Getting started – steps toward success
The following tips and tactics will help you plan your fundraising campaign.
Identify your goals – Clearly state how much money needs to be raised and how these funds will be spent.
Find a leader – An organized and enthusiastic leader will spearhead the project and provide the team with energetic support.
Set reasonable timelines for your campaign – Keep in mind that shorter time frames will help sustain momentum. Also, try to stagger your fundraisers to avoid inundating potential supporters.
Determine your fundraising tactics – Consider what types of fundraising have worked in your school in the past, what other schools in your area are doing and your timelines and goals when determining which methods to engage. Focus on doing a few fundraisers well, rather than many ineffectively.
Be clear with your communications throughout your fundraising campaign – Share your fundraising progress with students, teachers, parents and the local community to maintain enthusiasm for your project. Once you have reached your fundraising goals, share your success with local media and be sure to recognize your sponsors, donors and volunteers that made your success possible.
The Sponsor-A-Classroom fundraising program aims to help you initiate a direct-donation, classroom-adoption program for your school or district. SMART has created a collection of guidelines and customizable templates you can use to support your fundraising efforts.
Implementation guide
Review these guidelines to gain an understanding of how to successfully initiate a Sponsor-A-Classroom fundraising program.
Student letter template
Customize this template to solicit community donations. The student template is designed for solicitations from students.
Personalize the template by adding your school's name and logo along with details about your fundraising project.
Stakeholder letter template
Customize this template to solicit community donations. The stakeholder template will help you create solicitations from school stakeholders, including parents and teachers.
Personalize the template by adding your school's name and logo along with details about your fundraising project.
SMART fundraising thermometer
The SMART fundraising thermometer will help you effectively track the amount of funds raised or the number of classrooms sponsored.
Media release template
With this media release template, you can easily inform the local media about your fundraising project and its successes. Customize the template by inserting your school name and the details of your project.
Donor and budget tracker
Stay organized with this donor and budget tracker. This tool will help you effortlessly keep track of your donors, their donation amounts and your program budget.
We've gathered stories from newspapers and our own publications, highlighting how dedicated people have been able to raise funds to turn their interactive classroom technology plans into reality.
Parents raise funds for interactive whiteboards at Maryland middle school
Read how parents of students at Crofton Middle School raised funds for SMART Board interactive whiteboards with pledge runs. (The Capital, Annapolis, June 5, 2010)
B.C. parents raise $40,000 for interactive classroom technology
Read how parents of students at Montroyal Elementary school in North Vancouver, British Columbia, were able to raise $40,000 to purchase SMART Board interactive whiteboards. (Vancouver Sun, April 4, 2011)
California school overcomes funding obstacles
Read how Frank Wright School, a SMART Showcase School in Los Angeles County, was able to overcome severe state funding cuts with innovative approaches to fundraising.
Salt Lake City school leads learning exploration
Read how Escalante Elementary School was able to raise funds from community donors for a widespread implementation of SMART Board interactive whiteboards.
Pennsylvania teacher's fundraising efforts pay off for several districts
Read how SMART Exemplary Educator Glenn Cermak's tireless fundraising have led to interactive classroom technology purchases in his own and other school districts.
