Fundraising for prom
Image: A woman using a clipboard in a room filled with balloons.
Funding the fun
While it does depend on the size of your school and the amount your events typically raise, one of the simplest ways to support your leaver’s prom is to contribute funds towards outfits, accessories and makeup. It’s up to your PTA how you raise the money (prom-themed film screening anyone?) and how you’ll distribute it to students. A well-advertised crowdfunding campaign will work wonders here.
It takes two to tango
Nowadays, there are many organisations recognising the expenses associated with prom and offering low-cost or even free outfits to students who need them. PromAlly is one of the largest in the UK, charging only a small delivery fee to hire free donated suits and dresses.
Other such companies include The Cowshed and All Dressed Up, who will even let you keep the garments you order!
It’s worth asking around your community to see what’s out there: local organisations are likely to be more accessible to your school.
Boutique treatment
Bring the boutique to the school gates by organising a pre-loved prom outfit and accessory pop-up shop. Get started by requesting donations from the school community. You could also liaise with local clothing businesses or charity organisations for donations, perhaps providing sponsorship visibility in return. Whether new or pre-loved, ensure everything is clean and in wearable condition.
Once you’ve secured the outfits, it’s time to get the word out! Advertise your pop-up in the weeks and months leading up to your prom and, when setting dates, ensure that anybody who’d like to access it will be able to come. Consider sending out a poll to find out when families and students would be available to try on and purchase their outfits. You should also decide on how much to charge, or utilise a pay-what-you-can scheme alongside a donation box – you might be surprised by how many impromptu donations come in. The monies raised can be cycled back into funding other prom activities, such as a session with a professional makeup artist.
A new lease on life
Pupils buying or hiring pre-loved outfits not only reduces costs – it’s better for the environment.
To support their Year 11 prom, Christopher Whitehead Language College PTA assembled their own prom wear hire service. “We also live in a climate where young people are interested in sustainability,” says Dianne Howland, Chair of CWLC PTA. “Often outfits are worn once and never again. Hiring a pre-loved outfit reduces waste and encourages sustainable thinking.”
After sharing donation requests through the school and local community, and spending “almost three weeks driving across the county collecting donations, visiting wedding and prom shops and contacting local businesses,” they marketed their event to students and families, promising a luxury treatment.
“We are fortunate to have a volunteer who is a skilled seamstress. She actually fits the dresses to people,” Dianne says. “So they get a fantastic service. We provide fizz (non-alcoholic) on arrival and create a positive and welcoming environment for students and their parents to browse and try on dresses and suits.”
It’s the little touches that make all the difference, and the event was so impactful that the PTA has begun offering their services to other schools in the county. “The feedback from families had been incredibly positive. The best part of all this is their faces as they walk away happy.”
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