Read a letter, sign a form, pay for a trip, bring donations, volunteer your time, make a costume for Ancient Greek day from an old pillowcase: the sheer volume of requests and information from the PTA and school can cause parents to switch off. So it’s essential to find a way to communicate effectively without overwhelming the very people we need to help out. Large chunks of text don’t fit with our busy modern lives, and infographics – where numbers and statistics are presented visually alongside much shorter amounts of text – give a quick, clear overview of a topic. Graphic designer and PTA chair at the Royal Latin School Rachel Seago says: ‘Infographics are very effective and show in a simple and colourful way what the PTA can do. They draw the eye, rather than someone having to plough through too many words.’
Make it stand out
Infographics can relay all sorts of information related to the PTA’s work, for example about particular projects or fundraising campaigns. They come in especially handy when you’re trying to summaries PTA activities over the course of a whole year. Distribute your graphic via the PTA social channels, newsletter, or make a poster and display at the school or on your noticeboard.
Info at a glance
Prioritise the key information first: for example, how much money you raised over the year. Then break this down to provide snapshots of smaller information about events, ie how much each one raised and what the money was spent on. Use recognisable icons to help guide the viewer around the page. Pie charts and pictograms are quick and visually interesting ways to display data. That way, parents can get an immediate sense of why the PTA is worthwhile, as they will see what it has provided for their children.
Design it for free
Canva and Adobe Express are popular free resources among PTAs. Both are versatile and offer options to create your design from scratch or by using templates. Other software options include Piktochart, software specifically for making infographics, flyers and social media graphics, and PosterMyWall. Eligible registered charities can access both Canva and Adobe Exspress’s premium plans for free.
More information
Canva: canva.com/canva-for-nonprofits
Adobe Express: adobe.com/express/nonprofits
Piktochart: piktochart.com/nonprofit
PosterMyWall: postermywall.com
