How many tubs of cookie dough can a kid really sell these days? They hit up the neighbors, call a few relatives, and if its a small town, they're maxed out. And who really wants to send their kids out in the inner city? The Innovative School Fundraising program is perfect for small towns, big cities, and even the in-betweens that may already do fine with standard fundraising programs.
Traditional Approaches to School Fundraising
There are many ways to raise money for schools. Cambell's Soup labels, General Mills Box Tops for Education, eScrip and regular penny drives are most popular. Now, schools and their PTAs are getting help from the internet and companies that know that sending kids from house to house may not be the most practical, or safest option
Innovative School Fundraising
Innovative School Fundraising is a program developed by teachers. The fledgling company found a need for school funding and is filling that need through the internet marketplace. ISF is partnered with over 400 companies across the United States that have all agreed to support education.
How Does Innovative School Fundraising Work?
Parents, grandparents, or anyone else only need to click on a link provided by ISF. The link can be emailed in the school newsletter, or be displayed on the schools webpage. They are then directed to an online marketplace where they can shop for whatever they need, be it a new bike, a new shirt, or computer ink. The prices are the same as those found in box stores, and may even be less.
The companies donate a percentage of sales to ISF and then that money is given back to school organizations. It is a safe cost effective and time efficient way to make extra cash. According to ISF the amount donated back to the school or PTA is 80% of their total commission. The best part of the program is that total commissions are listed on the sites so everyone knows exactly how much both the school and ISF are getting.
The Leaders of Innovative School Funding
The founder of Innovative School Funding, Mickey Chavannes, is a high school economics and history teacher. He is a talented businessman who specializes in creating ways to capitalize on non-selling fund raising opportunities. He spent many years in the business sector, and decided to volunteer his time to public and private schools and help them raise money and bridge the gaps between programs and funding.
Brian Jaeger is the technology directer of the company and is a high school English teacher. He has spent years developing and creating websites for his classroom, students and businesses and has an "innate ability to find creative ways to incorporate technology" into generating revenue.
Allison Alstrin worked as the Financial Adviser to the Provost at the University of Hartford and before that was the Budget analyst for Clemson University. She is deeply rooted in education and recognizes the shortfalls in funding that the education system faces.
For more information, visit the Innovative School Funding Webpage. Innovative School Funding is approved by the Milwaukee Public School System's Board of Governance as a vendor for schools to use in their fundraising efforts.
Carmen Sofia Grant - Carmen is a social media marketer, freelance writer, and blogger. Her favorite blogs are MomCrunch and Social Media Examiner.com
