Fundraising – not exactly the reason you entered music education, is it? However, if you plan to travel with your students, it’s time to face the fact that fundraising is part of your program.
Couple of tips about raising funds for student travel:
How much will it cost? Include the base price of the trip, extra outings, and transportation (can be a biggie). Will chaperones pay their own way or should fundraising cover their portion? Knowledge is power, right? Don’t be daunted and think that wishin’, hopin’, and prayin’ are going to get the job done. Just find out how much the trip will cost. A travel planner can work to whittle down the costs within your budget.
Involve parents early. Parents are full of fundraising ideas. Consider launching a parent-operated fundraising committee. The more parents are included, the more successful your fundraiser.
Children, Go Where I Send Thee! Do students want to go where you want to take them? Enlist their suggestions and earnestly listen to their ideas. Your enthusiasm will be contagious. If students don’t want to go on your trip, back-burner that destination. Explore other more student-appealing options.
Financial deadlines. Once you have costs, settle on due dates with your travel planner. Your travel planner will provide a detailed itinerary with trip inclusions and what is not included. Cancellation dates and attrition policies should be clear. Give yourself time to collect straggling payments, to deposit monies, and to prepare your payment. Give your families due dates of at least a week prior to the deadline.
Speaking of itineraries… If you add director-arranged activities to your itinerary, keep your travel planner in the know. Changes add bus hours. Due to laws controlling hours of service PLUS the bus’s Electronic Logging Devices, your bus moves must be carefully evaluated. Weather conditions, traffic congestion, and unforeseen issues with illness or tardiness will all affect your driver’s hours of service.
How will money be handled? Only you can answer this question based on your booster club’s process or your district requirements. Having one or two persons in charge of finances makes it easier. Regular reports should be due to you and your booster board. Other booster members should audit the funds. Selecting people who respect confidentiality helps families feel secure about sharing financial concerns.
Be sensitive. Recognize your music families’ economic situation. Having lofty goals for a trip of a lifetime is fine, but if students can’t raise the funds, adjust expectations. Some anxious parents may not want students to venture from home or to fundraise. Meet individually with those parents so no one is embarrassed. Do you have a “scholarship” fund set up for students who cannot provide family funds? Discuss this concern early with school administration and/or with your booster club. Explore potential sources of revenue for those students. Forum Music Festivals’ scholarship program discounts trips for returning schools and directors. SYTA (Student Youth Travel Association) offers scholarships through their SYF fund. Many community organizations offer financial assistance if they are aware of the need.
Sales Promotion 101. Let the world know your group is fundraising. Use social media including a hashtag that students can use. Make school-wide public announcements. Ask community clubs for donations. Enlist the local newspaper for publicity. One director schedules his choir to sing at restaurant openings, or Kiwanis or Rotary Club meetings. A small town orchestra director sets up string quartets to perform outside local stores, and hosts community concerts (for a small fee, of course). Invite important sponsors to concerts, rehearsals, and any pre-trip launch parties you may have.
Creating partnerships with area businesses is a win/win for students AND business owners! Counting on community pride, student travelers involve the community when heading to a new destination and return home to share the experience.
Fundraising ideas are endless and can be fun. Provide some selling tips and pointers about sales etiquette. This may be the first time students have ever “sold” or asked for donations. Don’t be discouraged by the amount required to take the trip. Just get started. Your students will discover a view of the world that they will never forget.