Fundraising for today’s Band Director
I have a unique perspective on the role of fundraising in music education. I spent eight years as a band director, twenty years in fundraising, went back to being a band director, retired and renewed my fundraising career.
Most of my time fundraising was concentrated in the Performing Arts area, helping bands, choirs, theater programs and orchestras raise the funds needed to enable them to be successful.
During my fundraising days, I gathered some information that I feel would be helpful today.
Do!:
• Have a goal in my mind for the money – a trip, a new instruments, new uniforms, technology, etc. Your students need to know the why!
• Stay in the room as the fundraiser is kicked off! If it is important to you, it will be important to them!
• Make sure your words and actions match the expected outcome of success.
• Show the students with your involvement how important the fundraiser and the fundraiser money are to the program. I’ve had teachers go so far as to be one of the sales leaders and show the students EVERY day that they are walking the walk and doing everything asked of the students on the fundraiser (registering and sharing online, etc.).
• Use the technology the company offers (dashboard) to share the program’s success with your students on a daily basis!
• Post the names, praise and reward the sales leaders in your group.
• Use competition between grades, classes, sections as a motivator. Reward the winning group (recognition, pizza, candy, ice cream)
• Consider a no cost incentive for reaching the goal (pie in the face, eat a chocolate covered cricket, human sundae, etc.)
Don’t!:
• Tell the students things like:
o “I hate fundraising as much as you do, but we need the money!”;
o “We’re broke!”
o “Here we go again, the FUNDRAISER GUY!”
(BTW, these are all things I’ve heard!)
• Underestimate your importance in the equation! Your students love and respect you! They want to please you. Get and stay involved in the fundraiser!
Even if your booster parents handle the bulk of the work in a fundraiser (they should!), you have an even more important role in your student’s fundraising success! Your students will fundraise if they know it is vital to their program’s success. Approach fundraising with the same vigor and interest as you do their rehearsal and performance. I promise it will pay off!
