How a Piece of Paper Unlocked Fundraising Potential

As the head of fundraising for a school, I faced a dilemma.

The sprawling elementary school I served serves over thousands of students, making it the largest in the area. But as a public school, tight budgets meant many facilities needs are unmet - flooding at the gates, missing safety railings, outdated security. And on top of their existing workload, teachers were constantly fundraising for their own classrooms.

The goal was to raise money to improve the school’s infrastructure and safety. But with limited time and resources, where do we start?

After deliberting, one idea was a bingo fundraiser. It was a hit the year prior. But it was now flopping with only 20% of cards sold weeks out. Parents and teachers saw little incentive to participate. Everybody’s morale was low and budgets were tight.

We needed a new strategy—fast. And the solution came in the form of a tattered old printer spitting out participation certificates.

How can a piece of paper motivate stakeholders in a big way?

The Award-Winning Motivator #

In my years of working with for- and non-profit institutions, certificates are always handed out whether for participation, achievement, or even just being in attendance.

Even he school rewards students with printed papers with their names on it for doing a good job. Makes you wonder why didn’t they think of that for the stakeholders years prior? Anyway…

Awards and certificates are like tiny behavioral bribes, straight out of the psychologist’s playbook. They fuel the desire to repeat the behavior when they are being rewarded for it. Seeing others getting rewarded also entices us to strive for similar recognition.

It doesn’t have to be in form of a printed paper either. They can also be in other forms like bonuses or time. Like making employees take that vacation without making them feel guilty.

Elevating the Piece of Paper to an Award #

Turning our simple paper into a credible award required thoughtful strategy.

First, we established two awards categories - one for parents and one for teachers. We then established clear and measurable standards that all nominees must meet. This not only sets a high bar for eligibility but also removes any subjectivity from the selection process. (In the first awards, it was just the ones who contributed to the 20% sales.)

Next, we designed the certificates to look professional and important - cohesive visuals printed on high-quality paper and framed. This is important! We aall judge the book by its cover. Great design builds greater perceived value.

The real credibility came when we got the school principal involved. Having the top authority review nominations and personally sign each certificate cemented it as an official award rather than just a piece of paper.

Finally, we presented the awards at the flag raising ceremony with the entire school present. This wasn’t just for show. The public recognition reinforces the value of these actions. While also validating the efforts and contributions of the top performing stakeholders.

This is how we turned a makeshift certificate to a prestigious award. We elevated a piece of paper into a motivation powerhouse.

The Day of Recognition #

Parents appreciated having their efforts recognized. Teachers valued the professional credibility of being honored not only by the principal but also the public.

Suddenly, everyone was driven to hit sales goals. In just a week after the very first awards ceremony, our bingo cards sold out entirely. We also saw greater participation in subsequent fundraising events of that year.

Lasting Benefits and Change #

That simple certificate continues to unlock fundraising potential in that school years later. A little motivation goes a long way.

Beyond fundraising, the certificates provided unexpected advantages. Teachers proudly displayed them in their offices. Some even leveraged them when seeking promotions in the complex office politics.