7 Expert Tips for Running a School Fundraiser

Running a school fundraiser may sound easy when you’re in the brainstorming stages, but you’ll likely encounter unexpected challenges along the way—especially if you’ve never run one before. Thankfully, fundraising for your school can be easy (and fun!) with the right team, planning and helpful resources, like those available from Booster. When you do it right, your school fundraiser can be a huge success that everyone remembers for years to come.

Use these seven expert tips to help you run a school fundraiser that will raise the funds you need and get the community involved. Whether you’re planning a small event or a major annual fundraiser, these tips will help you get the most out of your fundraising experience. 

Tip #1. Plan Ahead

First, give yourself plenty of time to plan. There are several reasons to do this. By starting early, you’ll have extra weeks or months to create and execute your plan, which will reduce your stress. Plus, the sooner you start your fundraiser, the more money you can raise for your school community. You can also coordinate back-to-back fundraisers so there’s no “lag time” between seasons.

At Booster, we recommend planning for fall fundraisers in the summertime, and spring fundraisers during winter break. Following this suggested schedule will allow you to ample time to plan, form your team, and get all of the pieces you need in place to launch your fundraiser for success.

Tip #2. Recruit Volunteers

When you’re thinking about how to run a school fundraiser, it may be tempting to do everything yourself, so you have complete control—but going it alone means you’ll also carry full responsibility for the workload. Instead, recruit volunteers from your school community. Talk to other parents, faculty and staff, and create a fundraising team to share the work. The more the merrier! 

Ideally, your volunteer team should include people with different skill sets. Is there someone on your team who can handle social media and emails? Do you have someone talking to local businesses? What about people who can help get kids involved? As you recruit volunteers for your fundraiser, consider making a list of “job roles” to fill. 

Tip #3. Set Goals and Expectations

As you and your team create your school fundraiser, think about your goals and expectations. Are you raising a specific amount of money for a school trip or new sports equipment? How much money do you hope to raise? If you only raise 50% of your goal, will that still be enough to help your school community with this endeavor?

Be clear about your goals and expectations from the very start. This is an important step in learning how to run a successful fundraiser. Remember, if you’re not sure how much you should be raising, talk to your school administration or seek free advice from fundraising experts like the team at Booster.

Tip #4. Have Fun and Get Creative!

There’s a reason you can’t spell fundraiser without FUN! You’ll have a more successful fundraiser if you’re enjoying yourself. Be creative and make it fun for you, your team and your community by using a theme, holiday or creative prizes to get people involved.

A fun, creative fundraiser will stand out from the crowd and encourage people to both make more donations and share the fundraiser, so their friends and family can participate too.

Tip #5. Keep Your Community in the Loop

You’re raising this money for a reason—so your school community should always understand what’s going on with their donations. Periodically update parents, teachers, staff and other community members about your progress. 

Give notice about the fundraising dates, send reminders, and create an email list, social media group or website where you can share updates as you get closer to your goal. Platforms like Booster make it easy to create an online component for your fundraiser, which makes it super easy to keep everyone in the loop.

Tip #6. Get the Whole Family Involved

As you plan how to run a fundraiser, why not encourage the whole family to get involved? Kids can participate by decorating cookies for a bake sale, creating arts and crafts to sell, holding a car wash, or putting on a talent show. 

With kids and families involved, more people will want to donate to your fundraiser. And bonus—this is a great way to reinforce what kids are learning in school, broaden their social skills and boost school spirit.

Tip #7. Use Technology

Nothing beats an old-fashioned fundraiser, but technology like email, social media and streaming videos are a great way to broaden the scope of your fundraiser. For example, if you’re having a school talent show, relatives and friends from out-of-state can join the fun via Zoom and make donations online.

Booster makes it easy to run school fundraisers online, with online software that’s customizable for all your fundraising needs. 

Remember—You’re Not in this Alone! 

Booster is here to help you create a successful fundraiser for your school community—big or small. Have questions? Ready to get started? Connect with us today to discover how fun it is to raise funds with Booster! 

Lisa Cardinal is the manager of brand marketing and marketing operations at Booster.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

National PTA does not endorse any commercial entity, product or service. No endorsement is implied.

Give Smart, Leave a Legacy and Make a Lasting Impact

Give Smart, Leave a Legacy and Make a Lasting Impact 

The last few years have been anything but normal. The pandemic has hit the economy hard and the ripple effects have impacted everything from how we buy cars to who is making our coffee. You aren’t alone if you are keeping a closer eye on your finances.  

In the same way, PTAs across the country are also struggling with strained budgets, while at the same time, desperately trying to provide essential tools and services (like food, Wi-Fi access and mental health services) to their communities.  

If you are reading this, you are probably already supporting PTA with your time, talent and donations.  

Have you considered a gift to National PTA in your will or estate plans to cement your legacy of support for kids and families?  

Leaving a gift in your will allows you to make a significant gift to the mission and work of National PTA, while retaining control of your assets during your lifetime. That’s the advantage of a bequest—you can provide for your family today and still invest in PTA’s work to protect and support every child for tomorrow. 

Did you know you can make a bequest in your will with as little as the addition of one sentence? You can designate the National PTA as the beneficiary of a specific amount or asset, or you can allocate a percentage of your total estate. 

When you include the National PTA in your will, you become a valued member of National PTA’s legacy recognition program, The Oak Tree Circle. We recognize the significance of every bequest and appreciate the opportunity to demonstrate our gratitude by saying thank you today. 


If you would like to learn more, or if you have already included National PTA in your will, please email Caroline Condon at bequests@PTA.org  

Rock Your Kickoff: How the Right Start Gets the Best Fundraising Results

Authored by Mariah Muller 

A new calendar year means new needs for your PTA and school to meet to give every child a high-quality education. But what’s the key to getting students, volunteers and teachers excited and engaged for your next fundraising campaign? A motivational fundraiser kickoff event! Here are some tips on how to plan and execute the best one possible. 

What is a Fundraiser Kickoff, and Why Do You Need One? 

Every good fundraiser starts with a kickoff event. Your fundraiser kickoff is how you communicate the purpose and details of the fundraiser in an approachable, organized way. More importantly, your event is an easy and fun way to generate excitement from participants, including students, volunteers, teachers, parents, community members, and anyone else whose support you need to get the most out of your fundraising campaign. 

So, the first tip to making your fundraiser kickoff the best it can be is holding your kickoff event right at the start of your fundraising campaign. When planning your fundraiser, put just as much thought and preparation into the kickoff as the rest of the campaign. 

The Basic Components of a Fundraiser Kickoff 

Since there are so many different types of school fundraisers—from selling spirit wear to hosting a fun run or dance event—there are just as many different ways to approach your fundraiser kickoff. It all depends on the type of campaign you are running! However, your kickoff event should include at least the basic elements listed below. 

  • Purpose: One of the best ways to get people excited about participating in your school fundraiser is to tell them exactly why you’re raising money. Don’t be afraid to share specifics! Donors love to know how their money will help the school, and volunteers and participants love to know that their hard work is going to a good cause. Use your kickoff event to clearly communicate the purpose of your fundraiser. 
  • Details: After explaining the campaign’s purpose, it’s time to share details about how the fundraiser will work, including important deadlines, event dates/times and locations, and any other information volunteers and participants need to know. 
  • Materials and Literature: As you plan your kickoff event, ask yourself—are there are there any flyers, newsletters or other materials that students and volunteers will need in order to participate in the fundraiser? Consider how will you share those materials—will there be a letter or email sent out to parents with more information? It’s critical to have a plan for disseminating important literature or communicating what will be sent out after the event. 
  • Prizes or incentives: Some fundraisers—such as sales, fun runs and auctions—incorporate prizes or incentives to promote participation. Your fundraiser kickoff event is the perfect time to show off these incentives to get people even more excited.  

Conveying Your Message: Innovative Ways to Host a Fundraiser Kickoff 

  • Host a In Person Event 
    One of the most popular fundraiser kickoff events is a school assembly. Kickoff events work best when there is a large audience all gathered together, so the attendees can feed off each other’s excited energy. With an assembly, you can get the whole school community involved, featuring speeches from school administration and performances by student groups such as the school band or cheer team. All of this helps people feel like part of a big fundraising community. 
  • Host a Virtual Event 
    Of course, assemblies may not be possible or safe these days. If that’s the case at your school, don’t worry—you can still get people just as excited through a virtual event. To mimic the feel of an assembly as closely as possible, line up exciting speakers and entertainment just as you would for an in-person event.

    Use accessible technology and make sure all participants have access to the links and passwords they’ll need to log into the event ahead of time. Don’t forget to have a practice run to make sure all of the technology works as intended. There are a lot of details to consider when hosting a virtual event, but with enough planning, it can be exciting and fun for everyone. 

Other Key Considerations for Your Fundraiser Kickoff 

  • Create a Kickoff Video 
    Whether you’re hosting an in-person event or a virtual event, you should create a kickoff video to play for attendees. Include the basic components listed earlier in this blog in your video, such as the purpose and type of fundraiser, date and location of the event, and how volunteers or donors can participate. 
     
    This is your chance to show off your school’s personality and create an entertaining but informative experience for your audience. You can then post the kickoff video on your fundraising website, school website, social media platforms and more. It’s an investment that goes a long way!
  • Make the Most of Social Media 
    Social media is a crucial promotional tool for any fundraiser. To make the most of your kickoff event, take photos and videos of the event and post them on social media with a custom hashtag, and include links to your fundraising or donation page. Ask kickoff attendees to also post about the fundraiser on their own social media accounts. Soon enough, word-of-mouth about your fundraiser will spread like wildfire. 
  • Have a theme 
    Want to add some extra personality to your fundraiser kickoff? Consider having a theme for your fundraiser and introducing it during the kickoff event. Boosterthon’s Character Program is one way to dress up your fundraiser with a fun, memorable theme that promotes good values for the people who benefit most from fundraising … your students! 

Learn more about how Boosterthon can help make your fundraiser dreams a reality, from kickoff to collection, at Boosterthon.com. 

Online Payment Dos and Don’ts for PTAs

If you visit any PTA message board, it’s almost guaranteed you’ll see a post that goes something like this: “Looking to take PTA payments digital … what platform do you recommend? I hear Venmo is not great for PTAs. Is that true?”

It’s a common conversation, and for good reason. Now, more than ever, PTAs are looking to take payments—including membership renewals and fundraisers—virtual. And peer-to-peer (P2P) payment platforms, like Venmo, often come to mind because parents use it for other things, such as paying the babysitter or a friend.

If you’re looking to move your PTA payments online, keep reading to learn:

  • The top three reasons why P2P payment platforms (like Venmo) are a no-go
  • Features to look for in an online payment platform for your PTA

Top 3 reasons why your PTA should avoid P2P payment platforms

First off, what’s a P2P payment platform? The graphic below gives a quick snapshot of the payment platform landscape. P2P payment platforms, also known as “peer-to-peer” payment platforms, like Venmo, are typically used to get money from one individual to another (from point A to point B). While they’re great for paying a friend or making a Facebook Marketplace purchase, they are NOT great for PTA payments and here’s why:

  1. Venmo does not support non-profits
    And because of that, it’s possible to have funds frozen if the platform is used in an unapproved way. Most consider this not worth the risk!
  2. Tracking and reporting is almost nonexistent
    Most PTA initiatives involve collecting more than just payment. You need to know who paid, how much, for what—you may even need to collect form information. Collecting and tracking that level of detail on Venmo is just not possible.
  3. Lack of tax receipts
    Email tax receipts are a big deal for PTAs and nonprofits. In fact, it’s a requirement that, if not met, could result in your 501c3 license being revoked. Plus, parents are always asking for a receipt!
  4. Venmo has a weekly payment limit
    While it can vary by user, Venmo (and similar platforms) limit how much money you can collect within a certain time period. If you’ve taken the time to create an amazing event or spirit wear store, limitations are going to be a big challenge!
  5. No way to transfer an account
    Most PTAs have volunteers who transition as their children graduate or as their schedule allows. Not being able to transfer a Venmo account means your PTA will be reinventing the wheel—with no history to speak of—year after year.

For these reasons, and so many more, you want to select a payment platform that is made to collect from groups and communities (one that falls squarely in the center column of the graphic below) and can meet your PTA’s evolving needs.

Features to look for in your PTA payment platform

At the highest level, your PTA should look for a payment platform that is:

  • Flexible (PTAs collect for so many different things!)
  • Easy (Volunteers have varying levels of tech fluency!)
  • Free (Who wants to commit to a hefty monthly or annual fee?)

After working with thousands of PTAs for nearly a decade, at Cheddar Up we feel it’s clear that PTAs need the following features in a payment platform:

  • Friction-free payments
    Look for a platform that lets your community click and pay. Parents should NOT need to create an account or download a mobile app to pay. 
  • Payments + Information
    PTAs typically need to collect more than just payments (such as T-shirt size, contact information, etc.). Find a platform that lets you collect unlimited payments and forms.
  • Tracking
    Look for robust, easy-to-use and dynamic payment and information tracking—that you can view online or download. This saves volunteers hours, eliminates data entry and spreadsheet jockeying.
  • Handoff
    Make CERTAIN that you can easily transfer your account to incoming PTA board members. If you are going to invest time to innovate your PTA payment system, you want to make sure it sticks for years to come.
  • Point of sale
    It’s normal for PTAs to need to collect online and in-person payments. Find a platform that does both—well. You want to be able to collect online and point-of-sale payments (with mobile apps and Bluetooth card readers) so all tracking and funds stay in one spot!
  • Low, flexible fees
    You want low fees, an amazing feature set, payment method optionality and the ability to pass fees to the payer. Bottom line, with any online system, fees are always factor. Pick a platform with fee optionality and you’ll be in good hands.

Nichole Montoya is the co-founder and CEO of Cheddar Up, a platform dedicated to helping thousands of PTAs and similar groups easily collect payments and information online. To see examples of online PTA collection pages, visit our archive.

5 Proven, Hassle-Free Elementary School Fundraising Ideas

 

Let’s face it: most schools don’t like fundraising. But no matter what elementary school community you’re a part of, nearly every school needs help raising funds. And if you’ve ever served on a volunteer parent group, you’re always on the lookout for elementary school fundraising ideas that line up with your school’s priorities.

We didn’t like fundraising either, so we reimagined something completely different and schools LOVED it.  In fact, thousands of schools have trusted Boosterthon to increase funds and inspire students through our remarkable fitness and character program. But we didn’t just stop there. Over the years we’ve developed a number of fundraising programs that are proven to get results. Here are five proven, must-try school fundraising ideas.

School Fundraising Ideas
Boosterthon Fun Run

The Boosterthon Fun Run is our signature nine-day program that consists of four main parts: Pep Rally, Team Huddles, Fun Run, and Collection. Over the past 16 years, we’ve completed over 10,000 programs and helped our elementary school partners profit more than $200,000,000. In the process, we’ve perfected a fundraiser that’s been proven to raise our partners 60% more funds (on avg.) than their best previous fundraiser. It’s one of the many reasons why 3,000+ schools happily choose Booster year after year. But we know that every school has unique needs. That’s why we offer the Boosterthon Fun Run at four different service levels.

School Fundraising Ideas #1
Boosterthon LIVE

Boosterthon LIVE is our full-service, all-in-one fundraising program. Our enthusiastic team visits your campus daily, handling every aspect of the program. This hassle-free experience is the same Boosterthon program that thousands of principals and PTA leaders all across the country are RAVING about.

Boosterthon LIVE is perfect for schools that…

  • Love in-person customer service
  • Value a fun, professional team leading every program and collection detail
  • Want a magical student experience at every turn—from the Pep Rally, to character lessons, to the Fun Run

School Fundraising Ideas #2
Boosterthon EVENT

Boosterthon EVENT unites the enthusiastic Boosterthon team with your energetic school volunteers! Our team is on campus for the Pep Rally and Fun Run events, allowing you the freedom to uniquely customize the lessons and rewards in between.

Boosterthon EVENT is perfect for schools that…

  • Want a greater level of flexibility
  • Are willing to put in some work to receive higher profit
  • Want the energy, fun, and showmanship of the Boosterthon team for the Pep Rally and Fun Run

School Fundraising Ideas #3
Fun Run YOU

A favorite of many schools, Fun Run YOU is perfect for schools that want the benefits of Boosterthon’s expertise, technology, and reporting, with the perks of a self-run event.

Fun Run YOU is perfect for schools that…

  • Organize their own jog-a-thon but want to take it to the next level
  • Want to keep a higher percentage of funds
  • Have an involved volunteer team to help with daily logistics

School Fundraising Ideas #4
Boosterthon Color Run

One of our favorite school fundraising ideas, the Color Run is a fun way to boost your Fun Run experience for older grades. Students run laps around the Fun Run Speedway while getting periodically “colorized” with FDA/EPA-approved colored powder. The experience is safe, fun, and designed specifically for older students.

School Fundraising Ideas #5
Boosterthon Glow Run

If you live in a colder climate but you’re still looking for fun school fundraising idea, then look no further. The Glow Run transforms your gym into a pulsing neon celebration complete with rope lights, disco lights, and black lights. With Boosterthon’s Glow Run, rain, snow, and cold can’t hold back the fun—it rocks in any weather.

Interested in learning more about one of these school fundraising ideas? Click here to find out if Boosterthon is right for your school!

 

7 Best Tips When Applying For a Grant

1. Know what grants exist and when to apply

Sign up for National PTA’s newsletters and bookmark our grants page.

2. Tell a compelling story

Make sure all your answers work together to highlight your PTA’s strengths.

3. Share how the grant would impact your school community

Identify an existing need in your school community and explain how the grant will address that need.

4. Show your enthusiasm

Describe how the grant will provide an exciting opportunity for your school and PTA.

5. Answer all parts of the question

Include concrete, detailed examples and explanations that completely answer the questions asked.

6. Promote family engagement

Demonstrate how this grant will help you build stronger families in your community and how you will encourage all families to attend your event.

7. Get a second set of eyes

Ask someone to proofread your work for spelling, grammar and clarity before submitting the application.

 

We offer over 500 grant opportunities throughout the year. If you don’t receive a grant the first time, apply again!

Chrysler Brand and National PTA Collaborate to Support Schools with ‘Cars 4 Classrooms’ Program

(Sponsored Post) Chrysler minivans have been the go-to vehicle for families with school-aged children for more than 30 years.

Families have come to rely on the functionality and versatility offered by Chrysler minivans to transport children safely to and from school along with the available cargo space to haul bulky science projects, sports gear or fundraising items.

This relationship between Chrysler and schools in our communities is expanding after the brand became a Proud National Sponsor of National PTA last year.

Through this collaboration between Chrysler and National PTA, the brand will support local PTAs across the country in promoting family engagement in education and raising funds for their schools.

The brand’s efforts to support schools across the country will be showcased at every Cars 4 Classrooms fundraising event. PTAs and schools have an opportunity to set up test drive fundraising events through this initiative that feature the Chrysler Pacifica and Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid to earn up to $3,000 for their school.

The featured vehicle for this program, the Chrysler Pacifica, represents the sixth generation of Chrysler minivan. The Pacifica is completely re-engineered from the ground up on an all-new platform and offers the first hybrid minivan to the segment. It also has more than 100 available safety and security features, the class-exclusive Uconnect Theater rear-seat entertainment system, and an array of comfort and convenience technologies.

For every participant who takes a Pacifica for a brief test drive as part of this program, the brand will donate $10 to the school. PTAs can go to http://www.Cars4classrooms.comto learn more about hosting an event. Participating Chrysler franchised dealerships will work with PTAs to provide Chrysler Pacifica minivans for the event.

In addition to the test drive fundraiser, the Chrysler brand will support PTAs in encouraging families to visit their child’s school and get more involved in their education as part of National PTA’s Take Your Family to School Week Feb. 11-17, 2018.

Q Your School: Free Epinephrine Auto-Injectors for Public Elementary Schools

(Sponsored Post)

As parents and teachers, you know how important it is to create a healthy environment for children to learn, grow and thrive. At kaléo, where we put patients first, we feel the same way. However, approximately six million children in the U.S. live with life-threatening allergies, meaning that an encounter with a peanut in the lunchroom or a bee sting during recess could trigger anaphylaxis to those at risk.

Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction that can happen quickly and may cause death. Anaphylaxis can occur as a result of exposure to allergens including tree nuts, peanuts, milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, soy, wheat, insect bites, latex and medication, among other allergens, depending on what the person is allergic to.

One study suggests that as many as one-fifth of school-aged food-allergic children have had at least 1 reaction in school within the past 2 years.1 It is crucial for school administrators, teachers, and nurses to be prepared for a potential allergic emergency.

A company founded by patients for patients, we focus on providing solutions for life-threatening medical conditions, including life-threatening allergies – a medical condition that affects our founders and their families as well. To help ensure that children living with this condition are treated during an anaphylaxis emergency that occurs in the school setting, we at kaléo have created a new charitable product donation program, “Q Your School,” offering U.S. public elementary schools AUVI-Q® (epinephrine injection, USP) Auto-injectors free of charge. AUVI-Q is a FDA-approved prescription medicine used to treat life-threatening allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, in people who are at risk for or have a history of serious allergic reactions.

“Q Your School” provides up to four AUVI-Q cartons (each carton contains two epinephrine auto-injectors and a Trainer) per academic year, as well as access to educational materials on how to use AUVI-Q. There are no obligations, such as marketing or product exclusivity requirements, attached to the “Q Your School” program.

This program is an important step in helping to treat children with life-threatening allergies during an anaphylaxis emergency while they are at school. Our hope is that this program gives parents, teachers and school administrators access to epinephrine auto-injectors should an anaphylactic emergency occur in the school setting. AUVI-Q is not a substitute for emergency medical care.

To learn how to enroll your school in the “Q Your School” program, visit KaleoPharma.com/who-we-are/kaleo-cares/. To learn more about AUVI-Q, please visit AUVI-Q.com.

Indication

AUVI-Q (epinephrine injection, USP) is a prescription medicine used to treat life-threatening allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, in people who are at risk for or have a history of serious allergic reactions.

Important Safety Information

AUVI-Q is for immediate self (or caregiver) administration and does not take the place of emergency medical care. Seek immediate medical treatment after use. Each AUVI-Q contains a single dose of epinephrine. AUVI-Q should only be injected into your outer thigh, through clothing if necessary. If you inject a young child with AUVI-Q, hold their leg firmly in place before and during the injection to prevent injuries. Do not inject into veins, buttocks, fingers, toes, hands, or feet. If you accidentally inject AUVI-Q into any other part of your body, seek immediate medical treatment.

Rarely, patients who use AUVI-Q may develop infections at the injection site within a few days of an injection. Some of these infections can be serious. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms at an injection site: redness that does not go away, swelling, tenderness, or the area feels warm to the touch.

If you have certain medical conditions, or take certain medicines, your condition may get worse or you may have more or longer lasting side effects when you use AUVI-Q. Be sure to tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, especially medicines for asthma. Also tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, especially if you have asthma, a history of depression, thyroid problems, Parkinson’s disease, diabetes, heart problems or high blood pressure, have any other medical conditions, are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Epinephrine should be used with caution if you have heart disease or are taking certain medicines that can cause heart-related (cardiac) symptoms.

Common side effects include fast, irregular or ‘pounding’ heartbeat, sweating, shakiness, headache, paleness, feelings of over excitement, nervousness, or anxiety, weakness, dizziness, nausea and vomiting, or breathing problems. These side effects usually go away quickly, especially if you rest. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.

Please click here to see the full Prescribing Information and the Patient Information at AUVI-Q.com.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit FDA.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Spencer Williamson is the president and CEO of kaléo.

National PTA does not endorse any commercial entity, product, or service.

References:

  1. Nowak-Wegrzyn A, Conover-Walker MK, Wood RA. Food-Allergic Reactions in Schools and Preschools. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2001;155(7):790-795. doi:10.1001/archpedi.155.7.790

National PTA does not endorse any commercial entity, product, or service.

Celebrate the Holidays Safely

The kids are back to school and the holidays are around the corner. It’s an exciting time to gather with family and friends. Unfortunately, holiday festivities can present unique fire hazards. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, more residential fires happen during the colder months than any other time of year, primarily caused by cooking, heating and electrical malfunctions.

Don’t let a fire ruin your holiday! Stay safe with these simple tips:

  1. Cook with Care

Remain in the kitchen when you’re cooking and keep pan lids close by so that if a fire starts in the pan you can quickly cover it with the lid and smother the flame. Remember to turn off the burners and the oven when you’re done.

  1. Pay Attention to Indoor Decorations

Be sure to test your lights and cords, and replace anything faulty. Hang indoor lights with clips instead of nails, and never use decorations inside that were intended for outdoor use only. Place Christmas trees or plants at least three feet away from heat sources, turn off decorative lights when not at home or sleeping, and remember to water live trees. Be careful to keep burning candles away from children, and remember to always extinguish them before leaving the room or going to sleep.

  1. Use Outdoor Light Displays Responsibly

When decorating outside, only use electrical decorations and cords manufactured for outdoor use. Keep them away from snow or standing water and avoid pinching them in doors or windows, which could damage their insulation.

  1. Don’t Forget Fire Starting Materials

Keep lighters, matches, etc. away from children. Make sure guests who smoke go outside and properly dispose of cigarette butts and ashes (e.g., dampening cigarette butts before throwing them in the trash.)

Exercise caution if you use a fireplace:

  • Have your chimney inspected prior to use.
  • Only burn dry firewood.
  • Never hang decorations in front of a working fireplace.

You are key to your family’s safety.

Although fire safety is serious, you can make it easy to talk about. Visit TheHartford.com/JFMParent to learn more.

 

Information and links from this article are provided for your convenience only. Neither references to third parties nor the provision of any link imply an endorsement or association between The Hartford and the third party or non-Hartford site, respectively. The Hartford is not responsible for and makes no representation or warranty regarding the contents, completeness or accuracy or security of any material within this article or on such sites. Your use of information and access to such non-Hartford sites is at your own risk.

Preparing for a Hot Housing Market

(Sponsored Post)

Homes are flying off of the market—at least that’s the prediction for 2017. According to Redfin Chief Economist Nela Richardson, “We expect 2017 to break the 2016 record as the fastest market on record. Homes stayed on the market an average of 52 days before going under contract in 2016, the shortest time recorded since Redfin began keeping track in 2009.”

Record number of sales

The Salt Lake Board of Realtors® Housing Forecast 2017 report agrees; 2016 marked the highest level of homes sold in ten years. It also noted that the sale of multifamily units, such as condominiums, townhomes and twin homes set an all-time record.

Not enough inventory to meet demand

This record number of sales increases home prices, notes the report. “Utah’s rapid demographic growth has created what appears to be a housing shortage. For the first time in 40 years, the increase in households exceeds the number of new housing units. Consequently, all segments of the housing market report very strong demand and insufficient supply.”

Be prepared and move quickly

If you are one of the thousands of people wanting to buy a home this year, there are some important ways you can prepare yourself in a competitive environment:

  1. Select a reputable realtor who is familiar with your purchase area location. A professional realtor can often negotiate better pricing and inclusions, plus they help to keep your deal moving.
  2. Get pre-qualified with your lender of choice. A pre-qualification letter gives you more clout with buyers, especially if you get into a multiple offer situation.
  3. Choose a lender that can meet tight contract deadlines as timing can be everything in the current market. Many credit unions offer excellent rates and service on home loans. Mountain America Credit Union even offers an exclusive First-Time Homebuyer Program which helps members with as little as $1,000 down.
  4. Consider using Mountain America’s Quick CloseProgram to get the deal done faster. Quick Close is a secure electronic mortgage process that lets you to conveniently manage your closing documents from anywhere.

Follow these tips to make your home buying experience a positive one in this competitive market.

Mountain America Credit Union can be a big part of that positive experience—we have an amazing mortgage program including knowledgeable experts who can guide you through the entire process; a multitude of products with something for everyone’s financial situation; and a helpful staff that want nothing more than to answer your questions and get you the information you need for the life of your mortgage—and beyond!

For more information on mortgages or other financial questions, contact Mountain America Credit Union.

Bryan Packer is the AVP Public Relations at Mountain America Credit Union.

Mountain America Credit Union is a financial sponsor of National PTA and has been invited to submit a blog post as part of their engagement with PTA. National PTA does not endorse any commercial entity, product or service, and no endorsement is implied by this content.