Recent Parent Club Initiatives

The Parent Club over the last several years has worked hard to minimize the amount of work we all do to raise money.  Here is a list of some of the things that we have done to make it easier on everyone:
Here is a list of what we have done to make the Parent Club run more efficiently:
 

• We have documented many of our processes and continue to do so
• We revised the structure of the Parent Club and have documented the “job descriptions” of each role
• We have changed they way we raise money by:
  • Instituting the Commitment Sheets (close to half of our fundraising money comes from donations received via the Commitment Sheets)
  • Combining three fundraisers into two
  • Adding the Read-A-Thon (a very low effort, but highly effective fundraiser)
• We have updated the website and we keep it current with important information
• Parent Club meetings are limited to 1 hour
• We have automated many processes using technology:
  • Installed a new donor tracking software
    • Included is a way to accept credit card donations on our website; donors can choose their own payment plan (monthly, quarterly, one-time)
    • Automatically sends donation acknowledgements and allows for year end statements to donors
    • Tracks pledges
  • Installed a new auction management software (migrated from Excel spreadsheets)
    • Includes online event registration and pre-registration of credit cards for easy check out
    • Allows for online and printed catalogs
    • Keeps track of all donations and facilitates thank you letters and solicitation letters for the following year
  • Hats, T-Shirts, Yearbooks and parties are all sold on our website via a PayPal link