Fundraising Toolkit

Everything you need to organize a successful $1000 fundraising campaign for your school partnership

The $1000 Goal: Achievable and Meaningful

$1000 restores a school—furniture, materials, repairs, and supplies

What $1000 Restores
  • Classroom furniture: Desks, chairs, storage units, teacher's desk
  • Teaching materials: Whiteboards, markers, textbooks, supplies
  • Minor repairs: Doors, windows, flooring, lighting fixtures
  • Environmental improvements: Fans, curtains, cleaning supplies
Why $1000 Works
  • Achievable: Most schools can raise this amount through 2-3 focused activities
  • Meaningful: Enough to make a real difference in a classroom environment
  • Clear: Easy to communicate and track progress toward a specific goal
  • Scalable: 1000 schools × $1000 = 1000 classrooms restored

All funds are managed by The American Friends of Jamaica (AFJ), a registered 501(c)(3) organization. Contributions are tax-deductible, and every dollar is documented with complete transparency.

Fundraising Ideas

Proven approaches that schools have used successfully to reach the $1000 goal

Community Bake Sale
2-3 weeks
Classic and effective. Students bake goods with families, set up tables at school events or community gatherings.

Potential Revenue:

$300-600

Tips:

  • Price items $1-5 for accessibility
  • Include allergen-free options
  • Accept digital payments (Venmo, PayPal)
School Fun Run / Walk-a-Thon
4-6 weeks
Students collect pledges per lap or mile. Combines physical activity with fundraising.

Potential Revenue:

$500-1500

Tips:

  • Use online pledge platforms
  • Offer prizes for top fundraisers
  • Make it a school-wide event
Art Auction or Talent Show
4-6 weeks
Students create artwork or perform talents. Families and community members purchase tickets or bid on pieces.

Potential Revenue:

$400-800

Tips:

  • Livestream for remote family participation
  • Combine with refreshments
  • Feature student introductions
Direct Contribution Campaign
2-4 weeks
Simple email and social media campaign asking families and community members to contribute directly through AFJ.

Potential Revenue:

$200-1000

Tips:

  • Share partnership story
  • Provide AFJ donation link
  • Send regular updates on progress
Student-Led Service Day
3-4 weeks
Students offer services (car wash, yard work, pet sitting) in exchange for donations to the partnership.

Potential Revenue:

$300-700

Tips:

  • Create sign-up sheets
  • Ensure adult supervision
  • Provide thank-you notes
Matching Gift Challenge
2-3 weeks
Find a local business or community member to match donations up to a certain amount.

Potential Revenue:

$500-1000

Tips:

  • Approach local businesses early
  • Promote the match publicly
  • Set clear deadline

Combine Multiple Activities

Most schools use 2-3 fundraising activities over 6-8 weeks to reach $1000. Start with a direct contribution campaign, add a community event (bake sale or fun run), and finish with a matching gift challenge to close any remaining gap.

Downloadable Resources

Ready-to-use templates and materials to support your fundraising campaign

PDF (Editable)
Partnership Flyer Template
Customizable one-page flyer explaining the School2School™ partnership and how to contribute
Text/Word
Parent/Community Email Template
Ready-to-send email introducing the partnership and inviting participation
PNG/JPG
Social Media Graphics Pack
Pre-designed graphics for Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter with partnership messaging
Word/PDF
Press Release Template
Sample press release for local media announcing your school's partnership
PDF (Printable)
Donation Tracker Template
Visual thermometer/tracker to display fundraising progress in hallways or classrooms
PDF
Budget Breakdown Guide
Sample breakdown showing how $1000 restores a school (furniture, materials, repairs)

Need help customizing these resources for your school?

Contact us at [email protected]

Sample 8-Week Fundraising Timeline

A realistic schedule to reach your $1000 goal

Week 1-2: Launch & Awareness
Goal: $200-300
  • Announce partnership to school community (email, social media, assembly)
  • Launch direct contribution campaign with AFJ donation link
  • Display donation tracker in school hallway
Week 3-5: Major Event
Goal: $400-600
  • Plan and promote major fundraising event (bake sale, fun run, art auction)
  • Execute event with student involvement
  • Share event photos and results on social media
Week 6-7: Matching Challenge
Goal: $200-400
  • Announce matching gift challenge from local business or community member
  • Push final contributions to close remaining gap
  • Update tracker daily to build momentum
Week 8: Celebration & Connection
Goal Reached!
  • Celebrate reaching $1000 goal with school community
  • Send introductory message to paired Jamaican classroom
  • Thank all contributors and share partnership story

Ready to Start Fundraising?

Begin your school partnership and use these resources to reach your $1000 goal