Market Your School and Raise Funds at the Same Time

     A Happy Easter to you and yours!!  Since this week's Marketing Matter touches on raising funds, consider it a little Easter gift.  It comes from a school that had to close its building (due to structural issues), but not the school.  It spent several years in temporary locations until a new home for it was found back in its home community.  It seemed appropriate since this is the season to celebrate resurrection!

     Queen of Angels School in North Huntingdon PA created "Angel Bucks" which it distributed to local establishments - hair care and nail salons, gyms, etc, to be placed right next to their cash registers.  The coupons (about the size of an index card) provided for a $5.00 contribution to the school for any meal that was purchased at a local restaurant.  Some schools across the country now craft these initiatives with several area restaurants, which are listed on the card, making for a local "scrip" program.

     Funds realized go to help the school.  The business where the stack of coupons is located is contributing to the marketing efforts of the school so that community members who may not have children in the school can support it.  And even though community members are supporting the school, this is a fundraiser - it's not development.  The main purpose is to keep the name of the school in front of members of the community, so that after constant exposure, they may recommend the school to someone, or investigate the school for themselves if they have children ready to enter school.

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