Back to school season is finally here! This year students, teachers, and parents are thrilled to be getting back in the classroom and their excitement is contagious. As students line up with their backpacks on and lunchboxes in hand, you want to make sure that your school is ready for all the ...

Whether you’re a seasoned fundraiser or a newbie, last minute panic is a common fear, especially if you’re unsure how to advertise a fundraiser. Will everything go off without a hitch? Will people actually show up, participate and most importantly, DONATE?!  Calm Last Minute Panic by Knowing How to ...

A successful fundraiser doesn’t just raise money for your school. It makes good use of an opportunity to have fun, build community, and teach children valuable life lessons along the way. Top Fundraising Tips to Make More Than Just Money this School Year Maximize Benefits to Students with these Top ...

School fundraising can play an important role in helping school administrators provide quality education for the students they serve. Unfortunately, many schools across the country are underfunded and desperately need community support which can come from hosting school fundraisers. School ...

Need more participation in your school’s activities, fundraisers, or volunteer efforts?  Ask a mom.  I spent some time with my kids decorating cookies this week. It’s Summer, and I have some activities planned so they don’t spend too much time on devices or watching TV. A cookie decorating kit was ...

Ahhhh, summer. Those long days, outdoor adventures, and beautiful nights are here. You survived the end-of-year rat race, and now you’re ready for some well-deserved relaxation.  Start your summer with a complete break from your PTA/PTO leadership duties to allow yourself time to rest and ...

You want a vibrant school community filled with people who are proud of their child’s school, jumping at the chance to volunteer, and excited to be part of something great!  So How Do You Build the Engaged School Community of Your Dreams?  COVID taught us all there’s nothing better than ...

Unequal, insufficient funding for U.S. schools has long driven the need for fundraising efforts to supplement school budgets. But unless you’re an education worker, PTA/PTO leader, or seasoned parent volunteer, you may not know that the importance of fundraising goes well beyond school budgeting. ...

If you’ve ever volunteered at your school’s PTA/PTO, you know the difference good planning makes. With so many responsibilities to juggle, it can be tempting to fly by the seat of your pants and hope for the best. Even if it makes money, a poorly planned school fundraiser can do more damage than ...

Virtually all schools depend on fundraising to support their budgets. School fundraisers provide much-needed funds to support students’ education and extracurriculars, not to mention opportunities for fun and community bonding. But school fundraising also requires a lot of work, traditionally ...

If you work in a school or have school-aged kids, then you understand the importance of fundraising. The benefits of school fundraising go well beyond supplementing the school’s budget for things like field trips, enrichment programs, and facilities upgrades. When done right, school fundraisers ...

Boosterthon knows that having an engaged, enthusiastic, contributing pool of parent volunteers can make an enormous impact on your PTA and school. But what's the easiest method to recruit great volunteers? Create a Parent Volunteer Form. A Parent Volunteer Form can help collect the information you ...

As a K12 fundraising leader, no doubt, you’re on the lookout for the best ways to earn extra cash for your school. Scrolling through blog posts and fundraising tips, you have probably come across employer matching gift programs.  Employer gift matching is profitable, but it can sometimes feel like ...

Teacher Appreciation Week is in May, but frankly, teachers are exhausted by that time. Teachers play such a critical role in the development of our children—why not ensure that they know how grateful we are for them all year long? I’ve seen the power of celebrating others along the way, not just at ...

Can schools effectively fundraise this school year? Many parent groups are wondering if it’s possible and even appropriate to raise funds considering an economic recession and the prevalence of virtual, hybrid, and on-campus learning across the country. As part of the National PTA’s Learning Lab ...

Lake Whitney Elementary School in Winter Park, FL, is no stranger to Booster. A 3-year partner, they’ve experienced their share of successful Boosterthon Fun Run programs over the years. But like many schools this year, they needed a flexible fundraising program—one that would not only be safe and ...

Should we host a fundraiser at all this school year? Many parent groups and administrators asked themselves this question back in August and even continue to do so today. With potential job insecurity in communities and the disruption to the normal learning environment, should schools even host a ...

What a time to be in education or a school volunteer. With significantly higher than expected opening expenses, surprise budget cuts, and virtual learning, schools have greater financial needs than ever. If your school needs to fundraise, but doesn’t know where to start, we’ve polled 800 schools ...

If your school is considering hosting a Fun Run fundraiser this year or you’ve had a running tradition of putting on your own DIY fundraiser, here are 5 things you should consider in light of COVID-19, making school events more challenging this year.  1. Have a virtual component Whether your school ...

With so many schools facing an uncertain school year but needing to raise even more funds for essential resources, parent organizations and administrators are wondering how they can get more out of their virtual, online, or on-campus fundraiser. But asking parents to donate more than they already ...

When my children’s school shuttered in March, the President and Vice President of our Parent Volunteer Association were adamant about maintaining a sense of community among students and families while social distancing. They came up with a virtual Spirit Week that they hosted on the PVA Facebook ...

Getting started at a new school can be an emotional time. Whether your family has moved or your child is changing schools, there are steps you can take to ease the transition for everyone. Getting plugged in to the PTA is a great place to start! Whether you’re simply looking for information or an ...

Back to school season is upon us! Parents, teachers, and students are filled with anticipation and excitement for the school year ahead. This is an especially exciting time for PTAs. Your parent board has likely spent a lot of time planning and preparing for the upcoming year, and back to school ...

The weather is getting warmer, the sun is shining brighter, and spring has officially sprung. With the anticipation of summer just around the corner comes one final, big hoorah for your school- Field Day. When executed correctly, Field Day can be one of the most exciting days of the school year for ...

With many schools rolling the dice and putting on their own fundraisers, many school leaders are asking: “Should we outsource part of our fundraising to another organization or do everything ourselves in-house?" It’s a great question, and since we serve over 3,000 schools every year, it’s something ...

Lisa Cary, PTA Vice President of Richardson-Olmsted Elementary outside of Boston, MA, remembers what life was like before Boosterthon. “We held several labor-intensive fundraisers each year.” Many of them were product-sale fundraisers, which means their students sold items like soup, wrapping ...

Note: This post was written by Dannielle Cappellino, an 8-Year PTA Member in Orange County, California.    There’s no getting around it: The success of your school’s fundraiser depends on the support and involvement of your parents. If you can develop a strategy to get parents on board, you have a ...

St. Benedict Preparatory School is no stranger to fundraising. As one of the largest Catholic schools in Chicago, IL, it takes a lot to fully fund their budget, and they're constantly looking for proven fundraisers to do it. Prior to partnering with Boosterthon, St. Benedict held a Wreath and Wrap ...

Why fundraise? It happens every year. An elementary school sends an email announcing its next fundraiser, causing many parents to wonder, “Why do we need to fundraise at all? How do school fundraisers work?” They’re valid questions and ones that are not universally understood. But as the think tank ...

It’s virtually unanimous: the #1 struggle for most parent organizations is getting parents to volunteer at the school. But there are huge benefits to engaging in your child’s school. So why don’t more people volunteer? That’s why we asked a handful of PTA/O experts to share what they get out of ...

Before they partnered with Boosterthon in 2014, Antelope Hills Elementary in Murrieta, California was just like any other school—they couldn’t find a fundraiser that was hassle-free for their PTA and consistently worked. And they tried it all: They held raffles, put on bake sales, sold products, ...

 "But what happens to the Fun Run in the case of rain, snow, or cold?" We hear that question quite a bit. That's why we developed one of the most exciting fundraising programs ever: the Boosterthon Glow Run. The Glow Run transforms your gym into a glowing neon celebration complete with rope lights, ...

Over the coming year, we'll be posting one Boosterthon case study every few weeks. Our goal is to give you an in-depth look at the stories behind the successes our partners have experienced with Boosterthon. We hope you enjoy these fascinating case studies. Boosterthon Case Study: Orchard Park ...

Let’s face it: most schools don’t like fundraising. But no matter what elementary school community you’re a part of, nearly every school needs help raising funds. And if you’ve ever served on a volunteer parent group, you’re always on the lookout for elementary school fundraising ideas that line up ...

If you’ve ever bought a car or a house, you know there are tons of questions you should ask to make sure you’re getting the best value for your family. The same is true of your elementary school fundraiser. Choosing the right fundraiser for your school requires some savvy. The next time your ...

At Boosterthon, we believe your students deserve the best educational experience possible. That’s why we’ve created a hassle-free fundraiser that raises schools 70% more funds than their previous fundraiser. But once the hard part of raising funds is over, your PTA/O still has to figure out the ...

Let’s be honest. Parents are some of the busiest people on Earth. And when you add in a leadership role on the PTO, it can be tough to juggle responsibilities at home and at the school. So how do you strike the right balance? Brenda Wood, a seasoned PTO expert, offers 5 simple secrets to creating a ...

As a PTA leader, volunteers are perhaps the single most important key to your organization’s success. Without them, you have virtually no shot of reaching your goals for the year. Since volunteers are the backbone of parent organizations, it’s crucial to find good volunteers, keep them, and ensure ...

I’ll be honest . . . I’m a talker. Conversations that should take 5 minutes often take me 20! So when I took on the leadership role of our elementary school’s parent organization, I quickly learned some important lessons about how not to waste my words, but how to channel them effectively. And as ...

 As a PTA/PTO leader, you probably have lots of ambitious goals for the year. (And if you haven't yet clarified your organization’s goals, check out our blog post on the topic). But in order to get things done, you’ll need the help of some committed volunteers. And let’s be honest, being a ...

It happens almost every year—a new school year kicks off, an eager new PTA leadership team steps in, and you’ve got roughly nine months to make a positive impact on your school community. So, how will your newly formed PTA decide its goals for the year and craft the plans to make them happen? Here ...

Let’s face it: Taking over as PTA or PTO President can be overwhelming and a little nerve-wracking. Hundreds of parents are looking to you to make sound decisions on behalf of their children’s education. Not least of these is this question: How are we going to raise money for our school? Not to ...

If you’re looking for tips and tricks for your greatest fundraiser yet, we’ve got you covered. With over a decade of fundraising expertise, completing these 5 world-class tips guarantees you the best opportunity for making the most of your Boosterthon program. Let’s get started! Set a big yet ...

When you think of pledging your school, do you think of revolutionary pledging technology? We do. For busy parents, supporting their school should be simple and (we think) actually fun. And in order to deliver that flawlessly, our team dreams big and goes to work creating pledging inventions that ...

Kellie Boomershine speaking to students at Beech Hill Elementary School’s Career Day. Joining your school’s PTA/O is a wonderful way to get more involved in your community and shape your student’s educational experience. Whether you’re hoping to volunteer more or you just threw your name in the hat ...

Over the years, we’ve seen that families who get the most pledges usually do so by asking LOTS of people in their social network. They’ve discovered that friends and family are more than eager to support your student and your school. You just have to ask! A good old fashioned phone call is still ...

Brrrr! It’s cold outside, so we’re taking all the fun of the Boosterthon inside! In many ways, some schools enjoy an indoor Fun Run even more.  So, here are 5 things you’ll notice when you cheer on your student this winter, plus a few helpful parent tips. 1.   Smaller Track: Most gyms fit just one ...

Each year, Boosterthon teachers create a team nickname for their class. It helps set the week apart, makes our program more exciting, and unites classes together under a new, voted name. Sometimes the names rhyme, sometimes they use alliteration (“Peter’s Penguins”) and sometimes they’re just plain ...

The fall semester is almost here and we can't wait to begin meeting with your school leaders to kick-start this year's Boosterthon program, Rock'n Town Live! But before we do that, take a look at these suggestions to help your program run more smoothly and efficiently.       1. Bring Everyone. The ...

Because of our hassle-free program, there isn’t too much for parent organizations to do to ensure a fun, successful Boosterthon. But here are 5 easy ways to crank your school’s experience up a notch with some simple tips. 1. Decorate like it’s homecoming. Remember the week of your high school ...

Thanksgiving is practically here and the winter holidays are upon us! It really is the most wonderful time of the year. But while the spirit of these holidays can leave us with a warm and fuzzy feeling, we often don’t leave the warm and fuzzy house to fully experience what these holidays are truly ...

Every week we serve schools across the nation by helping them meet their financial goals. If you have ever been to a Boosterthon Fun Run event, you know that there is a lot that goes into the 9-day program and putting on the event itself, and we are proud to do the work. However, there is no way we ...