| When I first took the position as the administrator | | | | logo that you use on everything from folders to |
| of a private elementary school, I was curious | | | | sweatshirts? |
| what kind of a toolbox I would have access to. | | | | - Are there any traditions that are specific to |
| Most good toolboxes, of course, have many | | | | certain grades that younger students really look |
| compartments to store different kinds of tools | | | | forward to each year? |
| that will help complete a job. | | | | - Do you see school items around town, like |
| The tools I was interested most in weren't | | | | bumper stickers, caps, or t-shirts? |
| hammers and screwdrivers and wrenches, but | | | | - Does the local paper cover your school events |
| rather donors, volunteers, and school spirit. All of | | | | so the entire area can be proud of the school's |
| the tools I was interested in would help shape our | | | | accomplishments? |
| effort to provide the necessary funds to keep | | | | - Is there any kind of school-specific award for |
| the school operational and thriving. | | | | service to the school? |
| Unfortunately, the situation I walked into had a | | | | - Do teachers communicate a message about |
| pretty empty toolbox, so one of my first tasks | | | | being proud of the school to their students? |
| was to stock it with as many useful items as I | | | | It doesn't matter if your school is public or |
| could. | | | | private, an elementary, middle or high school. |
| Today, I want to write about the tool of school | | | | School spirit can be contagious at any age, in any |
| spirit, and how it relates to fundraising success. | | | | circumstance. |
| If you find yourself at a school that is struggling | | | | I firmly believe that if students and their parents |
| to raise money, whether it be in a small fundraiser | | | | have pride in their school, they will feel more |
| like a cookie dough sale or a large event like an | | | | motivated to raise money for it. This includes an |
| auction, one of the fundamental reasons for your | | | | increased willingness to approach friends, |
| lack of success may be a lack of school spirit. | | | | neighbors, co-workers, and family members to |
| Here are some questions you can ask yourself or | | | | buy fundraising products and even tickets to golf |
| others close to you to determine if your | | | | outings, auctions, or raffles. |
| students, their parents, the teachers, key donors, | | | | Look at it from the opposite end- if a student has |
| and anyone else involved at your school has | | | | no real feeling of loyalty or pride in their education |
| enough spirit to motivate them to work for your | | | | institution, how likely is it his or her family will |
| school's financial success. | | | | prioritize your fundraiser over all the other |
| - Is there a cohesive message from the | | | | commitments in their life? I would argue that it is |
| leadership of the school to its broad audience? | | | | not very likely. |
| (Things like school-wide newsletter, email blasts, | | | | If you are a school principal or a volunteer in the |
| and a regularly updated website) | | | | Parent-Teacher group, you can have a direct |
| - Has an effort been made to beautify the | | | | impact on the level of school spirit. If you are |
| school- both interior and exterior? (Who can feel | | | | doing it in the right way, with the right intentions, |
| good about a run-down environment?) | | | | people will be supportive of anything that instills |
| - Are there pictures of students and examples of | | | | pride and increases a positive spirit. In the long |
| their artwork or other creations visible in the | | | | run, you will be building a much more reliable |
| hallways? (Breeds a sense of ownership and | | | | fundraising tool and you'll start to fill out that |
| belonging) | | | | all-important toolbox. |
| - Does your school have an exciting nickname and | | | | |