Prepare PTA volunteers, teachers and the Principal

• Parent volunteers: Refer to our Volunteer Tasks & Tips for kick-off volunteer opportunities.  
• Principal and Teachers: Kids love seeing their Principal and teachers involved in all the fun festivities, especially during your Kick-Off assembly.  Encourage your Principal and other silly teachers to let loose and have lots of fun – their participation will set the tone for your entire fundraiser.  Some fun ways to get the Principal and teachers involved:
  • During the kick-off assembly, have one of the teachers and/or the Principal create a video on their cell phone promoting the fundraiser (get them to dress-up in a costume and act silly during the video).  Share the video on the school’s Facebook page!
  • Ask the Principal to agree to doing something wild and crazy if the school reaches its goal. Have the Principal make the announcement about what he/she plans to do if the goal is met. (Ideas: dye their hair blue, kiss a pig, sit on the roof of the school during lunch, get duct-taped to the wall by all the students who participate in the fundraiser)

Decorate the school

• Make it obvious that something fun is going on at school!
• Decorate outside the school and in the carpool line, in the hallways, school office, lunchroom, and in the classrooms.

Gather your materials

• Be sure you have access to the Kick-Off Video.
• Determine all necessary technical equipment needed such as laptop, screen, microphones, speakers, Wifi access, and necessary cords.
• Fundraising packets and prizes to be shown during the assembly.
• Any additional props, costumes, or free prizes you might give away during the kick-off assembly.

Prepare your script  

• For a live kick-off assembly (recommended), check out our Kick-Off Script. Be sure to include engaging activities and get the students and teachers involved.
• For a parent assembly, check out our Parent Night Script, stressing your goal and the importance of involvement from all families (great for Open-House, Back-to-School Night, or any school-wide event).

Be sure to finalize your goal amount and determine how the funds will be used – this is a critical piece of information you’ll want to communicate to students, parents, teachers and supporters.

Select the music  

• Choose a song that’s upbeat and of course, appropriate.
• Consider choosing a song that incorporates your school mascot, or perhaps the theme of the prize incentive program.
• Have your Principal approve the theme-song before the kick-off assembly.

Spread the word early

• Create an “event” on the school or PTA’s Facebook page to heighten awareness about your fundraiser kick-off.  Set the event date as your kick-off date.  Make several posts leading up to your kick-off to create awareness among parents. For example- “Be on the lookout for your Charleston Wrap^® fundraising packet coming home this Friday!  Please like and comment below if we have your support!”
• Prepare to include the fundraising information in the school newsletter leading up to the kick-off date.  If your fundraiser begins in September, make an announcement in the August newsletter. For example – “Our Charleston Wrap^® Fundraiser kicks off September 1st! Look for the packet coming home with your child. WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT!”.

Refer to our School Fundraising Promotion Timeline as a guide for when and what you should communicate to your fundraising participants.