Make private school more attainable for families

Alumni love fundraising for private schools they attended. Social events allow school ... graduates to reminisce, connect with old friends and teachers, and give back to their alma mater. You can easily raise money by selling tickets to an alumni networking night, a formal gala, or a dinner party. To reduce your costs, host these gatherings at the school, or see if a local venue will donate their space. During the event, you can raise even more money by selling school merch.

Many families want to leave their mark on the school. You can help these families cement ... their legacy—and raise money—by selling engraved bricks with their names and using them to build a wall or pathway. For something more substantial, your school could offer up the naming rights for a building, classroom, or theater. Families can then place bids, with the winner getting their name above the door. These types of auctions can bring in thousands of dollars.

Why let old uniforms collect dust when they could help students cover tuition costs? ... Consider collecting your school’s gently-used uniforms and selling them to younger students or newer families, with all proceeds going to tuition assistance. You could also sell sports jerseys, drama department costumes, or other school supplies. You can even turn the sale into a larger rummage sale-style fundraising event and invite the broader community. 

For families who can’t afford a student’s full tuition, sponsorship programs are a terrific ... idea. Representatives from your school can send emails or go door-to-door, asking families and local businesses to sponsor a student by covering some or all of their tuition costs. These donations can be public, with corporate donors getting their logo displayed on school materials, or they can be anonymous. Either way, you can thank your generous donors by sending them updates on the student’s progress.