How We Funded Our New Poster Maker

How We Finally Managed to Secure Funding for Our New Poster Maker—and How You Can, Too

by Evie Moore – 3rd Grade Teacher, Newaygo, MI

Back in early spring of last year, as we stood knee-deep in our annual budget requests, I remember thinking: If we need one more set of sticky letters or hand-drawn charts, I might lose it. The truth is, as teachers, we’ve all been there. We need vibrant classroom visuals, eye-catching event announcements, and polished hallway displays—without spending half our Sunday afternoons hunched over a cutting mat. That’s what finally convinced our leadership team that a dedicated poster maker was more than a nice-to-have. It was practically essential.

But how do you actually get one into your school? Sure, they’re not cheap, and the idea might get a raised eyebrow or two when budget discussions roll around. So here’s what we did to secure the funds for ours, and I’m sharing these ideas now so your school can follow suit during the 2025 purchasing season.

1. Tie It Directly to Student Achievement

When pitching any new tool, I’ve learned that linking it directly to teaching and learning outcomes is key. For us, the poster maker wasn’t just about pretty bulletin boards. We showed how it could be used to create large-scale math anchor charts, science lab procedures, and historical timelines that our students could see from the back of the classroom. By framing it as a tool that would increase engagement and content retention, we made it much harder for stakeholders to dismiss.

2. Incorporate It Into Existing Grants

We found that local education foundations and community organizations are often looking for ways to support visual learning and STEM initiatives. We piggybacked on a literacy grant application—one that was originally focused on purchasing leveled reading materials—and highlighted how large-format visuals could boost reading comprehension. Suddenly, we weren’t just asking for a machine; we were enhancing an existing literacy initiative. If you’re applying for any grants this year, slip the poster maker in as part of a larger, approved project. It’s a small tweak that can make a big difference.

3. Make Use of EdTech-Specific Funding for a Poster Maker

Don’t overlook federal or state funding streams that your district might receive for technology integration. Title I schools, for instance, may have access to specific funding that encourages the purchase of materials that support differentiated instruction. Poster makers—though low-tech compared to Chromebooks—still count as instructional technology. They produce resources that can scaffold learning for English language learners, students with IEPs, or young readers who rely heavily on visual cues. If the word “technology” can be stretched to include document cameras and interactive projectors, why not a high-quality printing system?

4. Involve the Parent Community

Our parent-teacher organization (PTO) played a surprisingly big role in funding our poster maker. We laid out exactly how this device would help advertise events, highlight achievements, and overall create a warmer, more welcoming environment. Parents loved the idea of clearer signage for family nights, school fairs, and student showcases. They chipped in with fundraisers—think themed bake sales or a small silent auction—to close the funding gap. Don’t underestimate the power of family engagement when it comes to school improvement projects.

5. Think Long-Term Savings

Believe it or not, demonstrating long-term cost savings helped sway our finance department. We showed that by producing our own posters, we’d stop paying high fees to outside print shops. Plus, with a poster maker, staff could reuse templates and materials, cutting down on last-minute supply runs. When you show the business office that you’re making a sound fiscal decision, they’re less likely to give you the runaround.

6. Highlight the Possibilities of a Poster Maker Beyond the Classroom

A poster maker doesn’t just serve math class or the reading corner—it can help build your school’s brand and culture. Highlight upcoming events, celebrate staff accomplishments, create colorful directional signs for community gatherings—suddenly, the poster maker looks like a multi-purpose investment that supports the entire school ecosystem.

Looking Ahead to 2025

If your district’s purchasing cycle happens to fall in the spring or early summer of 2025, start planting the seed right now. Begin collecting examples of where your school has needed professional-quality posters but had to settle for homemade stand-ins. Document events, snap photos of hand-drawn signage that didn’t quite cut it, and talk to colleagues about the instructional impact. The more evidence you have, the stronger your case becomes.

At the end of the day, securing funding for a poster maker isn’t just about convincing others. It’s about believing that this tool can genuinely make a difference in the learning environment you create. Once you’ve aligned it with your instructional goals, integrated it into broader funding opportunities, and rallied support from parents and administration, you might be surprised just how smoothly the path to purchase can become.

Trust me, when that first professionally printed, student-designed, perfectly sized poster rolls out in 2025, you’ll wonder how you ever managed without it.