Sign of the Tough Economy or A Great New Fundraiser???

[sk!mom]

Several times in the last couple of years, I have received fundraising letters.

The one I got today, asked for help to go on a Mission Trip. Last year, I got one asking for donations for an Educational Trip to WDW, one for People to People to Europe, and one for a Soccer experience in Australia.

To be honest, I'm bugged by these. To me, you pay your own way to travel.

Am I just cranky? Do others find this an acceptable way to raise funds?

 

[luvmarypoppins]

I have only gotten 2 of those. They were both for missions trips. One was for the ds former babysitter and one was the dd of our former tenants, so since I knew them both personally we gave them something.

If I wasnt close to them etc. I probably wouldnt give anything.

 

[Nik's Mom]

Yeah, I think it's tacky. We do lots of different travel experiences and expensive experiences for our kids. I'd never send a letter asking for donations. My kids are developmentally disabled and I'm paying $$ for a special camp to teach them to ride bikes. I'd never think to send out such a letter.

Now, if a grandparent wants to help pay to send their grandchild to people to people Europe, or what ever, then I don't think that's a problem. But to send out a mass mailing is definitely tacky.

 

[Marionnette]

Several times in the last couple of years, I have received fundraising letters.

The one I got today, asked for help to go on a Mission Trip. Last year, I got one asking for donations for an Educational Trip to WDW, one for People to People to Europe, and one for a Soccer experience in Australia.

To be honest, I'm bugged by these. To me, you pay your own way to travel.

Am I just cranky? Do others find this an acceptable way to raise funds?

Mission trips are acts of charity that I think should be encouraged and supported. It's not as if the kid is asking for money so they can sit on a beach in Cancun all day and drink all night. They're building schools, digging wells, innoculating children, and donating their time off to better the lives of people who have it a lot worse than we do.

As for the "educational trips", well the people who run those trips encourage the kids and their families to fundraise. It's not required but those trips are darned expensive and why not get your aunts, neighbors and second cousin twice removed to help pony up for this once in a lifetime experience? Those are the fundraisers for travel that I have issues with.

 

[RitaE]

yes, I think it is really just begging and I really don't think it is doing the kids any favors.

My standard response is that I don't give money but I'm always in need of a babysitter, somebody to help clean the house, yardwork galore etc etc. And if I don't have anything that needs to be done, I have elderly neighbors.

I guess I'm also cranky because I remember when I was a kid nobody would ever dream of just writing a letter begging like those things that get sent out. To say nothing of blocking the door to the Grocery Store selling construction paper flowers (last month's scheme).

 

[tar heel]

I don't think it's a sign of the economy. We received our first one of those about 20 years ago. One thing that has changed is that the kind of organizations/project people are asked to fund this way is getting broader. At first it was just mission/church stuff and the "vacations" pretending to be more such as People to People. One of my son's high school soccer coach asked the team members to send letters to their grandparents, aunts and uncles, neighbors, etc. They were supposed to address them after practice. We declined, and let's say it didn't help his position on the team.

I didn't mind getting the first couple of these, but they really annoy me now. The last time I gave something I did it b/c I felt coerced.

 

[sk!mom]

Mission trips are acts of charity that I think should be encouraged and supported. It's not as if the kid is asking for money so they can sit on a beach in Cancun all day and drink all night. They're building schools, digging wells, innoculating children, and donating their time off to better the lives of people who have it a lot worse than we do.

As for the "educational trips", well the people who run those trips encourage the kids and their families to fundraise. It's not required but those trips are darned expensive and why not get your aunts, neighbors and second cousin twice removed to help pony up for this once in a lifetime experience? Those are the fundraisers for travel that I have issues with.

Just to clarify, the Mission Trip solicitation that I got today was from an adult and delivered to my work mailbox by a college educated professional (approx. 40 years old).

Maybe it bugs me because I pay for my and my children's experiences. This Summer, I will pay for my DD14 to go on a Mission Trip and then to a 5 week ballet intensive.

Maybe I should change my position. Anyone want to pay my child's way while she helps others and enriches herself?

 

[powellrj]

I hate getting these letters and we seem to be getting more and more of them.

What I hate are "mission trips" that are really more of a vacation type trip than any true mission work. I did send money to a kid who was going to Africa this summer but I have passed on some that were more just fun type trips.

I agree that more and more groups want you to send letters like these to family and friends. There is no way I would ever send out a letter like this. If we can't afford it, you don't go.

 

[MinnieVanMom]

My DD is going with P2P to Europe this summer. Her father and I both would die if they asked us to solicit family and friends to pay for this trip. That is just wrong.

 

[eeyorethegreat]

I haven't ever gotten a letter like that. At church we have a group of people that go to the Dominican every Feb. There is an announcement made that if anyone would like to note an offering for the missions trip it is appreciated. I can tell you that the folks that go on this mission trip work their rears off so it definitely isn't a vacation type thing. I would have an issue giving money to some offhand kid who wanted to go to WDW or do people to People. I have gone to fund raisers forvarious music groups at the highschool my kids go to in which the money might support a trip to sing/perform say in NYC.

 

[englishteacha]

I have friends who do mission work and I know how expensive those trips can be. I've helped with fundraisers and given donations. Stuff like People to People...well unless you are a close relative, I won't help financially. My niece did People to People twice as a "sports ambassador". She sent out the letters, explaining that this was a "once-in-a-lifetime" opportunity and asked for donations or for people to purchase items required for the trip. The first time I bought her first aid kit. The second time I don't think I donated anything. I won't fund two "once-in-a-lifetime" trips in less than 2 years, even if you're my niece and I love you!

I worked my brain off to get good grades to be eligible to study abroad, was selected from a small pool of students to go to university in England, and paid my own way. It was a wonderful trip, hugely educational, and I don't regret going for a moment. I think the experience meant more to me because I had to work for it rather than it being given to me.

As a teacher I'm constantly getting "invitations" to select students for various awards and trips, all that cost the student several thousand dollars to attend. I could write down the names of every student in my school, they would get a letter saying they were "specially chosen" to represent XYZ, and only had to raise $3,000 to attend this educational trip to DC or where ever. It's really quite crazy. I want to recognize my deserving students, but not when it will cost them thousands of dollars!

 

[clh2]

I received a letter yesterday, addressed to "The Maiden-name Family", This was a fundraiser for a college I've never heard of before, and the signature was illegible. The football team is raising money for their sports program.

Yeah...whatever...

My husband actually figured it out. This was from the son of an administrative assistant who worked where I did 17 years ago. And then she moved 1/2 way across the company. I've not seen the A.A. for almost 17 years (when my DD was a brand new baby).

Uhmmm...I simply have a fundraising policy. I will not support your fundraising efforts; and I do not expect you to support my fundraising efforts. (I do have a couple of exceptions...but they are pretty firm.)

 

[disneychrista]

I am an equal opportunity fundraiser supporter. I don't buy/donate/etc to any of them. Even when it comes to my own childs fundraisers. If they need $200 for a trip tell me and I will send in the check. I will not ask co-workers and family member to buy the crap or "pledge" or donate money.

 

[Julia M]

I haven't ever gotten a letter like that. At church we have a group of people that go to the Dominican every Feb. There is an announcement made that if anyone would like to note an offering for the missions trip it is appreciated. I can tell you that the folks that go on this mission trip work their rears off so it definitely isn't a vacation type thing.

I think a church itself asking members if they;d like to donate is different than sending a solicitation letter.

My daughter competes and when she earned a spot on a team going to Australia, we told her she'd have to earn the tour fees.

SHe babysat and taught little kids. Her biggest findraiser was an easy one, though-a garage sale. We asked family, friends and coworkers if they'd be willing to donate items that would ordinarily go to Goodwill for her to sell at a garage sale. We let people know we'd donate whatever didn't sell. It was a HUGE hit and she made $800 at the sale. No one person had alot, but we had probablty 20 people donate.

My friends thought it was great-they were helping dd and had motivation to reduce clutter. DD gave up her Sat/Sun, sold all day, helped pack up the car to drive the items to Goodwill when it was over and baked cookies afterwards for everyone who helped her out.

Julia

 

[princesslily]

I for one would donate to all the children! I know a lot of people who are having a very difficult financial time now and have know problem helping! If there is an opportuntity for children to learn and have a great experience, I say go for it!! I am fortunate to be able to provide some experiences for my children!

 

[Maddie2]

As a teacher I'm constantly getting "invitations" to select students for various awards and trips, all that cost the student several thousand dollars to attend. I could write down the names of every student in my school, they would get a letter saying they were "specially chosen" to represent XYZ, and only had to raise $3,000 to attend this educational trip to DC or where ever. It's really quite crazy. I want to recognize my deserving students, but not when it will cost them thousands of dollars!

I know that one! My DS16 has rec'd this one a couple of times ... and what made him feel all the more "special" is that his dear dad (DH40+) also rec'd the same letter - twice! All of the letters stated that they had been chosen by their teachers .... um yeah, "specially chosen", yeah sure.

 

[NYCDiane]

Several times in the last couple of years, I have received fundraising letters.

The one I got today, asked for help to go on a Mission Trip. Last year, I got one asking for donations for an Educational Trip to WDW, one for People to People to Europe, and one for a Soccer experience in Australia.

To be honest, I'm bugged by these. To me, you pay your own way to travel.

Am I just cranky? Do others find this an acceptable way to raise funds?

You're not cranky. If people want to travel, they should pay their own way (or their kids' way )

A couple of years ago, some woman at my job was going around demanding $20 "donations" out of everyone so she could send her child on one of those "People to People" trips. What a crock. I told her no and that I don't have an extra $20 to give away since I was struggling to send my child to camp that year. She had the audacity to tell me to "save up" the $20 and then give it to her. I told her she was out of her mind.

The following year, she did the same thing. She didn't even bother asking me.

 

[disykat]

Some years I've been tempted when I receive them to send them a few bucks and then have my child type up a letter to send them. It could be like exchanging gift cards at Christmas. The reality is though, that I won't send those kinds of letters.

 

[ChisJo]

I have friends who do multiple mission trips, but they do fundraising through their church. They ask me to help by buying chocolate covered almonds, or by a bake sale, but to me that signifies that they are trying to raise money for a better cause, and at least I am getting something as well.

To get a letter requesting funding for a trip but the requestor is not actually doing anything to get the funds baffles me. Unless they are physically doing something to raise funds, why should I donate? i.e.: bake sale, dunk tank, 10km race, etc. Anyone could ask for money to do a bunch of nothing. Heck, I could ask for money for a trip to better myself, but I know better than that.

 

[ssawka]

This thread has really inspired me and I think this would be a great way to raise money for our next trip to WDW. I've drafted a donation request letter to send to our friends and family members. I would love to know what everyone thinks about the wording of this letter. Thank you.

To all Friends and Family,

We are in the midst of planning a pilgrimage to Walt Disney World in October. It has been over a year since we made this trip and our beloved family is in dire need of seeing their favorite Disney characters. Unfortunately, things are a bit tight this year, and with the cost of airfare rising we are finding it difficult to afford this trip. I hope you can find it in your heart to send us a donation so we can make this trip a reality.

Thank you and god bless!