Peer School-to-School Fundraising: Innovating to Support Public Schools

Spark SF Public Schools launched the Peer School-to-School Fundraising program in 2022 to provide opportunities for parents, PTAs, principals, and families to partner in support of other SFUSD schools. The School-to-School fundraising model was the brainchild of Jefferson Elementary parent Ruben Diaz who saw an opportunity for schools with fundraising capacity to help other schools. It was designed to activate school communities to support one another.

Knowing the positive impact PTA fundraising can have on a school, Spark piloted a model for schools to choose a partner school to raise funds for. Since the program launched schools have raised over $70k for projects such as: basic need supplies, school yard enhancements, social and emotional support, and a part-time family liaison position.

Sanchez Elementary School recently raised funds to keep its ACCESS Health program going during the 2024-25 school year. The A.P. Giannini Middle School PTSA, parents, and community supported Sanchez by raising money for their fellow SFUSD school. The project was designed to kickstart Sanchez’s new PTA, which was just starting out with fundraisers.

The ACCESS Health program provides one therapist with a 1.5 days per week schedule during which they carry a case-load of 8 students at Sanchez Elementary per year. In the last seven years, through the ACCESS Health program, Sanchez has supported 40 students and their families with individual counseling and family support specific to each student’s needs. Having on-site support at Sanchez reduces the referral timeline significantly and ensures that students and families get the support they need. Additionally, because services are scheduled at school, the impact on school attendance and loss of instructional minutes is also minimal.

During Spring 2024, the fundraiser for Sanchez Elementary raised over $8,000 in support of the ACCESS Health program for the 2024-2025 school year.