Is your PTA raising funds for items related to pupils’ learning? A new library? Some sports equipment? A subscription to online maths resources? Holding a curriculum-related event can help supporters understand what the PTA intends to fund, as well as highlight the school’s needs. While there are no hard and fast rules, it’s important to communicate your fundraising goals to supporters clearly. Encourage pupils’ participation where possible to showcase the skills and talents within the school. Work closely with the school to find a fun connection between your event and coursework or class activities, or use our ideas as a springboard.
Make and create STEAM day
Widen STEM to STEAM by incorporating the “A” for art, and hold an event where parents and children can make, create and experiment together. Your event might feature activities such as tinkering with Meccano, Lego or other building toys; conducting simple science experiments with vinegar and baking soda; or making slime. You could invite a jeweller to give a demonstration or lead a micro-workshop, an engineer grandparent to assemble basic go-karts or other fun constructions, and coders or designers to share their expertise.
Be a good sport
If your school needs new PE equipment, sports kit or improvements to exercise facilities, organise events that encourage movement! Simple ideas include a fun run with a small charge to participate, a yoga class – not just for mums – or a five-a-side football tournament open to everyone, not only the men. For a more involved event, set up an obstacle course or host a picnic and rounders afternoon. Some schools have created popular annual races, colour runs and cross-country runs. Keen cyclists may enjoy a cycling race timed to coincide with the Tour of Britain in September.
Create your own game show
There are many exciting options for a game show based on school subjects. One idea is to have teams compete in rounds of the classic word game Hangman, which focuses on literacy and vocabulary. Or take inspiration from the show Countdown, in which teams try to come up with the longest word from a random selection of letters. You could customise this idea by using words related to your school, such as its name or the names of teachers. Countdown also offers possibilities for maths games.
Think about whether your teams will include both adults and children, or make your show exclusively for adults, potentially incorporating a boozy element. There are countless ideas for game show formats; you could recreate a popular one or invent your own by putting heads together or asking your favourite AI bot.
Encourage the arts
If the curriculum is squeezing the arts at your school, there are many ways to boost participation. Work with the teachers or parents to encourage each child to produce an artwork or photograph, then hold an exhibition and auction or sale. Make the works more desirable by framing them. To fund music, rally local musicians to your cause – whether young or old – and host a battle of the bands or plan a concert with the school choir. If you have a dynamic drama teacher or drama club, stage a play or series of sketches. Alternatively, ask a fashion designer, seamstress or enthusiastic amateur clothes-maker in your community about organising a fashion show? Work with pupils to create garments, perhaps focusing on upcycling, then hold a special afternoon or evening event to showcase the designs.
Hold a spelling bee
Decide on your team categories. For example, adults, key stage 1, and key stage 2. Create a list of rules, including the format, time limits and the scoring system and be sure to tell everyone before you begin. Charge a reasonable entry fee. Ask local businesses for literacy-related prizes, such as book tokens, especially if there’s an independent bookshop nearby.
Celebrate books
In addition to World Book Day, with its dressing up to encourage literacy, there are many other ways to celebrate books and reading. One idea is to arrange a talk with a local author. If they’re giving their time for free, be sure to let them know it’s a fundraiser and that you plan to charge for tickets. Start by reaching out to your school community, and if that doesn’t work, cast your net further by contacting agents or publishers. Pupils could even create a book for their school, with children contributing stories, jokes, poems, comic strips or other artwork. There are plenty of options for designing and publishing online. Then hold a launch event where you can sell the books.
Get technical
There are plenty of exciting ways to encourage STEM learning while raising funds for your school. If you’re feeling creative, work with the teachers on maths and number puzzles to use in a family escape room. Or host a maths-themed adventure trail, where participants solve number-related problems at different checkpoints to progress. For a different kind of event, organise a family trip to a local science centre, museum or planetarium.
Speak out
To deepen supporters’ understanding of your cause, invite the headteacher or PTA chair to give a speech before the event begins. Ask them to explain why the school needs this funding, focusing on the positive impact it will have on the children.
Project funds
If you tell people you will use their donations for a specific project, you must allocate those funds appropriately. For more information about restricted funds, read our article.
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