In this post from guest blogger, Jessica Sanders of www.learn2earn.org, explore some of the new and efficient ways to help raise money for your school community. 

School fundraisers are a necessary evil, but that doesn’t mean they need to be a pain to facilitate. Luckily, technology is making it easier to run effective fundraisers without the headaches that come with managing offline donations or running a large donor event and handling the planning and volunteers that come with it.

These five 21st century fundraisers are built around technology that makes school fundraising easier and more successful. See if they’re a good fit for your next event.

1. Planet Green Recycle

This modern fundraiser is trying to solve the new and growing problem of E-waste. “Electronic waste is now responsible for 5% of municipal solid waste across the world, and e-waste affects more than just developed countries,” according to Greenpeace.org.

Work with Planet Green Recycle to make money from old gadgets and printer cartridges, and your students will feel great knowing you’re helping the planet too. With free and easy shipping, students, admins and teachers can work together to gather the items and then spend an afternoon packaging them to ship.

2. Learn2Earn Reading-Raiser

Keep the focus of your fundraiser on education with a Reading-Raiser. The idea is simple: students read books to raise money. Parents, friends, and other family members can make a flat donation or choose to pledge per books or minutes read, which encourages kids to read even more.

This fundraiser takes the headache out of running a fundraiser thanks to their built-in dashboard and automated reminder emails. And, with an online donation platform, it’s easier than ever for coordinators to manage the process from start to finish.

Don’t miss their library of fundraising tips too!

3. GoFundMe

Crowdfunding isn’t just for businesses and individuals. Educators can use this popular platform to raise funds too—kind of like creating your own grant. Online donations make it easier for more people to donate, regardless of where they live, and the well-known name (GoFundMe) may help you attract more donors who have had positive experiences with the site already.

Use their built-in sharing tools to promote your fundraiser page via Facebook, Twitter and email to cast a wider net for donations and increase awareness.

4. Fuel My School

Add your school to the MySchoolWish database at FuelMySchool.com, along with the items your school needs. Send emails and letters home, letting parents know that you’re looking for donations for a field trip or classroom supplies and direct them to your page on the Fuel My School website. Donors can easily search for your school and make a donation or grant a wish.

This hands-off platform is a perfect option for year-round fundraising: add your wishes and watch the funds or items come in.

5. Greater Giving Online Auctions

Can’t hold an auction at your school? Take it online with Greater Giving, where it’s easy for people to participate, whether they live locally or not. The online auction is powered by Bidding For Good and comes with the tools you need to plan, promote and facilitate your fundraiser. This low-cost fundraising opportunity requires minimal volunteers and will help you increase your chances of attracting donors outside of your school’s immediate network.

Technology is making it easier to manage your fundraiser while reaching people who aren’t in your immediate network of donors. Try a 21st century fundraiser this year—you may be surprised at how easy and effective it is.

Bio: Jessica Sanders is the Director of Social Outreach for Learn2Earn, an online fundraising platform that allows students to raise money by reading books. She grew up reading books like The Giver and Holes, and is passionate about making reading as exciting for young kids today as it has always been for her. Follow Learn2Earn on Twitter and Facebook, and send content inquiries to social@learn2earn.org.

Did you know? Eduporium has also designed an automated profit-sharing program with our member schools that functions as a year-round electronic fundraising tool!

Every purchase made by anyone associated with your school community—a teacher, a student (if s/he has a credit card), a parent,  IT manager, executive assistant, grandmother, uncle or a school superintendent—on technology they need anyway, generates school funds for future purchases. And the more our members buy, the bigger return they get for their school.
Don't forget, we already provide educational discounts on a host of educational products. In addition, when schools sign up on our site and any member of the school community purchases any technology from our store, we'll return a portion of the money they spend back to the school because we care about innovation and discovery for every child!