KindRise

7min read · by KindRise’s founder, a Brooklyn resident

School & PTA Fundraising Templates: Emails, Texts, and Flyers

The biggest barrier to school fundraising is not reluctant donors — it's getting the ask in front of the right people in the right way. These templates save you the blank-page problem and give you copy that's been tested across dozens of school campaigns.

Customize the brackets, swap in your school's name and dollar amounts, and you're ready to go.

Parent Email Template

Send this from the PTA president or school principal's email for the best open rate. Subject line options: "Quick ask from [School Name] PTA" or "Help us fund [Field Trips / Art Class / Science Lab] this year".

Parent Email — Copy & Customize
Subject: Quick ask from the [School Name] PTA Hi [School Name] families, We're raising [GOAL AMOUNT] to fund [SPECIFIC PURPOSE — e.g., "all 4th and 5th grade field trips this year"]. This covers [BRIEF BREAKDOWN — e.g., "2 field trips per class, roughly $45 per student"] and helps every kid participate regardless of family budget. 👉 Donate here: [YOUR KINDRISE LINK] Even $10 makes a difference. If 60 families give $25, we hit our goal. The campaign closes [DATE]. Questions? Reply to this email. Thank you, [YOUR NAME] [School Name] PTA
Tip: Send a 3-day reminder to non-openers with a slightly different subject line. Most donations arrive after the reminder, not the first send.

Text / Remind Message Template

Short, direct, and easy to forward. Works for WhatsApp groups, Remind, or class parent texts.

Text Message — Copy & Customize
Hi [School Name] families! We're raising [AMOUNT] for [PURPOSE]. Takes 2 min to donate: [LINK] — even $10 helps. Campaign ends [DATE]. Thank you! 🙏

Social Media Post Template

Works for Facebook groups, Instagram, and Nextdoor. Add a photo of the classroom, students, or the cause for significantly higher engagement.

Social Post — Copy & Customize
🏫 [School Name] families — we need your help! We're raising [AMOUNT] to [SPECIFIC GOAL]. Every dollar goes directly to [OUTCOME — field trips, art supplies, etc.]. Donate in under 2 minutes: [LINK] Share this with any [School Name] families you know. We're [X]% of the way there and [DAYS] days left. Let's finish strong! 💪

School Flyer Copy

Use this as the body copy for a printed or digital flyer. Pair it with the QR code from your KindRise campaign so parents can donate by scanning — no typing required.

Flyer Copy — Copy & Customize
HELP US REACH OUR GOAL [School Name] PTA is raising [AMOUNT] for [PURPOSE]. Your donation funds: • [Benefit 1 — e.g., Field trips for every student] • [Benefit 2 — e.g., Art and music supplies] • [Benefit 3 — e.g., After-school enrichment] SCAN TO DONATE [→ QR CODE GOES HERE ←] Or visit: [your campaign URL] Campaign closes: [DATE] Questions? [email] Thank you for supporting our students.
KindRise Feature
Every campaign gets a QR code — automatically

When you launch a campaign on KindRise, a unique QR code is generated instantly. Print it on flyers, paste it in your school newsletter, display it on a poster at your next event — anyone who scans it lands directly on your donation page. No URL to type. No friction.

Launch your campaign free →

Writing a Call to Action That Actually Works

The call to action (CTA) is the single line that tells parents exactly what to do next. Most school fundraising CTAs are too vague. Here's the difference:

Weak CTA Strong CTA
"Donate to our fundraiser" "Give $25 to fund one student's field trip by Friday"
"Support our school" "Chip in $10 — we're 68% there and need 40 more donors"
"Click here to help" "Scan the QR code above to donate in 90 seconds"

Three ingredients: a specific amount, a specific outcome, and a deadline. The more concrete, the more donors act.

Tip: Show progress publicly. A parent who sees '68% raised — 40 families still to give' is twice as likely to donate than one who just sees a static goal. KindRise campaign pages show live progress automatically.

Timing your ask

The best days to send school fundraising emails are Tuesday–Thursday, 7–9am (before school drop-off) or 3–5pm (after pickup). Avoid Monday mornings and Friday afternoons. For text messages, 6–8pm on weeknights works best — parents are home and on their phones.

See also: our full LAUSD school fundraising guide and how QR codes make fundraising easier.

Ready to start? Launch a donation page on KindRise in minutes — with a free AI-generated banner, an auto-generated QR code, and low transparent fees so more of every dollar reaches your cause.

KindRise is a small, independent project, not a faceless platform. Email support@gokindrise.com and a real person reads it, helps directly, and often builds the features people ask for.

Start your campaign free →

Frequently asked questions

What should a PTA fundraising email include?

A strong PTA fundraising email needs a specific goal ('We're raising $3,000 for science lab supplies'), a clear deadline, a one-click donation link, and a personal ask from a real person — ideally a parent, not just 'The PTA.' Keep it under 200 words and send it from the school principal's or PTA president's name for best open rates.

How do you write a good fundraising call to action?

A great fundraising CTA is specific, urgent, and personal. Instead of 'Donate now,' try 'Give $25 to fund one student's field trip by Friday.' The amount, the outcome, and the deadline are the three ingredients that turn passive readers into donors.

What is a QR code fundraiser?

A QR code fundraiser puts a scannable code on flyers, posters, or event signage. When parents scan it with their phone camera, they land directly on the donation page — no URL to type. KindRise generates a unique QR code for every campaign automatically.

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