As we’ve learned, one of the best things about sponsored events is that they place your students at the centre of the fundraising process. It can be all too easy for children to put a coin (handed to them directly from their parents’ pocket!) in a bucket, without a second thought as to where it’s going or the impact it will have. Taking part in a sponsored event requires action – sometimes very challenging action! – on the part of the children. If children are tasked with creating their own fundraising page – or contributing to a class level page – to send out to friends and family, it also requires them to research, understand and communicate why they are raising money for their chosen cause and what impact it will have. This is a brilliant way to meaningfully engage children in the fundraising process and results is much higher levels of student satisfaction and accomplishment than any adult-organised event could hope to replicate.

There are a few ways that your PTA can maximise this benefit to your children:

Help them understand:

-What the problem is

-What the possible solutions are

-How their money will be used

-What they can do (in addition to raising money) to make a difference

-That their actions can make a difference and their views matter

Involve them in decisions about:

-Whether to raise money

-Which cause to support

-How to raise the money

-What other actions to take to further the campaign (e.g. volunteering or raising awareness)

Engage them in:

– Creating their own fundraising page, including communicating the importance of the cause in their own words

– Spreading the word about their fundraiser far and wide (to friends, neighbours, family, local businesses etc)

– Keeping their supporters updated on their progress and expressing their thanks for donations