Ask A Pro:
About the School Principal's
Role in Fundraising

Too often, today's busy school principals leave fundraising responsibilities totally to their parent groups and booster clubs. We talked to a couple of principals about this trend and how they view their own role in fundraising.

• "Ultimately, I'm responsible for everything that happens in and around this facility, including fundraising. I delegate as much as I can, but fundraising is just too important. I never let go completely. When it has this school's name attached to it, I have to know what's going on - what products we sell, what vendors we use - because when someone has a question, they call me. If I don't know what's going on, I can't respond."

  -- James Hodge, Elementary School Principal, Bridgeport, CT
  
  

• "I serve on the executive board for both the parent organization and the athletic association - the two main fundraising organizations in our school. These groups make significant contributions to our schools and I have a hand in everything that happens, including setting goals and how we reach those goals. I also bring a little history to the table and know what - and who - has worked well for us in the past. And for me accountability is a top priority. After every fundraiser, a written report must be filed and eventually shared with everyone in the school. The reports show how much money was spent and how much money was earned and where it all went. This step protects the organization and the volunteers in charge."

  -- Sister Nadine, Private Catholic School Principal, Hazlet, NJ

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About the Author:

This article is from the Spring 2003 issue of the Fundraising Edge, an online publication of the Association of Fund-Raising Distributors and Suppliers, and is reprinted with permission. Visit their web site at http://www.afrds.org/ for more information and a look at the complete issues of the Fundraising Edge.