Teachers and Their Role in Fundraising
No one will argue with the fact that most teachers have a full plate of responsibilities. From class plans to grading papers to administrative responsibilities, they have their hands full these days. But what role if any should they have when it comes to school fundraisers?
The answer will vary depending on the situation and the goal of the fundraiser. For school wide fundraisers, usually the PTO or PTA will take the lead in running the fundraiser. In some cases, the school administrators will be in charge. If this is the case, the role of teachers should be in a supporting role. They should help spread the word to the community and encourage students to partake. Help the students and parents understand what the goals of the fundraiser are and how this will benefit the school community.
Students take the lead from teachers, so if the teacher is enthusiastic, the enthusiasm will spread to the students. And on the flip side, if the teacher has little interest, so will the students.
If the fundraiser is for a smaller school group, many times the teacher (or advisor) is the main point person. Usually these fundraisers are smaller in scale and a lot more manageable in terms of logistics. The teacher’s involvement includes selecting the type of fundraiser, company, time frame, student goals and collecting the funds. Most fundraising companies offer a sponsor kit and tips that can guide teachers through every step of the fundraiser.
