1. Share Jeff with another school in your area on the same or following day. Jeff’s fee is cut nearly in HALF for your school if you share Jeff with another school in your area. Jeff can speak at your school in the morning, a neighboring school in the afternoon and then catch a flight home.  Jeff speaks to more students, you save money…it’s a win for everyone.  Jeff is super easy to promote to other schools and decision makers…just forward them a link to www.jeffwolfsberg.com and share your plan with them.

2. Check with your school administration for funding from the Associated Student Body fund. For teacher in-service programs, ask about Staff Development — Title VI funding.

3. Plan to integrate and highlight Jeff into a major theme such as cultural awareness week, health day, Red Ribbon Week, etc. Depending on your theme, federal grant money might be available. For example, Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act (SDFSCA) might approve a funding request for a speaker who addresses alcohol and drug prevention, sexual issues, teen dating, tobacco use, and teen pregnancy. Check with your school district or federal government office to find out who is dispensing these funds in your state. Request an application form.  You may be surprised what is available to you.

4. Apply for other grant monies from your state by contacting your State Department of Human Services and State Department of Education. They can direct you to the correct office — for example, the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Division. Contact other local agencies in your county that already have grant monies from state agencies. For example, the Criminal Justice Department or Department of Public Safety might have distributed funds into mental health agencies or programs for mentoring youth, etc.

5. Contact your school’s PTO/PTA. Share your plans with them. They are more likely to contribute funds if your plan is well thought out.

6. Have student leaders contact local business organizations: Rotary Club, Kiwanis, Lions Club, Elks, Chamber of Commerce. Present your plan and request their sponsorship.  It never hurts to ask.  Many of my engagements are funded this way.

7. Create a win-win situation. Contact several of your larger local businesses, especially those related to services for teens and their families. Ask for the owner, CEO or Community Services Department. If they are willing to help sponsor the speaker, you can exchange the favor by announcing their support to your students and parents.

8. Invite multiple clubs on campus to participate and help in a fund raising project. A cooperative effort helps students collaborate and learn about the realities of time and effort in acquiring funding in the real world.

9.  Ask vendors who provide services and products to the school for their financial support.  It is good business to support your client.  Often, businesses have discretionary funds for just this reason.

10.  Call and network with other schools in your area and ask them where they are getting funding.  Sometimes we simply forget to reach out and ask for help.