| You have planned a school trip and want all | | | | distribution and monetary transactions either |
| of the eligible students to participate. | | | | before or after school. |
| This is a common goal and many school | | | | |
| sponsors are using fundraising as a means of | | | | - Communicate with parents. Send a copy of |
| achieving it. I recommend you select a | | | | the fundraising guidelines home and require a |
| reputable fundraising company with a proven | | | | permission slip be signed by parent or |
| track record. I also recommend getting your | | | | guardian for participation in the activity. I |
| PTO, booster club or a similar parents' group | | | | also recommend stating on the permission slip |
| involved in the project. As the trip sponsor | | | | that all monies collected are the property of |
| you have many responsibilities and can use as | | | | the school in the event an individual |
| much assistance as possible. | | | | withdraws from the trip. Another good idea |
| | | | is to include language stating that in cases |
| Consider the following recommendations when | | | | where students lose their trip eligibility |
| planning your next fundraiser: | | | | all of the money will be used to defer the |
| | | | trip costs of other students. |
| - It takes a lot of planning to organize a | | | | |
| successful fundraising effort. I recommend | | | | - Proper record keeping, banking |
| beginning the drive a minimum of 8-10 months | | | | transactions, and payments to the tour |
| prior to the trip. A good rule of thumb is to | | | | provider require organization and attention |
| start fundraising just prior to or at the | | | | to detail. I recommend designating one |
| beginning of the trip enrollment period. | | | | individual to handle these responsibilities. |
| Everyone is excited about the excursion and | | | | Experienced fundraisers report that the fewer |
| will want to take part in the activity. More | | | | people involved in the monetary transactions, |
| importantly, it will maximize the amount of | | | | the less chance for problems to occur. |
| time for students to raise money to pay for | | | | |
| their trip. | | | | - When selecting items that the school or |
| | | | club must purchase in advance of sale, (e.g. |
| - Have a written plan spelling out all of | | | | candy), always limit the quantity available |
| the responsibilities and details. Items to | | | | to one individual and require the money to be |
| include in your plan are: the fundraising | | | | returned to the school in order to receive |
| rules/guidelines, beginning and ending dates, | | | | additional quantities. |
| and a parental permission slip. Always keep | | | | |
| your priorities in order. Teachers and | | | | If you consider these tips when planning your |
| administrators don't mind fundraisers that | | | | next fundraiser you will be more likely to |
| are held before or after school and don't | | | | increase student involvement and help off-set |
| detract from class time. You will be more | | | | the costs of the trip - two of the key |
| likely to get the okay if you prohibit sales | | | | elements used by trip sponsors to plan a |
| during school hours and schedule merchandise | | | | successful student travel experience. |