How J.F. Cooper Elementary's PTA Found Instant Success with RaiseRight

Discover how J.F. Cooper Elementary School's PTA transformed its approach to school fundraising with RaiseRight.

As a new school year begins, PTAs and PTOs nationwide gear up for fundraisers to support their schools and students.

For J.F. Cooper Elementary School in New Jersey, the PTA, led by President Shazia Ansari, faced the challenge of finding a fundraising idea that would be effective, inclusive, and easy for families to participate in.

The challenge

The PTA at J.F. Cooper Elementary wanted a fundraising program that aligned with the needs and lifestyles of their families. Previous fundraising efforts, such as catalog sales and food-based fundraisers, posed several challenges:

• Relevance: Catalog fundraisers often featured overpriced items that didn't meet the needs of most families, while food fundraisers excluded those with allergies or dietary restrictions.
  
  
• Comfort: These traditional methods required students to act as salespeople, adding pressure on them to sell to friends and family—a task many parents found uncomfortable.
  
  
• Inclusivity: The PTA sought a program where every family could participate without feeling pressured to contribute.

"We wanted to avoid programs that force students to be salespeople where they’re rewarded for selling a certain amount," Shazia noted. "And we wanted to be inclusive so everyone could feel good about participating—no matter how much money they could contribute."

The solution

After exploring various options, the PTA made the switch to RaiseRight. This solution quickly proved to be a perfect fit for the school community, offering several advantages:

• Ease of participation: Families can contribute just by shopping online or using gift cards for their everyday purchases, such as groceries, gas, clothing, or dining out—no need for extra time, money, or effort.
  
  
• Inclusivity: RaiseRight enables all families to participate without the pressure of meeting sales quotas or buying unnecessary items.
  
  
• Simplicity for PTA: The program requires minimal planning and eliminates the need for organizing events or volunteer hours, making it a seamless addition to PTA activities.

"We started using RaiseRight because it checked all the boxes," said Shazia. "Parents don’t have to do anything they aren’t already doing. [It] only takes a few seconds while they’re waiting in line at the grocery store or standing at the gas pump. It doesn’t take extra time or money, so all families have the opportunity to participate."

The impact

Transitioning to RaiseRight was a major win for J.F. Cooper Elementary. Thanks to RaiseRight, the school could fund classroom materials, provide new recess games, fulfill school grants, and even host assemblies and author visits.

"It’s wonderful and meaningful to be able to provide extra materials, and exciting, engaging, educational opportunities for our students," says Shazia. "We look forward to what we can provide next year!"

J.F. Cooper Elementary School’s success with RaiseRight demonstrates the importance of aligning fundraising with the school community's needs and values. By selecting a method that was easy, inclusive, and effective, Shazia and her PTA made a meaningful impact without placing additional burdens on families or students.

"RaiseRight takes a lot less time and planning than traditional fundraisers, and doesn’t require us to host events or organize parent volunteer hours. It’s so seamless!"

While Shazia advises other PTA leaders to explore different fundraising options before committing, she strongly recommends RaiseRight as the most simple, low-pressure way for families to support their school through regular, everyday purchases.

"It’s like getting free money!" she says. "Families can shop at the stores they always do while earning for the school on top of it. It’s easy to participate, and the return can make a huge impact on your school."