Determining your fundraising goals is one of the most important steps in school fundraising. Having clear goals - including what funds will be used for and how much you need - makes it much easier for PTAs/PTOs to plan and execute their fundraising events.
In this blog, you’ll learn more about:
So how exactly do you figure out what to raise funds for and how much to raise? The best approach is to actually talk to the people who are most familiar with school needs: teachers, administration, other school staff, and even families. These core members of the school community have valuable insight into where funds are needed most.
This article will outline the ins and outs of using surveys to determine school fundraising goals. We’ll cover why PTA surveys work, good PTA survey questions for teachers, staff, and families, the best ways to distribute and collect your PTA surveys, and more.
Why are PTA surveys for teachers, administrators, and other members of the school community such valuable tools for PTAs/PTOs? Here are just a few reasons:
Fundraising takes a lot of planning and volunteer hours, but part of what makes it so fun and meaningful is seeing the results. Surveys help you make the most of your fundraising efforts by giving you a laser focus on what the school really needs so that you can raise funds for it. By incorporating insights from the people who are in the field every day, you’ll not only save yourself a lot of guesswork but also ensure that your fundraising efforts don’t go to waste.
With technology these days, it’s never been easier to create, send , and collect surveys. There are dozens of free online survey tools that let you easily create surveys that respondents can access anywhere, any time. Many of these tools allow you to view responses as charts and graphs so that you can gather insights more quickly.
Of course, you can also always print hard copies and distribute them face-to-face. While this process may require more time and effort - and may not be feasible while COVID-19 is a threat - it can provide an opportunity for you to meet face-to-face with teachers and staff and strengthen the relationship between the PTA/PTO and the school at large.
On the note of community, surveys are a great way to strengthen the bonds between PTAs/PTOs and everyone else who makes the school world go ‘round. Teachers, administration, other staff, and (if you choose) parents and families will appreciate the chance to have their voices heard about the school’s needs. It may even encourage respondents to volunteer later on down the road.
The short answer is: anyone who has knowledge about school needs and/or an interest in those needs being met. You can create PTA survey questions for teachers, administrators, staff such as counselors, nurses, librarians, cafeteria workers, etc., and even parents and families.
Just know that you will need to tailor PTA survey questions to the intended audience, meaning you may need to create different PTA surveys for teachers, admin, families, etc. You’ll also need to make sure you have the time and volunteer power to read through all the responses and incorporate them into your fundraising goals.
Use PTA surveys for teachers and other staff to ask about:
Surveys for parents and families provide a great opportunity to gauge not only what parents see as the students’ biggest needs but also interest in volunteering and the skills parents might bring. Consider asking:
The best fundraisers are a collaborative effort. That’s why we’re dedicated to working with schools as a team, bringing our fundraising expertise and passion to the table in whatever way schools need. Learn more about how our school fundraising solutions help you bring in more money with a lot less work and have fun along the way.