Pasadena Education Network Offers Free Workshop on Fundraising for Pasadena Elementary Schools

The Pasadena Education Network will host a free workshop Wednesday evening on fundraising for elementary schools, aimed at PTA leaders and parent volunteers looking to raise money for programs that district budgets may no longer cover.

The two-hour session, scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m. March 11 at the McKinley School library, 325 S. Oak Knoll Ave., covers the practical mechanics of parent-driven fundraising: who can raise money for what, how to set priorities and goals as a school community, how to solicit donations, and what fundraising can look like at schools where families have limited capacity to give, according to PEN’s event listing. The workshop will also include examples of successful campaigns.

PEN, a nonprofit founded in 2006 by parents to promote family involvement in Pasadena Unified School District schools, describes the workshop as geared toward elementary school PTA board members, fundraising chairs, Annual Fund committee members, and anyone who wants to understand how parent fundraising works when budgets are tight.

Parent-driven fundraising within PUSD schools can support teachers in their classrooms and pay for programs such as field trips, gardening programs, science nights, and school plays, according to PEN. In some cases, fundraising can help offset the cost of certain staff positions.

The workshop comes during a period of significant fiscal pressure on the district. PUSD’s Board of Education in November approved $24.5 million in budget cuts for the 2026-27 school year, according to the Pasadena Star-News, with reductions affecting positions across schools and central administration.

PUSD schools have individual Annual Fund accounts administered through the Pasadena Educational Foundation, which allow parents and principals to raise money for their school’s priorities, according to PEN’s website. PEN provides workshops and training through its Parents As Leaders program to help parents develop fundraising and leadership skills.

The workshop is free, and a light dinner will be provided. RSVPs are requested through PEN’s website at www.penfamilies.org. For more information, call (866) 216-7334.

PEN is an independent nonprofit organization serving families in Pasadena, Altadena, and Sierra Madre, with a network of more than 2,000 parents, according to the organization.