2015NTA-SalemWitchMuseumStudentAd_Layout 1 3
Salem’s Most
Visited Museum
We’ll Teach
You A Lesson!
Fundraising Essentials
A tour operator has provided a great itinerary, the logistics are falling into place, and students
are getting excited and encouraging their friends to sign up for the big trip. Now for the tricky
part: fundraising.
As a student travel planner, you know all too well that fundraising is where the rubber meets
the road regarding school trips, whether it is a three-day choir tour to Toronto or a week-long
sports team trip to Florida. And effective fundraising takes a lot of coordination, effort and time.
The following are some tips and resources to help you with that aspect of your planning.
FIVE WEB RESOURCES
SYTAyouthfoundation.org The Student and Youth Travel Association’s foundation
provides details on funding opportunities available from SYTA members and other
community resources.
Easyfundraisingideas.com This website includes a number of categories such as
high-profit discount cards, candy/snack sales and fundraisers with no up-front costs.
Classtrips.com Many aspects of travel planning for K–12 and college groups are
covered on the site, which has a special section dedicated to fundraising ideas.
Biddingforgood.com, Benefitevents.com Putting your organization’s donated
items up on these or similar online auction sites can broaden your reach beyond
your local community.
School-fundraisers.com In addition to offering suggestions on current projects,
the site also has toolkits and resources to help with the entire fundraising process.
This listing does not constitute endorsement by the National Tour Association of these websites.
FIVE FRESH IDEAS
Mine your local resources There are many businesses, civic groups and
churches that enjoy giving back to their communities, especially for youth-related
causes. Contact them to see if they can get involved by sponsoring your trip.
Partner with media outlets Alert local newspapers and radio and television
stations about your trip and offer to write articles or do interviews. In addition to
increasing visibility, the media coverage also expands your possible donor base.
Hold a talent show or benefit concert Bring together a group of students and
local performers for a night of entertainment. Especially if you are raising funds for
a band or choir trip, having them perform can add an extra layer of awareness for
the trip.
Open Year Round
19 1/2 Washington Square North
Salem, Massachusetts 01970
Take the
or the Salem Ferry. Visit us on
Shop at our museum store onsite & online!
978.744.1692
salemwitchmuseum.com
8
trip planner
Conduct silent and live auctions You can auction off goods, services and gift
cards from area merchants to the highest bidder. These live or silent auctions can
be stand-alone functions or take place as part of an existing school event.
Have a “thon” fundraiser This can be a dance-a-thon, read-a-thon, bowl-athon, or any activity with high participation and sponsorship. As participants get
pledges, they also are spreading the word about your trip to a larger audience.
The above suggestions were sourced from the following sites:
1 and 2 - gooverseas.com; 3 and 4 - SYTAyouthfoundation.org; and 5 - classtrips.com