Fundraising for Your School: How to Tell a Story That Inspires Support
- Wildflower Schools
- Jul 20
- 2 min read
This is based on Part 1 of Wildflower Foundation’s “School Fundraising” Professional Development (PD ) series, yet written for anyone fundraising for community-led, project-based school work.
Starting a school – or launching a new program – requires more than vision; it requires resources. And funders often respond best to clear, time-bound, project-based asks rather than broad operational support.
Storytelling Matters
Fundraising isn’t just asking for money—it’s an invitation for people to make a real impact in their community. When you share what's special about your school, you allow donors to participate in something meaningful and lasting.
5 Questions Every Fundraiser Should Answer
Whether you're speaking to a parent, neighbor, foundation, or local business, ground your ask in these five core questions (based on Donald Miller’s “Building a StoryBrand”):
What problem are you solving?
Is your area a child-care desert or lacking inclusive learning options? Use facts and local data to show the need.
What’s your vision?
What makes your school unique—Montessori, neurodiversity focus, teacher-led, nature-based, etc.?
What exactly do you need?
Be precise. Example:
“$20,000 by [date] for a sprinkler system to obtain licensure, unlock public funding and reduce tuition.”
“$5,000 by [date] for an outdoor learning space.”
Mentioning other contributors builds trust and momentum.
What’s at stake if you don’t get it?
Could it lead to delayed openings, lost funding, or missed opportunities for student learning?
What are you asking for—and why does it matter?
Be clear if you're seeking donations, volunteers, partnerships; and explain how you'll sustain the work beyond this request.
Using AI to Craft Your School Story
To ease the barrier to storytelling, Wildflower Schools has developed a customized GPT tool designed to help school leaders articulate their fundraising narratives. Many participants found that using ChatGPT helped them overcome the blank page problem and uncover language they didn’t know they had.
As one participant shared, “It was powerful to explain why the third year of Montessori matters in the 3–6 classroom, which includes Kindergarten. I hadn’t fully articulated that before.”
Try This Out
Use the 5 questions above as a writing prompt.
Share your draft with someone and ask, “What resonates? What’s missing?”
Use AI to help draft, then revise and personalize.
Try a 60‑second pitch—perfect for sharing informally.
Update regularly—your story should grow and evolve with your school.
Related Resources
Interested in Starting a School?If you’re an educator with a bold vision, Wildflower may be able to help. Fill out our Start a School form to learn more.
