More and more students and families are choosing microschools, which are small, personalized learning environments. Within these small groups, teachers can give each student a personalized education that fits their specific needs and way of learning. Creating a supportive community that encourages intellectual interest, and personal growth is what microschools do by helping students and teachers build strong relationships.
In its, Trends in ESA States report, published in September 2024, the National Microschooling Center research cites, “experts who are familiar with the sector estimate that there are close to 100,000 (microschools) operating today, serving as the primary source of schooling for between one and two million children.”
Microschools can encourage their community to give money and support their cause by making a unique campaign. Here are some ideas for making your Giving Tuesday effort a success:
1. Draw Attention to the Unique Closeness of Your School, Families, and Students
Personalized Learning: Highlight your school’s unique learning experience that fits the needs and pace of each student.
Strong Community: Show off the close-knit community that helps people grow socially and emotionally.
Innovative Ways to Teach: Talk about how project-based learning, hands-on learning, and other new methods your microschool is using.
2. Tell Compelling Student Success Stories
Student Success Stories: Tell touching tales of students who have done well in the small school setting.
Teacher Impact: Bring attention to the hard work and enthusiasm of teachers who go the extra mile to help their students.
Community Partnerships: Talk about the ways you’ve worked together with local businesses, groups, and workers.
3. Use Social Networks
Create Content That Engages: Send interesting pictures, short videos, and motivational quotes.
Make use of hashtags: To reach more people, use terms like #GivingTuesday, #Microschool, and #K12Education.
Hold contests on social media: Offer special school-branded items for rewards to get people to share and participate.
4. Make Goals That are Clear and Keep Track of Your Progress
Specific Goals: Set clear goals for earning money and keep track of your progress as the campaign goes on.
Real-Time information: To keep donors interested, share information on social media and in email newsletters.
5. Give People a Sense of Urgency
Short-Time Offers: For a short time, give away special incentives or chances to get gifts matched.
Countdown Timer: To build energy and a sense of time running out, use a countdown timer on your website and social media.
6. Thank Everyone for Their Support
Thank You in Public: Thank people in public on your social media channels.
Student Thank You Videos: Have students from each class create a thank you video of support.
Event to Thank Donors: Put together a special event to thank donors for their support.
Microschools can make a memorable and powerful Giving Tuesday program by using these tips. When you run your campaign, remember to make it fit your community and highlight the benefits of a microschool education. Giving Tuesday events encourage supporters to donate and build long-term strong relationships with those supporters. For more ideas on how to make your K-12 microschool’s campaign a success, check out additional tips at the Giving Tuesday site.
TADS empowers schools to focus on what truly matters: providing an exceptional education. From the initial application to ongoing tuition payments, TADS offers a comprehensive suite of tools designed to enhance the enrollment process. Reach out for a demo and let us show you how we can benefit your microschool.