Getting Your PTA on Board with Healthy Fundraising

With the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s proposed Nutrition Standards for All Foods Sold in School promising to improve offerings in vending machines, a la carte lines and school stores, there’s still the big question of those other “competitive foods”—ones sold through school fundraisers and served up in the classroom.  According to a recent report from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Bridging the Gap research program, nearly 61 percent of U.S. elementary schools have no nutritional provisions for fundraisers. This leaves the door open to a lot of junk food flowing into student mouths. 

Since bake sales and other fundraisers are typically planned by parents, getting your Parent Teacher Association (PTA) on board with making healthy changes can be key. But it isn’t always easy. Parent volunteers may be reluctant to abandon tried-and-true fundraising strategies that have been used for years. They may be concerned about extra time required to plan and the potential for lost profits. It may take some convincing, so here are some tips to up your chances for success: 

Build relationships Your PTA will be more likely to listen to someone that they know and like. Attend regular PTA meetings to demonstrate your interest and commitment. Make an effort to get to know the president and other PTA members—and, if there’s an opening, try to snag a spot on the board.

Bring reinforcements Find allies who value healthy eating—your school nurse, wellness committee members, teachers, parents or a local nutritionist—and ask them to come with you to talk to your PTA. If your school principal is supportive, request his or her presence as well.

Make your case Be careful not to offend anyone by sounding critical of their food choices. Instead, stick to the facts. Explain how schools all over the country are getting healthy, cite some local health stats, and hand out copies of the Center for Science in the Public Interest’s Sweet Deals: School Fundraisers Can Be Healthy and Profitable. 

Roll up your sleeves To show that it can be done, offer to plan a healthy fundraiser, such as a read-a-thon, fun run or school “yard sale.” (See Bag the Bake Sale or the Center for Science in the Public Interest’s Healthy Fundraising Idea Sheet for more ideas.). Once your PTA sees that they can make money without selling junk, they may be more likely to sign on.

Propose a pledge If PTA members seem responsive, raise the idea of passing a resolution to only hold healthy fundraisers and serve healthy food at PTA events. Use the Center for Science in the Public Interest’s model local PTA resolution as a guide. Or, check out this one from RealFoodforKids.org.

Has your school PTA gotten on board with healthy fundraising? Do you have a great healthy fundraising idea to share? Visit our Share page or email [email protected] to tell us your story and be featured on BagtheJunk.org!