3 Tips For Funding Your Arts Program

If you're a parent or teacher at a school and you want to start a new arts program, you've got a long road ahead of you. Arts programs are tough to find funding for, since schools rarely prioritize them in their budget, and parents tend to be more enthusiastic about sports or language clubs. But it's worth the time you put into it if you can enrich your students' lives. This article will give you a few actionable ideas to try as you begin your funding journey.

1. Events and Drives

Not everyone has a John Arnold available to fund their projects, but you may be surprised at how much parents and alumni are willing to give if effectively persuaded. Some common ideas for fundraising events are donor balls or galas, shoe drives, and talent shows. A gala can be a great way to attract funding since you're putting on an enjoyable event for anyone willing to give for a worthwhile purpose. You can also offer various levels of access for different amounts given, like a pre-gala dinner, or priority seating and valet parking.

Shoe drives are a simple but effective idea. You can partner with an organization that will give you the resources you need, and it'll give parents a chance to get rid of unwanted shoes. If parents are your target demographic, talent shows are always a great idea, since they'll give parents a chance to see the benefit of the program upfront. This is also a great way to get grandparents and other relatives involved. 

2. School Participation

There are some great ways that schools can raise funds from the inside. For instance, creating customized and limited offer gear offers students and parents an opportunity to sport some school pride, while funding the program. This can range anywhere from t-shirts and hoodies to water bottles and frisbees. You can even have artistically talented students come up with the designs.

Raffles and auctions are also a popular idea since they're straightforward and easy to execute. All you need are a few prizes and some volunteers to distribute the tickets and collect the money. You can also challenge students to raise specific amounts, offering prizes or a final school dance if the goal is met. This will also generate a sense of school pride and teamwork, making the students more actively involved and proud of their program.

There are also ways to get your principal involved. Have the principal agree to some kind of fun punishment, like getting a pie in the face or wearing an insane costume for a week, as an award for exceeding a certain level of funding. You might be surprised at how great a motivator something like this can be.

3. Ongoing Fundraising

Once your fundraising goal has been met, chances are you'll regularly be needing more funds as the program continues. Planning for the future is always the best course of action, as you don't want to be in a state of emergency each time a need comes up. Consider adding a customized fundraising page to the school's website, and always have a list of former donors on hand to reach out to when the time comes. This is a great option since it gives you an opportunity to show off some of the students' work, right above a big, glowing "donate" button.

As long as you regularly show your donors the benefits of their gift, whether that means having students send their art as a gift or having yearly events to show their work, they should be willing to give again and again. The key to continued fundraising is to make the best of what you've been given. An arts program is a worthwhile investment, in spite of the time commitment and the effort it'll take for you to succeed. You'll have the satisfaction of watching your students benefit from it year after year.