Does anyone else not like fundraising? Raise your hands.

[mnasmom3]

ME! I hate fundraising, too!

 

[PrincessHeart]

Yep, I hate them too. This year our PTA chair added an opt out note into the fundraiser. It said we hope to get each student to sell x amount. So if you would rather just donate the goal is X. So I got out my check book and wrote the check to the PTA. The bonus is that I got a nice tax deductible reciept. The chair is hoping to move toward no "selling" fundraisers and go to donation based.

 

[StephMK]

Yes, I had a problem w/preschool fundraising as I already paid to send my kids there! They did a good job of making it fun though - they held a basket bingo. It was a lot of work for the teachers getting donations but a great night of fun & bought the school several new pieces of equipment.

I would much rather have any school say - pay X and no fundraising. Or make sure the fundraising ideas aren't just selling overpriced, poor quality items.

 

[LisaZoe]

I'm dreading the "fundraising season" now that more of the neighbor kids know us. LOL My DD goes to public school so we've only had two low key fundraisers, no sales just asking for donations for something like a jogathon. Luckily her soccer team is through the city parks & rec. department and they don't seem to have any fundraising activities at all... or at least not at her age level.

I have to agree with others, though, about the Girl Scout cookie exception. I think those are a good value for the price so I don't really even put them in the same category as most fundraisers.

Our PTA is trying a "No-Show Ball" this year. They made a fancy "invitation" telling people this is a great event because there will be no parking problems, no rubbery chicken, no boring speeches, etc. Then the response card has options: Please reserve a table for $25 but I won't be at it, etc. It is really cute and we hope the parents will just write a check for $25 instead of having to sell stuff throughout the year.

I'd much rather do something like that because then the school would get all the money rather than the small amount left after paying for the food, etc.

Or make sure the fundraising ideas aren't just selling overpriced, poor quality items.

That's my biggest complaint! I'd rather give a small amount to the school/program knowing they'll get all of it rather than spend more money on something I don't need and the school/program only keeps a percentage of the price.

 

[pantherlj]

I don't think I have seen anyone mention this. What I hate MOST about the fundraising is the pressure they put on the kids. They do assembles and say if you sell X, you will get a pizza party or a limo ride (for the top sellers). If you sell X, you will get a cheap piece of plastic.

My daughter was really sad last year when I told her we weren't going to sell what the school wanted her too. I donate to United Way every week via payroll deduction at work, I help out at the school when I can, I give TONS of stuff to Goodwill and I send in goodies to the classroom when I find things on clearance. Yet I STILL feel guilty, I can only do so much!

The teachers put pressure on the kids because the school puts pressure on the teachers. It really ticks me off!

It is even harder with 2 in school now. Don't forget the money for field trips and school pictures. $15 for the kindergarten class to go to the pumpkin patch .... really???

 

[ndgqccmiller]

So far this year starting Aug 1

DS10 - baseball fundraiser sell 10 books at $10.00
DD7 - Girl Scouts fall product sale
DD3 - Cookie Dough and candle sale (for mothers day out program + we have a very high tuition and we gave supplies and 10.00 each for new mulch)

DD7 and DS10 - School fundraiser selling books fromlocal community resurants, stores etc

It is only Oct. We do not have any family here, no grandparents to ask. I hate fundraisers. I just gave a check for Girl Scouts the rest I bought one thing.

 

[Mililani Mouser]

I raise my hand up high!!

We just finished fall fundraising (gift wrap, cookie dough, entertainment books, chili tickets), the goal for each kids was $120 profit, not sales. There is a $60 a kid opt-out, but I have 3 children. I already pay over 2k a month for tuition, plus lunch is $4 a day per kid. Now they want us to fundraise selling christmas trees, then spring fundraising will start.

 

[MomNeedsVacay]

I don't think I have seen anyone mention this. What I hate MOST about the fundraising is the pressure they put on the kids. They do assembles and say if you sell X, you will get a pizza party or a limo ride (for the top sellers). If you sell X, you will get a cheap piece of plastic.

My daughter was really sad last year when I told her we weren't going to sell what the school wanted her too. I donate to United Way every week via payroll deduction at work, I help out at the school when I can, I give TONS of stuff to Goodwill and I send in goodies to the classroom when I find things on clearance. Yet I STILL feel guilty, I can only do so much!

The teachers put pressure on the kids because the school puts pressure on the teachers. It really ticks me off!

It is even harder with 2 in school now. Don't forget the money for field trips and school pictures. $15 for the kindergarten class to go to the pumpkin patch .... really???

YES! At our preschool last year, the first class to get all of the students to "donate" to the auction won a big ice cream party. So there is major pressure on like the one or two parents who didn't get donations b/c it ruins it for the whole class.....to me, that's pressure, not incentive.

 

[mjantz]

I don't think I have seen anyone mention this. What I hate MOST about the fundraising is the pressure they put on the kids. They do assembles and say if you sell X, you will get a pizza party or a limo ride (for the top sellers). If you sell X, you will get a cheap piece of plastic.

My daughter was really sad last year when I told her we weren't going to sell what the school wanted her too. I donate to United Way every week via payroll deduction at work, I help out at the school when I can, I give TONS of stuff to Goodwill and I send in goodies to the classroom when I find things on clearance. Yet I STILL feel guilty, I can only do so much!

The teachers put pressure on the kids because the school puts pressure on the teachers. It really ticks me off!

It is even harder with 2 in school now. Don't forget the money for field trips and school pictures. $15 for the kindergarten class to go to the pumpkin patch .... really???

Agreed. I can't be the only one who finds it ironic that you can get in trouble for taking your kids out of school on vacation for a few days but the school can stick your kid in fundraising assemblies & that's suppose to be OK.

 

[smylie1]

I always hated the wrapping paper and candle fundraisers and I'm PTO treasurer!

I LOVE what we've done the past 2 years. We have Pirate-Palooza which is basically a fall fesitival with "extras". We have BBQ and hotdogs, Pucker-Powder, snow cones, popcorn, cotton candy, face painting, hay rides, we have dance, gymnasitic, and martial arts teams come and perform, an Elvis impersonator. We sell tickets (or an all day wrist band) for a rock climbing wall, mechanical bull, games, 6 HUGE inflateable obstacle courses, slides, bounce houses, a car bash, toddler area, kareoke, silent auction baskets, raffle, and several other things I can't remember. The grande finale is the State Hwy Patrol helicopter AND the Carolina's Medical Center Helicopter lands right in the parking lot! Provided they are not called to an emergency. It's awesome!!!

Our school is predominantly low income families, but the whole community comes out and really supports the school. There are so many free things to do, that many come and only spend money on food, but still have a great time.

It's an unbelievable amount of work. We depend heavily on donations from local businesses so we have to start planning early. We literally start working on it in June, and are there waaayyyy past midnight setting up the night before, but it's so worth it!

Another big selling point is that if it is a success, there will be no other fundraisers for the rest of the year. This year we made about $22,000 profit. That's raffle ticket sells and the festival combined. We sell tickets for three weeks leading up to Pirate-Palooza. We do it in early Oct. and keep true to the "no more fundraiser" promise. EVERYONE loves that!

Every child who sells 20 raffle tickets, or the equivalent cash donation, gets a day at a local recreation center during the school day. That way we don't have to worry about a child earning the reward, but whose parent won't bring them.

I like that so much better than the "sell $50 worth of junk and get this plastic bug pencil topper"

But yeah, as far a the QSP type fundraisers...HATE em'!

 

[smylie1]

Agreed. I can't be the only one who finds it ironic that you can get in trouble for taking your kids out of school on vacation for a few days but the school can stick your kid in fundraising assemblies & that's suppose to be OK.

I agree. Like I said in my PP, we give the kids a day at a recreation center for selling 20 raffle tickets and it's perfectly OK with all the powers that be, but my son will have 3 unexcused absences when we go to Disney in January.

 

[nooneshome]

My wife is the head of the fundraisers for my son's school and it drives her crazy because I absolutely refuse to sell this stuff at work. I can't ask people to buy this stuff when I don't want to buy it from them. Instead of me buying from them and them buying from me I believe we all should just give our kid's school a check and everything works out better. The school gets more money and I don't have to bug my friends and I don't get a bunch of overpriced crap. These fundraisers are just a big racket for the companies that sell this junk.

 

[rwrocksme]

We have always just ignored fundrasiers. However, even though no one in our family is in scouts, I still managed to buy (and eat!) 20 boxes of Samoas last year.

 

[MomNeedsVacay]

Samoas are delicious and full of CALORIES and FAT! I'd weigh 500 lbs if I ate 20 boxes!

 

[Perkins5]

I am right there with you! My DD(10) is going to D.C. next May, and it seems like everything we do anymore revolves around fundraising for this trip. I can't wait until its over, but will have to do it again in 3 more years for other DD!!

 

[Worfiedoodles]

My ds goes to a small Catholic school. This Friday, the money for our first mandatory, yes mandatory, fundraiser is due. We have three that are required. We have to sell calendars ( the kind for raffles) 10 for $10, for a total of $100. We also have to participate in the $10,000 dinner (a raffle ticket is $100), and we have to also sell $100 worth of stuff for Spring. If you do not, your tuition is increased by $300. So, I guess you technically have a choice, I'm writing checks one way or the other.

The non-mandatory fundraisers include Thanksgiving pies, Parents Night Out, Touch a Truck, Halloween Party, Breakfast with Santa, Luau, Uniform Tag Days (this is actually good, they use the $ for field trips and I don't have to iron), selling candy/wrapping paper/useless junk and Italian Night. It's insane! Obviously, some are targeted just to certain ages (not alot of 8th graders at Breakfast w/Santa), but still...

We do not have to fundraise for ds's sports, so I guess I should count myself lucky. We pay $40 for each sport, and he gets a t-shirt and trophy at the end of the year.

Last year, they needed extra $ for a field trip, so they sold cookie dough. This stuff was $20/box, and they were all supposed to sell at least 5 boxes. No, it wasn't the Taj Majal, they were just going to the Museum of Science!

I can't imagine what we would do if we had more than 1 child. If I had the option, I would rather write one check at the beginning of the year for $500. I would come out ahead!

On a side note, I do have to say that with all this $, we recently rehabbed the vacant convent next to the school, and the kids have a cafeteria, science lab, computer lab, and chapel. The money is put to good use -- I would just rather write a check than deal with buying junk, 'cause I'm not about to ask anyone else to buy it!

 

[LisaNJ25]

so no one wants to buy girl scout cookies from me lol

Right now my dd is selling nuts/magazines for girl scouts. We usually buy/sell enough for her patch. This year they got sneaky and there are 5 parts to the patch. Including one where you have to email 12 people about the magazines. She doesn't go door to door. She sells to close relatives and dh brings the form to work. Those guys go crazy over the stuff. 3 guys today ordered over $100 worth of nuts today I dont get it. Come cookie time its double that.. and after they get them I end up selling them more boxes from my booth sale allotment.