Daycare - fundraisers

[Hillbeans]

I just had a general question about fundraisers and selling items for your school/daycare.

Does anyone here "Refuse" to sell something for their kids when you're already paying money to send your child to daycare? Personally, I choose not to bring these books into my work mostly because i'm a supervisor of my staff, but besides that, I did this once and the items my co-workers purchased were really chinsy and cheap looking and were nothing like advertised.

I do often buy some items just to help out the school, but I don't sell these items to others. I wanted to suggest to the daycare to possibly try a new vendor with less cheap items. My friend's son sold these "entertainment" books for kids which I thought was a great fundraiser, and $10 of the $25 cost goes to the school.

(oh, and LOL, when my DS was 4 months old, I was given my first fundraiser package to sell. I found that pretty amusing)

 

[Toby'sFriend]

I always refused when my son's were in daycare.

In the daycare center I used, there was no parent board and no accountability for funds. The Center Director would say "I want to improve the playground" or whatever, but as a parent you had no idea what her profit margins were from tuition OR whether or not the money was really being spent on those items. The Center wasn't a Non-Profit organization, and I did not feel she had any business "fundraising." If she needed more money, then she should have raised tuition.

After my son started at a Montessori Kindergarten, I did begin to participate. It was a 501(c)(3) organization that did give scholarships based on need. There was also a Parent's Board which oversaw the dispersal of funds.

 

[CamColt]

I asked a similar question a while back because I ran a fundraiser at DS's school. We sold cookie dough and I was shocked that only 33% of the school participated. From the replies I got it seems the majorityof people refuse to do this for their kids school.
IMO, if you are sending your kid to daycare and paying for it, they shouldnt expect you to do fundraising for them too. However, being that my DS is in a public school and I know the money raised goes directly to benefit the kids, I couldnt imagine not participating, even if it meant purchasing 1 item.
And I agree about some of that brochure stuff. We did it earlier in the year and it is junk. There seem to be so many different kinds of fundraisers around, you might want to look into it. Some weve seen are the cookie dough, Yankee Candles, and as someone mentioned here, Krispy Kremes.
Good luck!

 

[coliebird]

My daughter has been in her daycare for 14 months now and I have never seen or heard about fundraisers there. Though she is only 21 months, maybe as she gets into the older/pre-school classes they will do that.

 

[powellrj]

When our kids were going to a church program,we were fundraised to death. Now that they are in an after-school program at the school, we haven't been asked, but the school has more than made up for it this year. You reach a point where you just say no. When we first had kids in school almost 20 years ago, I never said no, but now I have learned you can't support everything and you just have to say no sometimes.

 

[Hillbeans]

I guess it really depends. I know for a fact that in my DS' class, I was 1 of 3 people from a class of about 12 to sell something (even to myself). That's about 25%. There are 6 other classes though.

They do a picture/portrait thing there as well, which they don't advertise as a fundraiser, but last year the pictures cost me close to $45.

I'm just always nevous about not participating, as I think subliminally they may take it out on my child. I'd just think they'd make more money selling something better, but I also know for a fact that some people will always refuse to participate which I completely understand as well.

 

[coliebird]

Her daycare does do the picture thing, but I never realized that was a fundraiser. Duh, stupid me Oh well, I can never have too many pictures.

 

[JetMom]

Originally posted by Hillbeans


I'm just always nevous about not participating, as I think subliminally they may take it out on my child. I'd just think they'd make more money selling something better, but I also know for a fact that some people will always refuse to participate which I completely understand as well.

I have been a daycare/pre-school professional for 15 years and I would like to reassure you that this would NEVER happen.

That being said, the sad fact is that fund-raising is a fact of life. I am a pre-school director and most pre-schools/slash daycare centers are barely covering expenses. Improvements/New Equipment comes after salaries, taxes, rent, utilities, insurance, etc.

Fund-raisers are always totally voluntary. I am also on the PTA and Cub Scout advisory committees and 30% participation is about average across the board.

Basically, what I am trying to say, is do what you feel comfortable with and don't feel guilty.

 

[aprilgail2]

My daughter is in preschool adn has a few fund raisers each year. I really don't mind doing them, I dont sell a lot but I will buy, my mom will buy, a neighbor who has older kids but I bought from them both for many years and my friend who I also bought from both her kids for many years....so I sell to 4 people, better than nothing. I LOVE the wrapping paper that they sell so I always buy a bunch of that. Only thing I don't buy is chocolate, I work for a chocolate company and the last thing I am going to do is buy chocolate.

 

[Kimberle]

Our's sells Yankee Candles. They are the same quality you buy in the store. I bring my book to work & who ever wants to buys, no pressure from me. I tell people not to buy if they don't want to.

I generally have people ask me when the sale is going to be.

Our $$$ goes to buy books, toys, etc. Everything is displayed in the lobby so we know where the money goes.

Just my opinion, but if you refuse to sell because you're not sure what they will "do" with the money, maybe you should rethink having your child in the center. How can you trust them with your childs health & happiness but not with a few $$$. If you don't want to sell because you don't want to, thats fine. Noone should be obligated.

 

[Hillbeans]

Please let me stress that i'd never feel they'd "Take it out on my DS" in any type of bad way, just that i've heard some of the teachers gossiping sometimes about the parents.

Wouldn't you think something like a "50-50" would be best for everyone? This way, it's money for the winner and 50% profit for the daycare and there would be no worry about chincy gifts.

And I agree with the previous post...I don't doubt they're using this money towards the center because my DS brings home arts and crafts on a daily basis as well as other things i've seen in the school which I know cost money.

 

[Hillbeans]

Oh, and I think Yankee candles are a great fundraiser. It's a name brand and you get what you pay for.

It's the "no-name" companies that sell these knick-knacks that I just find no one wants/needs and those are the items I really don't like selling. I bought a couple of "emergency car kit" things for $14.00 which no lie, had a paper flag that says "call police", a road flare and 5 bandages with a tiny antibiotic cream. I probably could have gotten this in the dollar store for $1.00

 

[disykat]

Don't assume that pictures are a fundraiser - you should ask the school/daycare if that is the case. We do pictures for PTA and there is absolutely no benefit for the school except for a set of miniature pictures for the office and the yearbook. The only person making money in our case was the picture company.

 

[Hillbeans]

Originally posted by disykat
Don't assume that pictures are a fundraiser - you should ask the school/daycare if that is the case. We do pictures for PTA and there is absolutely no benefit for the school except for a set of miniature pictures for the office and the yearbook. The only person making money in our case was the picture company.

Yes, I asked and it was...at least a small amount went to the daycare - which I think is a good idea for a fundraiser. Everyone loves pics of their children.

 

[mudnuri]

never had DD's in preschool, however I wonder just how many of these preschools/daycare centers that your fundraising for are actually for profit organizations....how many of them are non-profits either 501c3, or just state recognized.

how many of them are getting federal funds for day care subsisidies, and how many are getting federal funds for meal reimbursement?

My DD's bring home fundraising crap from their elementary school all the time. And unless its for a specific reason, we dont participate. I am an active member of our PTO (who does all the fundraising) but I will not sell crap (it really is) from a catalog where the school is getting 20-30% of profits...nope, I"ll send ya a check for $10.00 instead.

When we raised money for the playground, we did participate, but then I knew what we were spending the money on. With this PTO we raise money first, then decide how we're going to spend it. Usually by the time my DD's grades requests are looked at, the older classes have spent all the money.

Brandy

 

[skuttle]

My 9 month old DS just finished his first fundraiser today. He sold cookie dough...our "goal" was 25 and we sold 15...not too bad. I only asked close friends and family...no way would I ask anyone else! Our daycare also does pictures every 6 months and it never occurred to me that daycare may make money of off this.