Persuading Your Principal to Greenlight an Art Class Fundraiser

Art teachers know the power of creativity and expression. Yet ongoing budgetary constraints can make it challenging to pursue new types of projects in the classroom. To make matters worse, getting the green light for new initiatives, like an art class fundraiser, can be full of roadblocks too. But with the right approach, it’s easy to show the entire school community how a fundraising program can be easy, fun, and super effective for boosting the art room budget!

Tips for Getting Art Class Fundraiser Approval

If you’re passionate about bringing a fundraiser opportunity to your school, it’s important to get strategic about how you introduce the opportunity to people in your community. The school board and your principal may have some reservations about taking on a new project. Addressing those concerns and questions head-on and emphasizing the benefits of art education can help you persuade them to give the go-ahead. A little communication will go a long way!

1. Highlight the Benefits for Students

First and foremost, teachers need to emphasize how an art class fundraiser, specifically, will directly benefit students. This is a key differentiator from other fundraiser programs. With art projects, schools can encourage creativity, critical thinking, and emotional expression. When you link the fundraiser to student growth, you’ll be able to make a compelling case that it’s more than just a fundraising event—it’s a holistic and meaningful educational experience.

2. Showcase the Fundraising Potential

Principals are often concerned with budget constraints and financial planning. As an art teacher, you’ll want to present the fundraiser as a solution to these issues. Highlight success stories from other schools, pointing out how much money they raised and how those funds positively impacted their programs. It’s also a good idea to be specific about how your own proceeds will be used, whether it’s for new art supplies, field trips, or other improvements in your classroom.

Even better, an Art to Remember fundraiser doesn’t feel like a typical fundraiser. Rather than having the kids go out and sell products to all of their neighbors and family friends, the program functions more as a service to families. Parents and relatives are able to purchase meaningful keepsakes that just happen to give money back to the school or classroom. There is massive potential, and it’s all a win-win for everyone!

3. Outline the Easy Process

Partnering up with our team at Art to Remember makes the school fundraising process easy. Make sure you emphasize the simplicity. For example, you can explain that with our program, parents receive personalized order forms featuring their child’s creation. Orders are placed online, making it hassle-free for everyone involved. Stress that the administrative load on the school is minimal, thanks to the streamlined online ordering system.

4. Connect with the School’s Mission

Another way to make a persuasive case to your principal and school board members is to tie the fundraiser to the school’s mission and values. If your school prioritizes community engagement, you might6 highlight how the fundraiser fosters a sense of community by involving students, parents, and local supporters (if you’re using the fundraiser to donate to another cause).

Of course, you can also come at this from a different angle. If your school emphasizes academic excellence, focus on how art education enhances overall student performance and well-being. From there, you can talk about how getting the parents involved in supporting the arts will help make for a more well-rounded education experience.

5. Address Potential Concerns

Along the way, be prepared to address any concerns your principal might have. These could range from worries about time commitment to doubts about parent participation. If you already have a sense of what their pushback might be, have solutions ready. This might mean talking about how you’ll schedule the fundraiser during a less busy time of the school year, or presenting data to show the high levels of parent involvement in similar fundraisers.

6. Show Enthusiasm and Team Spirit

When you’re a passionate teacher, your enthusiasm can be contagious. Show your passion for the project and how much you believe it will benefit the students and the school. Offer to lead the initiative, or consider forming a small committee of dedicated teachers and parents to help manage the fundraiser. You need to reassure your principal that you’re ready to handle the organizational details—with our support, of course!

7. Provide a Visual Presentation

Additionally, it can be a smart move to create a visual presentation to make your pitch more engaging. Include images of student artwork, graphs of potential fundraising results, and testimonials from other schools that have successfully implemented similar fundraisers. Once again, our team can help you gather the info you need. Visual aids can make your proposal more compelling and easier to understand.

Partner with Our Team for Success!

Convincing your principal to greenlight an art class fundraiser may seem daunting, but with a few proven strategies, you’ll be well-equipped to make a persuasive case.

By partnering with Art to Remember, you can ensure a professional, efficient, and profitable fundraiser. We’re here to help you! Just send us a message to get started, and together, let’s bring more art into our schools and make a positive impact on our students’ lives!