TREASURER
THE ASSOCIATION OF CATHOLIC STUDENT COUNCILS
86 CITY VIEW DR.
DALY CITY, CA 94014
(415) 584-9877
www.tacsc.org
TREASURER
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Students should leave this workshop knowing:
The role and responsibilities of the treasurer
How to keep a record of expenditures and deliver reports
How to prepare a student council budget
How to open a student council account and write checks
How to plan and execute fundraisers
Overview of the workshop:
This workshop will educate student council treasurers about their job on student
council. They should leave the workshop confident in their responsibilities and full of
new ideas about how to raise money for their schools
Workshop outline:
I. The Role of the Student Council Treasurer
A. Prepares student council budget along with other officers.
1. Allocates the amount of money each activity and commissioner will receive
2. The budget should be prepared before the school year, preferably during the
Summer Planning Meeting.
3. All student council officers should be present when the student council
budget is planned.
B. Record Keeper
1. The treasurer must keep a record book of all incoming and outgoing money
2. Everything must be written down on paper.
3. Student council expenditures should also be recorded in a computer.
Microsoft Excel or Microsoft Money are great programs to help the treasurer
record expenditures.
4. Records should be neat and organized
C. Works with School Administration
1. The student council moderator should always be up to date on all matter
regarding the financial status of the council.
2. The treasurer should meet with the school bookkeeper privately before the
school year begins to learn basic and correct bookkeeping procedures and
forms.
3. The school bookkeeper should be notified of the council’s financial status
often (at least once a month).
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TREASURER
D. Reporter – Written and Verbal
1. The treasurer should be able to write complete treasurer reports and present
the report verbally. This is usually done weekly at student council meetings.
2. The treasurer should be aware of all issues pertaining to the funds of his/her
student council.
E. Efficient, Organized, Neat & Honest!
1. The treasurer has a job that requires organization so he/she should become
an example to their entire council.
2. Pay bills on time.
3. Keep an accurate record of receipts - make copies for back up!
4. Be able to account for all student funds at any given time.
5. Accept ideas and criticism of the moderator and principal.
6. The most important aspect of being a good treasurer is HONESTY!
II. How to Open a Bank Account
A. Check with your moderator or school principal first to see if the school already has
a student account.
B. Secure approval from the student council to open the account.
C. Be sure the student council has the minimum amount (usually $100) to open a
checking account.
D. All accounts must be opened in person and not by telephone. BOTH the
moderator and treasurer must go to the bank together. Ask for the person in charge
of new accounts.
1. Bring all important documents with you (photo/school ID, cash to open
account, etc.)
2. Treasurer will sign the account as a co-signer
3. Set up the account so two signatures are required for signing checks (usually
the moderator and treasurer).
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TREASURER
III. Check Writing 101 (see sample check below)
A. Step One – Write the payee’s name where it says Pay to the Order Of
B. Fill in the correct date including the year.
C. Fill in the amount of the check in the box where the dollar sign is
Example: $100 or $100.75
D. Write out the dollar amount word for word including any change.
Example: One hundred and 00/100 or One hundred and 75/100
E. Write on the memo line what the check was for. Example: Sweatshirts for the
student council or chocolate chips for the bake sale.
F. Record the amount of the check in your checkbook registry (see sample
below). Include the check number (which can be found in the upper right hand
corner of your check, the payee’s name, the amount of the check and the date.
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SAMPLE CHECK
SAMPLE CHECK REGISTRY
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TREASURER
How to Plan an Activity
To ensure that your student council plans a successful, organized event, follow these
nine steps:
1. GOAL: What is the reason for this activity?
 What do you want to accomplish?
 Examine your present position in relation to your goal
2. IDEAS: How will you carry out your purpose? What will the project be?
 Brainstorm – The more ideas the better. No idea is a bad idea.
 Establish guidelines for selecting the project. List ALL of the factors
that must be considered (money, facilities, time, people)
 Narrow down ideas – keep in mind the goals as well as the guidelines.
BE REALISTIC!
3. COUNCIL APPROVAL: Vote on what to do from your brainstorming.
4. ADMINISTRATION & MODERATOR APPROVAL: This is necessary
for proper initiation. In some cases the moderator may be able to speak for the
principal/administration. Nonetheless, good public relations dictate that the
principal/administration should be aware of what is happening.
5. ORGANIZATION: Plan the details.
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The date, time and materials needed
Committees
Publicity
Secure the necessary facilities
6. ACTIVITY: Make sure everyone is doing their job!
 REMEMBER! Check in advance to make sure that everything is ready and all
assignments are completed.
7. THANK YOU: Thank everyone involved in the project.
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Faculty members
Parents
Principal
Student body
Custodial staff
8. EVALUATION: How did you do? What went right/wrong and why?
9. FILE: Complete a report in the student council records.
As you come along or think of “better ways” to do it next time, write them down and add them
to your file for future reference.
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FUNDRAISING IDEAS & DESCRIPTIONS
AFTER SCHOOL SNACKS
Description: Sell nutritional snacks after school when students are likely
to want a quick bite to eat before sports practice, choir rehearsal, or a
tutoring session.
Fruit juices, apples, string cheese, peanut butter and crackers, yogurt, bananas and
pretzels would all be convenient to sell. An alternative would be other popular foods
such as pizza by the slice, fresh baked cookies, a bag of chips, pretzels, or low fat ice
cream.
BAKE SALE
Description:
Each month, a Bake Sale is sponsored by two different
classes. Half the money is donated to the Student Council
and half the money is kept in the class fund.
Coordinate with the class helping to sponsor the bake sale
and make assignments as to who will bring/bake the treats
you will sell.
BEAN FEED
Description:
Plan a Bean Feed in February where the proceeds can go to the charity of your
choice. Each student is issued as many tickets they can sell. The person
who sells $20 worth or more are eligible to attend a free movie,
sponsored by the local theater owner perhaps. The top sales person is
honored at an assembly and their name is placed on a plaquein an effort to make this an annual affair.
The Bean Feed dinner is held on a night preceding a basketball
game or some other special school event. Adults $4 and children $2. The menu
consists of baked beans or bean soup), salads, rolls, dessert, milk and coffee. Mothers
and fathers might be asked to donate their time to help prepare and serve the meal.
(Get upper grade students involved in the preparation and serving as well.)
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TREASURER
BOOK FAIR
Description: Over a few weeks or months, have students bring in any old
or gently used books that are still in good condition. After a decent
collection has been made, have a book sale.
You can have your book sale
during lunch when students have time to browse. You might also consider
having the book sale on Sunday after Mass so parishioners can support the
fundraiser as well.
BREAKFAST BAR
Description: Many students travel a long way to school by bus or
car. Consider having a hospitality committee (run by the student
council) that provides hot chocolate, juice and donuts waiting for
students when they arrive at school.
This is something that could happen once a week (on Fridays) or
several days a week. The student council would be in charge of
purchasing, preparing and selling the breakfast items for a small
profit.
BRING & BUY SALE
Description: Beginning in November, the members of the student
council make posters for each classroom requesting that each student
bring one new item that would be suitable for a Christmas gift.
Send out letters to the local stores and they can help provide valuable
items. Set a day in December for the date of your sale.
Plants, stuffed animals, perfumes, pins, picture frames, cookies, bread, cakes,
brownies, pads to be placed by the phone, jewelry and many other things can be sold
to students and parents at the Bring & Buy Sale.
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TREASURER
CALIFORNIA GOLD RUSH
Description: This is a great idea for schools in California – or anywhere
really! Collect old film canisters and bury them in an approved location.
The canisters are filled with prize descriptions – example: a digital
camera, a bag of M&M’s, movie tickets, etc.
Students rent shovels from the student council - $1 for 5 minutes of digging.
When a whistle blows, the shovels are collected and rented to a new group of
prospectors.
For schools that can’t dig up a field, shredded, computer paper could be used in a
gymnasium. Students then “dive in” to find prizes.
CANDY GRAMS
Description: For any holiday, the Student Council distributes a
card to everyone who pays $.25 to write a note to a student or
teacher. The Council collects the papers, attaches a piece of
candy and then delivers the grams.
This is an easy and fun way to raise funds. Tip – The student
council might think about purchasing one gram for every student
in the school to avoid any hurt feelings.
CANDY ROOM
Description: During lunch, student council members or a group of
volunteers sell candy to help raise money for the student council.
The reward is the feeling or being useful and productive at school
l and a free candy bar at the end of the week.
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CASH FOR CAKES
Description: Sponsor a Radio Cake Auction. Have members of the student
council and their parents bake cakes, cookies and other sweets.
Take them to school and set up a radio station, using the school’s P.A. system.
Student council officers talk on the radio, announcing the bakes goods and starting
the bidding process. Students may enter their bid by calling a designated phone
number, or they can e-mail bid to a given site in your school. Their bids are relayed to
the “radio” room. The highest bidder wins the cake, which is delivered to the
student’s house or homeroom.
CELEBRATE LEAP YEAR
Description: Celebrate Leap Year with a “Salute to Leap Year”
fundraiser. Students pay $.25 for 3 leaps. Leaps are measure and
prizes are given to the students with the longest leaps.
CRAFT FAIR
Description: Have students and their parents make holiday
crafts. Be sure to give them lots of notice (months if necessary).
Advertise your craft fair in the school newsletter, parish bulletin
and in your local in the bulletin to generate support and
awareness. Hold Fair on a Sunday after Masses.
DOOR TO DOOR CAR WASH
Description: This activity requires participation by students of
the upper grades and parent/teacher supervision. The more you
advertise in advance of this project, notifying your prospective
clients, the more successful it will be. You can even pre-sell your
services with tickets.
Instead of waiting for people to come to you for a car wash, grab
buckets, sponges, towels, soap, brushes, and other care washing
equipment and go door-to-door in the neighborhood to wash cars. Pairs or trios of
your group can approach a house and volunteer to wash their car for a set amount.
Use the homeowner’s hose and water supply. For those experienced in the group,
waxing could be done for an additional fee.
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DREAM ON AMERICA
Description: This patriotic performance by students is given several
times for the school and community.
Money is raised from admissions to the performances and from the sale of
commercial time to local businesses. The ads are written and performed by the
students.
DRIVE-IN MOVIES
Description: Charge $1 per student to view the movie. Gather
all students and charge for popcorn and soda.
Design and paint boxes like cars to recreate the drive-in movie atmosphere.
EASTER BASKET RAFFLE
Description: In the springtime, make up Easter Baskets and
raffle them off to the Student Body.
Sell the raffle tickets for $1 and raise money for a charity.
EASTER LILY PINS
Description: Have a committee buy lily flowers and make pins out of them.
They can be live or fake flowers.
During Holy Week, sell the pins for ladies to wear them at Mass on Easter
Sunday.
ENDOWMENT FUND
Description: Send letters to alumni asking for financial support
for their alma mater. This can be an annual campaign or
something you do every few years.
Invite alumni to a special luncheon and discuss school related
needs. All contributions are tax-deductible. This is a great
fundraiser.
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TREASURER
GREAT GROCERY GRAB
Description: Tickets are sold for an opportunity to have five free
minutes in a grocery store.
Sponsors should be sure to bring in more money than can
possibly be spent by one shopper in five minutes.
Rules should state that no alcohol or tobacco products may be purchased.
HOBBY SHOW
Description: Consider having your student council sponsor a
Hobby show. Students exhibit their collections of model
cars, airplanes, Barbie dolls, baby dolls, Storybook dolls,
Raggedy Ann dolls, nutcrackers, stamps, cards, coins, etc.
Students can show items they have built with Legos, Lincoln logs
and so forth. Crafts such as crewel or needlepoint can also be exhibited. Hobbies are
displayed in various categories and trophies are awarded in each category. Certificates
are given to each of the participants.
Students pay an entry fee which is decided upon by the student council. For example,
50 cents an item may be charged or so much for a collection over 10 items.
On Sunday, parents and parishioners are invited to visit the exhibit in the church hall
and the student council earns a little more money by selling hot dogs and punch at the
same time.
HOW MUCH CANDY IS IN THE JAR?
Description: Fill a large jar with jellybeans or other candy –
M&M’s, Mike & Ike, Hot Tamales, etc.
Charge $.25 for each guess. Winner gets the jar and the candy!
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TREASURER
HUG-A-THON
Description: This is a great activity to hold during February.
Each student received a pledge sheet and collects sponsors for a
certain amount for each hug (example $.05 per hug). The pledge
sheets should be complete a few days before the hug-a-thon.
On the day of the hug-a-thon, the student council makes an
Announcement that the hug-a-thon will last for one minute and half. During that
time, students go around and hug each other while keeping track of the amount of
hugs he/she had received.
When time is called, students line up by class and report the number of hugs they
received to the student council. Each student receives a “Total Hugs Received” card
and goes home to collect their pledges.
ICE CREAM & SNOW CONE SALE
Description: During the first and the last few months of the
school year, sell ice cream and cold treats to the students.
In order to be profitable, hold the sale for a few weeks and
publicize.
KISS A TURKEY
Description: In November, sponsor this week-long fundraiser.
Select faculty members to be potential turkey kissers.
Students vote for the teacher of their choice by putting money into cans. At the end
of the week an assembly is held. The winning teacher is announced and the turkey is
kissed.
MILE O’ CHANGE
Description: Stick a mile of two-sided tape on a mall floor.
Invite passersby to contribute loose change to cover the
mile by sticking coins on the tape. Student council
members can monitor the tape to ask for donations and
make sure that they stick!
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TREASURER
MYSTERY BOX & GUESSING GAME
Description: Each month, place a prize in a mystery box.
Give clues over the PA system.
Students buy a chance to guess and win the box contents.
Every three days, the price to guess goes up.
PANCAKE BREAKFAST
Description: Have a class sponsor a pancake breakfast for
the community. Sell pre-sale tickets to friends and family,
as well as parishioners. This will draw a large crowd to
your event and make a lot of money.
The class could help prepare, serve, and clean up from the
breakfast with the help of parents and teachers. You could
write to local stores to get essentials for the event donated.
PARENT PROM
Description: A parent prom is similar to most student dances.
It has a theme and you can crown a “Mom and Dad of the Year.”
Student act as chaperones and a student photographer captures
the moment.
Proceeds from the event go to the school or student council fund.
PARISH CAR WASH
Description: Publicize in the Parish Bulleting that the Student Council
will wash cars one Sunday after the morning Masses.
This can be done a few times a year to raise money and get the
students involved with the community.
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PENNY AN INCH
Description: Sponsor a movie or dance. Charge students a
penny-an-inch for admission.
This could be an ongoing way of charging students for various
events you have throughout the year.
PENNY POOL
Description: Give each class a large pickle jar. Have students put pennies
(or other loose change) in the jar through out the school year.
Each month the student council collects the money and gives a prize to the
winning class. At the end of the year, announce the grand totals of each
class and award that class with a free movie day and popcorn.
PENNY WAR
Description: Each classroom is given an oatmeal box in which to
store their pennies. The object is for each class to fill their
container with as many pennies as possible to win the prize at the
end of the week, but there was one drawback, the other classes
could sabotage the other classroom’s box with silver coins. The
amounts of these silver coins are subtracted from the amount of
pennies in the box.
Each day, Student Council members count and tally each classroom’s pennies at
lunchtime and the results of that day should be announced over the intercom system.
At the end of the week, all the final results were announced and the winning class is
awarded.
PERSONALIZED ASSIGNMENT NOTEBOOKS
Description: Sell personalized assignment notebooks. Call a
large office supply company (Staples, Office Depot, Office
Max)and they will often provide notebooks with anything you
want printed on the cover, plus two pages on the inside.
You could print the school rules, the school calendar and the
special schedule used on assembly days.
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PUMPKIN CONTEST
Description: Buy a large pumpkin and place it in a highly visible area.
Students pay $.50 to guess the weight of the pumpkin.
The guessing can go on for several days prior to Halloween.
The closest guess receives the pumpkin.
PUMPKIN PATCH
Description: Parents and students buy pumpkins at a low
price and sell them to the school and parish community.
This activity involves lots of organization, adverting,
scheduling and cooperation.
REMEMBRANCE TREE
Description: Buy a large Christmas tree or see if a local lot will donate
one to your school. Students, teachers, parents and community
members buy a light for the tree in honor of or in memory of a loved
one.
Lights are fifty cents for students and $2 for non-students, which are
purchased from any student council member. This money can be
donated to a charity.
At the Remembrance Tree Lighting Ceremony, this is held on the two
Sunday nights preceding Christmas vacation, have a short program that
includes a Christmas reading and song. This is followed by a reception.
ROOT BEER FLOAT & SUNDAE SALE
Description: Have a root beer float and sundae sale once a month.
The students will look forward to it and the student council provides
itself with operating capital.
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TREASURER
SANTA’S PICTURE STUDIO
Description: Prior to Christmas, the student council opens
Santa’s Picture studio.
It is a nice gesture for the little ones
to visit with Santa and Have their picture taken with him for free.
Students in the older grades can also visit Santa but pay $1 per
photo.
Individual and group pictures with Santa can be taken. Digital cameras and a cute
backdrop make this activity easy and fun.
Ask a friendly grandparent or parishioner if he’ll play Santa for you. Be sure to have
candy canes for Santa to pass out to his visitors.
SCHOOL-OPOLY
Description: To raise money, make and sell a version of your school or town
resembling “Monopoly.”
Change the names of the monopoly properties to local businesses, landmarks,
or places in your school.
Local businesses buy spots on the boards (as a form of advertising). This
covers the cost of creating the game.
Sell the games for $15. Proceeds go to your school or student council fund.
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SPELL & RAISE MONEY
Description: This is an easy but excellent way to raise funds for your student council.
Hold a Spell-a-thon!
1. Enlist the approval and support of your moderator, principal and entire school
faculty. This project will require the teachers in particular to be actively
involved.
2. Ask the teachers of each grade to compose a list of 100 words their class could
and should learn to spell.
3. Make enough copies of appropriate spelling lists for every student.
4. Prepare a Spelling Sponsor Sheet and attach it to the list of words. Here is an
example:
Student's Name
Sponsor's Name
Amount of Money Per
Word Correct
Number of Words
Correct
Total Donation
Received
1
2
5. Pass out a list of spelling words and a spelling sponsor sheet at the beginning of
the week. Instruct students to:
a. Study for a test on the words on Friday morning
b. Gather sponsors, write their names on the sponsor sheet and inform
them that their total amount due will be based on how many words they
spell correctly.
c. Bring their sponsor sheets to school on Friday. It will be collected
before the test is given.
6. Be sure that every teacher has an aide to help them correct the spelling test.
Attach corrected spelling tests to the sponsor sheets and mark the number of
words spelled correctly in RED.
7. Return the spelling sponsor sheets and test paper to the students the following
week with instructions to visit their sponsors and collect pledges. **Set a
deadline when all funds are due.
8. Collect all of the money and get a big THANK YOU out to all teachers and
those who helped make the project successful.
9. Award prizes to the student or class that spelled the most words correctly and
brought in the most money.
Consider this: Calculating very conservatively, let’s say that every student in a class of
35 has three sponsors (a very small number) who promised $.05 per word. Each
student spelled 80 words correct. That class would have earned $420. If eight classes
in the school did equally as well the entire school would bring in $3,360 with little
confusion and almost no overhead expense.
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STUDENT AUCTION
Description: Over a period of a few weeks, students, teachers,
and local organizations donate items to be sold.
It helps if the student council publishes a list of desirable items
that could be donated for the event.
An auctioneer is hired and students and faculty can bid on various
items.
STUDENT GARDEN SERVICE
Description: This is a great recreation activity for older students and also
a great way to make some money for the student council fund.
Distribute flyers in the neighborhoods surrounding your school that
details the garden work your school service will perform i.e. weeding,
raking leaves, mowing, planting flowers, mulching, etc.
Don’t forget to notify parishioners too! Choose a weekend date that student will
perform the garden service. You can charge a fee for each service performed or ask
for donations.
This activity is something your school can offer monthly or quarterly. Be sure to
recruit lots of upper grade volunteers to ensure a successful gardening service.
STUDENT STORE
Description: Run a student store throughout the year. The store
is open once a week and the income is very good.
Store inventory includes pencils, notebooks, and all school
supplies, shirts and sweatshirts.
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STUDENT SWAP MEET
Description: Each student rents a card table from the student council
for three to five dollars, sets up their wares, and is in business for an
afternoon. This show is held on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon.
You charge 25 cents for admission (children under three are free).
Make posters to advertise and place them around the school and
nearby supermarkets. Also advertise in your local newspapers,
Pennysaver and Catholic paper.
The children keep all the money they make from their table. Clean up is easy; they
just fold their tables and go home. (Parents can help.)
The student council can have a bake sale at the same time and keep all the proceeds
from that along with the money you collect for rental space and admission.
SUMMER FILM FEST
Description: Work with your newly elected officers to organize a film
festival. Rent movies and show them in the school auditorium two or
three times throughout the summer.
Decide who you will invite and choose movies that would be appropriate
and motivational. You could sell popcorn and beverages to recoup the
cost of renting the movie and put a little money in the student council
treasury for the new school year.
Include a good discussion of the movie after each showing. Advertise in the church
bulletin.
TURKEY RAFFLE
Description: Students purchase tickets or “chances” for $.50 each with
the grand prize being able to take the turkey home for their family’s
Thanksgiving dinner.
Hold this fundraiser early in November to ensure that you have a few
weeks to sell tickets.
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TURKEY TROT
Description: To raise money for a Thanksgiving project ask
community members to pledge money to benefit needy families in
the district.
For an hour and fifteen minutes, students and faculty members
run around the track, getting a pipe cleaner every time they finish
a lap. The money raised is used to buy food gift certificates for
those in need.
VALENTINE PROJECT
Description: Run off paper lips. Sell the lips at lunch and
have the buyer write the name and the homeroom of the person
receiving it.
On Valentine’s Day the people who receive a pair of lips may return the lips for a
chocolate kiss.
WE MIX, YOU BAKE
Description: Make and sell chocolate chip cookie dough. Take
orders a week before delivery.
The dough, which is packaged by students in plastic containers, is
ready for baking, refrigeration, or freezing for later use.
Sell the prepackaged dough for a reasonable price.
WHAT’S THE WEIGHT?
Description: Each contestant tries to guess the combined weight of
the students in their class. There is an entrance fee of $.50
for each guess.
Have students weigh themselves in class and teachers report the class
combined weight to the student council.
Closest guess wins a prize.
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