Tips for PTAs on How to Have a Successful Membership Drive
Welcome to Week 2 of a back-to-school series, by PTAs, for PTAs. We asked PTAs, "How do you get the word out and incentivize people to join your PTA?"
Here are tips straight from other PTAs:
1. Run promotions.
✔️ "We are doing a giveaway for families that join. We have two $10 gift cards to local ice cream shops that were donated. Every family member that joins will be entered to win. We are also doing a giveaway for teachers & staff that join." - Elementary School PTA, Alabama
✔️ "We are offering magnets and free donuts." - Elementary School PTA, Florida
✔️ "We do a 'Membership Madness.' We take classrooms each week and have them compete against each other. The class that can get the most memberships will move on to the next bracket all the way through to the end. The kids really get into it, especially encouraging all of their family members to join!" - Elementary School PTA, Virginia
✔️ "If we reach our goal of the number of members, our school gets a popsicle party!" - Elementary School PTA, North Carolina
✔️ "We are trying an early-bird sign up, as well as a raffle to win some donated prizes from local businesses in the area."
✔️ "We make a nice lunch or raffle electric pencil sharpeners or give some item for teachers to join the PTA at their first day back. We also give them a free field trip t-shirt when they buy their membership."
✔️ "Incentive for everyone: free chocolate bar. Incentive for teachers: free ream of colored paper AND if all the teachers in their grade join, we pay the bus rental price for a fieldtrip of their choosing."
✔️ "We've budgeted for a $50 gift card from Target for the teachers, a pizza party for the class with the most percentage of members and were able to obtain a backpack filled with school supplies to parents who signed up before 8/4."
✔️ "Our PTA offers packs of paper to our teachers, as well as "jean coupons." If we reach 100% of staff involvement, we spoil them with a treat day. For students, we give out homework passes and popsicle parties for highest class involvement and small gifts throughout the year at PTA-run events.."
✔️ "Our PTA offers packs of paper to our teachers, as well as "jean coupons." If we reach 100% of staff involvement, we spoil them with a treat day. For students, we give out homework passes and popsicle parties for highest class involvement and small gifts throughout the year at PTA-run events.."
✔️ "We offered car magnets, pencils, license plate covers, etc., as swag for joining PTA."
2. Bundle memberships.
✔️ "The more you buy, the more you save! Free PTA Member Car Magnet when you purchase 4+ memberships." - Elementary School PTA, Florida
✔️ "We had a pool party and charged $1 admission. We offered an optional $5 donation and included a PTA membership, a school water bottle (leftover stock from last year), and a raffle ticket (for leftover fundraiser prizes). We got more PTA memberships that the past 3 year combined." - Elementary School PTA, Ohio
✔️ "We offer a deal for teachers to join PTA by offering a bundle with a spirit wear shirt and membership for a discount." - Elementary School PTA, Illinois
✔️ "We offer a variety of support 'booster' levels with incentives like special bags, blankets, umbrellas etc."
✔️ "Our school gave out car magnets this year with each membership at different registrations and really wanted to make sure we got them to our incoming new students/ families."
✔️ "We like to offer a bundle: Buy a Shirt, You're a Member!"
✔️ "I asked a few teacher friends, and they said they loved the year the PTA did the large golf umbrellas for $100 level membership swag."
3. Provide membership benefits.
✔️ "We offer 3 events during the year that are free with a PTA membership. We do a grandparents' picnic (September), a movie night (January), and a bingo night (April/May). We let our families know that if they don't have a membership, they can join the PTA for $5. It has helped us gain new members throughout the year." - Elementary School PTA, Georgia
✔️ "We give VIP carpool slots to anyone who joins the PTA before the beginning of the year." - K-8 PTA, North Carolina
✔️ "We give free entry to family fun events when two family members join." - Elementary School PTA, New York
✔️ "At our high school, we have been approved to give volunteering hours to those students and family members that join our PTSA. These volunteer hours may be used for the graduation requirements."
4. Make it easy to join.
✔️ "The principal includes a link to join in his weekly email, Facebook and Instagram, and set up a QR code for teachers to scan and join easily on their phones." - High School PTSA, Virginia
✔️ "I sent an email to all our past members encouraging them to "skip the line" at open house and join online." - Elementary School PTA, Florida
✔️ "All executive board members have a link to join right in their email signatures, and we created a QR code to post at the school's entrance and throughout so folks can scan it, and it takes them right to the MemberHub store to join!" - Elementary School PTA, North Carolina
✔️ "Weekly/if not daily reminders! Ask your school admin to send out messages on your behalf to all parents. Include a link to your Membership store!"
MemberHub Resources for these tips: