch tape! This is great for kids who want something other than the usual hearts and flowers for Valentine's Day.

Photo from Teaching My Friends!

4. Valentine’s Bookmarks: These are the perfect gift for teachers who do not feel comfortable giving out candy. Using a paint swatch that has multiple colors, hole punch each color with a heart shaped punch out tool. Don’t be afraid to use multiple color swatches as well!

Instead of paper valentines day cards this year, give one of these unique DIY ideas a chance in your classroom! It’s easy for children to get carried away during your Valentine’s Day party, but these can create an easy going atmosphere in any classroom!

Skills Learned from Brochure Based Fundraisers

When launching a sales fundraiser, you already have a good idea of how it will benefit the school. But have you thought about how the fundraiser could end up benefiting the students and even enhancing their education?

While profits from the fundraiser will pay for, enrichment programs, technology upgrades and fund fieldtrips, which all help to enhance your child’s education, have you considered that brochure based fundraisers can help teach your child life lessons that can help them grow as individuals?

Lessons that will benefit your child in other aspects of their lives include:

•  Communicating with customers
•  Tracking orders 
•  Collecting and adding money
•  Delivering products 

From these lessons children will gain:

• Interpersonal skills
• Responsibility
• Math and financial skills 
• Confidence

Customer Service Skills
Fundraising is fun and easy for kids! Smiling, making eye contact, and speaking clearly are all skills that will help develop their success in future jobs and school activities. Fundraisers teach your child the significance of presentation, setting and reaching a goal, and having that personal responsibility.

Goal Setting
Goal setting is a great opportunity for kids to work together to make a positive contribution to their school. When they see their rewards from the fundraiser being used at their school they are going to feel a wonderful sense of accomplishment and ownership.

Brochure based fundraisers provide an opportunity for students to get involved, make a difference, and learn new things about themselves. With Meadow Farms we can help our youth in fundraising!