Fundraising Ideas for Micro-schools
In a time when schools are being asked to do more with less, the micro-school is one educational model that has been growing in popularity.
Microschools have gained wide recognition for their ability to be both affordable and personalized while also empowering students from marginalized communities.
Yet, despite this momentum, there still exists a level of uncertainty about how to fund microschools.
This article aims to provide an accessible resource for fundraising ideas that are “low cost, high impact” for all types of microschools.
10 Fundraising Ideas for Microschools
The following is a list of ten ideas for microschools to fundraise.
1. Crowdfunding
There are a variety of crowdfunding platforms that have been created to support micro-causes and projects.
Among the most popular is GoFundMe, an online fundraising tool.
This platform allows microschools to promote their own crowd funding campaigns at no cost while accepting donations from anywhere in the world.
2. Yard Sales and Clothing Drives
Yard sales and clothing drives are some of the easiest ways to fundraise for micro-projects.
They allow participants, especially students, to acquire new skills that can be applied across a variety of disciplines while also providing families with an opportunity to clean out closets and garages.
3. Bike-a-Thon
A bike-a-thon is a great fundraising opportunity for microschools to take advantage of.
In a bike-a-thon, students take turns biking laps around the school or neighborhood while encouraging community members to pledge per lap.
This event can serve as a simple and cost-effective way to fundraise while also promoting physical activity.
4. Bake Sales
Bake sales are a fixture of community fundraising in the US, so it is no surprise that microschools have been taking advantage of this opportunity.
In fact, an added benefit of bake sales is that they can be done at no cost since they require no money up front.
All that is needed are volunteers who are willing to make the treats and sell them for a share of the profits.
5. Car Washes
Blankets, t-shirts, candles; there are many different items that microschools can choose to fundraise on… but what about the school itself?
A car wash provides an opportunity for microschools to fundraise while keeping their campus clean at no cost.
6. Donations and Sponsorship Requests
Donations are one of the easiest ways to get money into a micro-project’s hands quickly.
With this in mind, microschools can approach local businesses, political organizations, or non-profit groups to request donations.
7. Donations of Time
Money is an important resource for micro-projects but so is time. While it may not result in immediate financial contributions, approaching the community about donating their time to a microschool project can have great benefits for all involved.
8. Talent Shows and Poetry Nights
Talent shows and poetry nights are a great way to fundraise while also encouraging creative expression from students.
These events can be organized at no cost for microschools with the help of volunteers who are willing to organize and promote them amongst their community networks.
9. Birthdays
It may seem obvious, but celebrating a birthday can be a great way to fundraise for microschools. Some non-profits have even gone so far as to create events that celebrate birthdays of multiple people on the same day (e.g., “Birthday Bonanza”).
With this in mind, microschools can also celebrate the birthdays of individual students or groups of students.
10. Grants and Awards
Grants are generally considered to be a source of funding that is beyond the scope of microschools, but this does not have to be the case. With some research, micro-projects are able to find local organizations that provide grants or other awards for specific activities.
Final Thoughts
Microschools around the world are changing the face of education, but every micro-project needs funding to be successful.
Luckily, there are a variety of fundraising opportunities available to microschools that need not involve spending money. All it takes is some research and creativity!
