earlyyears.teachwire.net
53
nursery business
You should also aim to offer
something in return. Local newspapers
are usually happy to receive a photo
of a project featuring smiling children;
ensure you include the names of your
benefactors in the press release.
Always
write a letter of thanks (from the children),
including a copy of the newspaper
cutting, if applicable.
Many larger businesses have small
grant schemes for local projects. They
do it for PR, to show they’re part of the
community. Many simply require a photo
afterwards for publicity purposes.
Try supermarkets, banks and less-
neighbourly businesses – quarries,
wind farms, heavy industry – that
are trying to improve their reputations.
Public-funded nurseries are more likely to
benefit than private businesses, but careful
wording can work wonders. It may sound
manipulative, but make any begging
letter purely about the children...
GIFTS & SERVICES
There are a number of things you can
organise to benefit your parents that will
allow you to earn a commission from
service-providers. Organise annual photo
sessions (highlight the opportunity for a
whole-family photo). Items that have the
input of the children are always popular:
Christmas cards with children’s paintings
on the front, tea towels of all their faces
(better with older children), mugs or
jigsaws with photos on. Try to target
occasions such as Mother’s/Father’s Day,
Christmas, etc. – parents will have to buy
something anyway, so why not help them
out? Offer them in plenty of time, don’t
repeat too often and make them cute!
GIVING SOMETHING
BACK
As with everything, it can’t always be take
– you have to give something back. Raise
the nursery’s profile locally by joining in
with community events. Collect money on
a walkabout for Comic Relief; enter a float
or a group of walkers in the carnival; shop
locally; ask if you can have a toddlers’ race
at the local school’s sports day; plant bulbs
outside an old folks’ home, and you’ll
soon have a list of places to sell your raffle
tickets, distribute your quizzes and promote
your events.
Lorraine Jenkin is an
author who has been
involved in childcare for
several years.
you’ve researched your prices. In doing
this you might find someone who loves
to see children gardening happy to cover
all the peat (just one conversation about
children not having good winter coats
in my local nursery resulted in a parent
donating 12 sets of waterproofs!).
It’s important to break down tasks
as well as costs; you will never know
what skills your extended nursery family
have until you make your needs known.
Discussing the ideas in conversation is
best, as people are more responsive to
subtlety than a begging letter.
Whilst many parents might be happy
to give a Saturday morning for free, you
need to be realistic about paying for
larger tasks. However, some parents may
be willing to offset their hours for yours
– just be wary of taking money off their
bills; far better to give them the time in
days when you have spare capacity that
you might as well fill.
MEANINGFUL
ACTIVITIES
Once you’ve exhausted initial gifts of time
and donations, you need to organise
some engaging fundraising activities. I’m
always happy to bake a cake for a stall
(even though I usually have to buy it back
as no one else wants it...). However, I don’t
like being asked to sponsor something
– especially something as pointless as a
sponsored silence. I’d much rather pay
to have my car washed or my children’s
faces painted.
People like to get something for their
money, be it a thing or entertainment, but
don’t repeat an idea too often. Try selling
quiz sheets, guess the number of sweets
in the jar, selling squares on a board, or
raffles. Get the children to grow herbs,
then decorate the pots for sale.
Piggyback other events where people
expect to spend money – do a ‘guess the
weight of the fruitcake’ at a Christmas fair.
Sharing events with registered charities will
give you access to far more opportunities
and pots of money. Bingo evenings, Body
Shop/Anne Summers/Jamie at Home
parties, race nights and pub quizzes are
popular fundraisers because they work.
BUSINESS SUPPORT
Asking local businesses for donations
– of cash, favours or items – can be
beneficial, but there are rules: always
write a letter and then get a person, be
it staff member or parent, who actually
uses the business to hand it in. It’s a bit
insulting for a stranger to ask for money,
especially from small businesses, as
contributions will come from the owner’s
pocket. Even with large businesses such
as supermarkets or building suppliers,
ask someone who has a loyalty card or a
builder’s account to enquire.
PASSIVE FUNDRAISING
FOUR IDEAS TO SUPPLEMENT YOUR BUDGET...
1
If you are a charity or good cause, register with
easyfundraising.org.uk and get parents and staff to do their online
shopping via the website. Retailers donate varying percentages to the
cause with every transaction.
2
Do clothes, shoes and rag collections (organisations vary by area).
Payment is per kg collected, and a few hundred pounds per half-transit
van collection is not unusual. Many parents consider it an opportunity to
have a clear out. The Rag Bag in Scotland does “all nurseries”. Check out
bag2schools or Rags to Riches.
3
Collect printer cartridges from
parents and local businesses.
Send them off in pre-paid
envelopes.
4
Register with companies
such as Yellow Moon for
parents to order stationery
and craft products that
their children will want to
use at home – and get a
10% kickback.
D
