Jeffco PTA Every Child, One Voice!

Membership Drive Ideas

We know it is hard to come up with fresh new and exciting ideas to keep your membership drive going strong. We were excited at the Colorado PTA Convention when all the delegates spent a breakfast sharing membership drive ideas. Colorado PTA gathered many of the ideas that were shared during that time and have put together the list below.

 

Do you have other fun and exciting ideas you would like to share? Let us know! Email us at info@jeffcopta.org.

At the Colorado PTA Convention, delegates were asked to share membership ideas.  Each table chose the best one, represented below:

 

  • Conduct a phone tree race!  An existing PTA member for each grade level personally contacts non-member parents in their grade level.  The first person to increase PTA membership within their grade level by 20% wins! – Elk Creek Elementary PTA

 

  • Members who pay dues at back to school night gets one entry into a drawing for a Chromebook.  Winner is selected at the first meeting and they must be present to win. – Colorado STEM Academy PTA

 

  • If they make eye contact…just ask! – Meridian Ranch Elementary PTA

 

  • PTA Picnic at the beginning of the year.  Held the 3rd week on the front lawn with music.  Parents/families bring blankets and we have a picnic on the front lawn. – Thomson Elementary PTA

 

  • Man night – dads and kids work together to complete challenges and earn tickets.  Tickets are redeemed for ice cream sundae toppings.  Those becoming a member that night automatically receive extra tickets to redeem.  (They got 12-13 new male members that night!) – Colorow Elementary PTA

 

  • Worked with their principal to push membership at staff meetings.  They included membership forms at their first day of school “Boo Hoo” breakfast.  Held a welcoming event activity at school for parents of ELL (English Language Learners) students. – Parmalee Elementary PTA

 

  • They started an “active recess” during lunch hour, inviting parents during lunch hour once per month to pay with the kids.  They usually have an obstacle course and sports activities.  They find moms and dads want to be a part of PTA with this initiative. – Garfield Elementary PTA

 

  • More focus to have students join.  Gave them leadership roles (non fiduciary). – Skyview Middle School PTSA

 

  • “Boo Hoo””Yahoo” Breakfast for kindergarten parents.  Go door-to-door asking local businesses offering advertising in the student directory and “gala” banner. – Crested Butte Community PTA

 

  • Combining their fall festival sign up with a discount on wristbands or free meal if they joined the PTA. – Vanderhoof Elementary PTA

 

  • They ran a membership and volunteer drive that started at back to school night and continued throughout the year.  They had drawings at every meeting and will have a final gig prize winner announced at the end of the year Literacy Night.  Prizes included gift cards, local business donations, and the grand prize of a stay at the Great Wolf Lodge. – Stetson Elementary PTA

 

  • Have kids talk about one activity they have enjoyed during the school year that has been made possible due to the PTA involvement and support. – Escuela Bilingue Pioneer PTA

 

  • Solicit membership at Homecoming or a Food Truck Event. – South High School PTSA

 

  • For staff – the first whole grade level to sign up gets $20 towards their rooms.  For general membership – Everyone who signs up at back to school night gets put in a drawing for free school gear!  Plus gift cards for $5 gas card.  Have a painted rock hunt – offer prizes. – Woodmen Hills Elementary PTA

 

Other Ideas Shared:

  • PTA members sponsored membership for another person. – Sanchez Elementary PTA

 

  • Personal ask – when they say they don’t have time, explain that PTA is, at its core, a membership organization and that their membership doesn’t mean they have to volunteer. – No PTA listed

 

  • “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” Helen Keller  Be present – engage – just ask.  Tour for new families at registration.  Dad & Donuts.  Monthly drawing – 2 gift cards, 2 winners, must be PTA members.  Face painter at back to school night.  Acknowledge staff PTA members.  Business partners listed on a banner displayed at the field, in the parking lot.  Facebook postings.  Yearbook page. – Elk Creek Elementary PTA

 

  • Back to School Bingo Sheet activities – Introduce yourself and family to new principal.  Stop in at Action for Healthy Kids table and complete the Pack a Healthy Lunch challenge.  Stop in at the Reflections table.  Introduce yourself and family to the school counselor.  Stop at the bus barn table.  Meet a PTSA member and pledge to join!  Once bingo sheet is completed, turn it in for a prize. – Bayfield Community PTSA

 

  • Add a message to the student announcements – include a class prize. – Devinny Elementary PTA

 

  • Free food coupons for staff members (to replace McDonalds coupons).  T-shirts at staff breakfast for drawing.  Dad & student activities.  Offer a free snack for PTSA members from concessions. – Falcon Middle School PTSA

 

  •  Give teachers monetary credit at the book fair if they’re members. – No PTA listed

 

  • Host a spaghetti dinner – $1 a bowl or free for a family with a paid membership.  Have a performance by a class, choir, or band.  Pasta donated by a business or members. – No PTA listed
  • Promise to forget their email address. – Compass Montessori PTA

 

  • Adopt a written membership plan – detailed:  target schools – or groups – individuals.  Initial contact plan.  Follow up.  Incentives.  Getting to know them – key supporters.  Timelines. 1st & 2nd year support plan – how to keep them (members)  Set goals – without goals and a detailed plan anywhere you end up is OK because you had no vision of there you were going. – No PTA listed

 

  •  Pre-Back to School get to know ya’ popsicle/playground social at which they speak to new admin and how the PTA will work together with new principal.  Set up meet and greet. – No PTA listed

 

  • Fishing for Membership – challenge individual classrooms – each member receives a fish to display – whichever class has the most fish wins a prize. – No PTA listed

 

  • Back to school BBQ!! – Lawrence PTA:

 

  •  Kindergarten Round-Up Playground Get Together!  Email all incoming kindergarten families prior to the new school year and invite them to the school to let the children play and get to know each other.  PTA will provide fun activities for the kids to engage in.  They will then be familiar to the families at back to school night when they have a PTA table set up! – No PTA listed

 

  • Have a PTA table at Assessment Days – the first two “unofficial” days of elementary school. – No PTA listed

 

  • Personal asks as mini Starbucks were passed out.  – No PTA listed

 

  • Parents social hour (off site) – No PTA listed

 

  • Bronco ticket giveaway. – No PTA listed

 

  • The class with the most PTA membership wins an ice cream party.  PTA welcome breakfast for parents on 1st day of school. – No PTA listed

 

  • Give a coupon for an upcoming event when they sign up for PTA. – No PTA listed

 

  • Request certificates/cards from businesses to give out upon signing up at the Back to School Parent info night and the Back to School night for students, if they sign up at those events.  Then they will have a drawing for everyone that signed up at those events for one large prize. – No PTA listed

 

  • Have a poster board to show what PTA has done/purchased in the past recent years. – No PTA listed

 

  • Have a PTA booth at orientation and parent night (any event).  Online PTSA directory thru Google Drive. – Skyview Middle School PTSA

 

Thank you to all PTA/PTSAs that shared!  Please feel free to keep sharing!