Green Up Your School's Fundraising (no more magazines, candy, or plastic trinkets from China!)

(This post is written by reader, founder and CEO of EcoLabel Fundraising, Jeanne Reslan. She leads a business that guides school and other organizations in fundraising by selling fair trade, green and more sustainable products for families. I asked her to write this because I was interested in learning more about what she does, and I thought you might be, too. Our school fundraiser is selling wrapping paper, shiny and new with not much recycled content. I don't use wrapping paper, so I don't participate. I know I will be suggesting EcoLabel fundraising to our PTO leaders as a more sustainable, greener option. Check it out.)


The environment is becoming an ever-growing concern for our present world, but especially for future generations. It is our hope at EcoLabel Fundraising that reaching out to schools through our eco-friendly fundraising programs will help to raise awareness with the youth of our country. In creating our green fundraising programs, felt we could use our experience in fundraising, and couple it with our concern for the environment, to make a powerful program that would help schools raise funds in an ethical way. We wanted to create a program that would give parents, students and school staff a way to raise money that could become a "teaching moment."

You may choose from Online or Paper Catalogs for our traditional fundraiser featuring fair-trade, organic and eco-friendly products. We also offer Seed and Bulb Fundraisers and Customized Water Bottle Programs. Both programs have been very popular. Many schools choose to run all three programs staggered throughout the school year. It gives a healthy variety. The Water Bottle Program offers the school away to build school spirit as well. By personalizing the insulated bottles with the school's logo (or non-profit's), the students get really excited to have a bottle with their school's name and logo on it. When a supporter purchases on behalf of your school, the school yields 40% of the sale. In keeping with ensuring that our program is ethical, the product prices are equivalent to normal retail price points. Because we price our products at a fair market price and return 40% of the sale price back to the schools, we consequently donate 95% of the profits back to the schools we work with.

It is really a no-brainer. Especially now, when dollars are tight in the average American household. People want their dollars to stretch more than ever in these tough economic times. The products are of the highest quality it makes them better for the environment and supporters' pocketbooks, since they will not have to replace the items year after year. We have developed every aspect of our program with highest integrity. It is important to us to a good example to children by demonstrating the old adage of "leading by example." When you ask a child to take an EcoLabel Fundraising catalog to friends, family and neighbors, they can be proud that they are asking them to buy something that they will actually use for many years. Second, the environment is a topic that is not just a fleeting conversation or just to be celebrated one day a year anymore. This is an ever-growing concern for our children. They will be the generation to deal with much of the irresponsible decisions made by current and previous generations. It is important for them to learn about making choices that will sustain our environment in their daily lives. Parents are busy, so this offers the parents one more opportunity to talk about the buzz words every child should know about concerning the environment today. Last, PTA's and Non-profit Directors choosing our Fundraising programs are really expanding their impact beyond just "raising funds" as most PTA's have been limited to do over the years. Today, they can diversify their impact by helping to educate friends, family and neighbors of the students served in their school population about the importance of sustaining our Earth's resources.

In some ways, we are really able to impact educating not only children about the importance of eco-friendliness, but in some cases, the children are able to influence the choices their parents may make around their home by educating their parents about what they have learned at school about being eco-friendly.

At school, it allows education about the environment to come to the forefront in the classroom. With all the demands placed on teachers in the classroom, it is sometimes difficult for them to find time to add frequent lessons in their schedule about the importance of sustaining environmental resources. By implementing a program as ours, it allows them to spend some time discussing why the school is selling these types of products as their fundraiser. There are key terms that are featured in our catalog that can be discussed, so it can really be used as a learning tool.

Finally, each time a child uses an eco-friendly product, they are reminded of the importance of being eco-friendly. As small as it seems today, they will carry those small reminders with them into their adult lives. We hope you enjoy our fresh approach to fundraising.