Set Up Guide

Summer Reading Program Fundraiser

Program Overview: Every child deserves the chance to grow their imagination and skills through the power of reading. A Summer Reading Program Fundraiser makes this possible by uniting individuals, families, and local businesses to invest in a shared future. From providing books and activity kits to hosting story hours and literacy events, this program supports learning, builds confidence, and encourages a lifelong love of reading.

Set Up Guide for a Pickleball Court Fundraiser

1. Outline Ways to Get Involved and Give Back

The first step in any successful fundraiser is giving people clear, meaningful ways to contribute. With a reading program, connecting donations to tangible educational outcomes motivates supporters to give.

Set Donation Levels: Establish tiers that reflect program needs. For example, $50 could provide books for a child, $250 might cover a classroom reading set, $1,000 could fund program supplies and prizes, and $5,000+ could sponsor an entire community literacy event. Relating amounts to real impact makes giving personal.
Allow Custom Amounts: Giving donors the freedom to choose their own amount allows individuals, families, and businesses of all sizes to take part in the program.
Set a Fundraising Goal and Show Progress: Share a clear campaign goal, such as $50,000 for books and events, and track progress with a visual bar. Milestones energize donors and keep the campaign moving forward.
Share Impact Examples: Use student stories, teacher testimonials, or photos from past reading events to show how donations directly benefit local children and families.

Tips for

Successful Fundraisers

Celebrate Progress Together: Highlight achievements like “100 students provided with books!” to rally community pride.
Recognize Every Gift: Thank donors in newsletters, library displays, or on a community donor wall.
Show the Impact: Share children’s success stories or parent testimonials to demonstrate how gifts make literacy come alive.

2. Keep Giving Simple and Accessible

Donors are more likely to give when the process is convenient and secure. Offering multiple ways to participate ensures strong support from families, alumni, and businesses.

Easy-to-Use Donation Pages: Provide a clear, mobile-friendly page so families can contribute easily.
Multiple Payment Options: Offer credit/debit cards, ACH transfers, or cash/check payments. Flexibility ensures participation from all donors.
Instant Digital Receipts: Give donors peace of mind with automated receipts they can save for tax purposes.
Collect Donor Details: Capture names, affiliations, and contact info so donors can be thanked properly and kept informed.
Secure and Convenient: Protect every contribution with reliable systems that ensure safe transactions.

Did You Know?

Fundraisers that feature children’s artwork or thank-you notes in donor updates can increase engagement by 25%, making the experience more personal.

3. Tracking, Communication, and Recognition

Strong organization ensures your fundraiser stays on track and builds trust with donors. Transparency and communication transform supporters into long-term partners.

Track Contributions Clearly: Keep records by donor, amount, and type, while ensuring each payment is processed securely.
Coordinate Donor Communication: Send personalized thank-yous, share progress updates, and highlight program milestones.
Report and Stay Transparent: Share how funds are used, such as buying books, hosting events, or rewarding student achievements.
Recognize All Donors: Honor every contribution with public recognition, thank-you notes, or displays at the library or community center.