OT - Nonfundraiser at DS school

[Momto3Disneyprinces]

Ok, so the PTO does not want to do a big fundraiser this year, they just want everyone to make a donation. Sounds good, right? Just got the letter home, and, really not so much!! The donation they want per family? $125.00 Are they out of their everlovin minds? I wouldn't spend that on the fundraisers, so I am not going to just hand them a check for it. This is on top of the PTO dues of $25.00 and the fall fundraiser of gift wrap we have already done.

Is it me, or does this amount seem excessive? This is a public elementary school. I know it is an affluent town, but not everyone in this area can afford that kind of money, and not everyone itemizes so they can take it as a tax deduction.

 

[brymolmom]

WOW - that is a lot. I don't think I would do it (unless they had a particular item they really wanted to get and I was in agreement with it). At my PTO - we were just talking about whether or not to allow people to 'opt out' of the wrapping paper fundraiser by asking for a set donation. We were talking maybe $20 - $30 - not that much!!!

Did you attend any meetings, did they say how they came up with this number?

 

[Momto3Disneyprinces]

They arrived at this number because they are trying to make up the difference for what they usually make at the big spring fundraiser, which typically raises 15-20K, and have no other fundraisers for the year...I think they are also trying to make up for the fact that quite a few families will not participate. But, if they went with a lower number, they would probably have a higher participation rate.

And, no there is no one particular item, they just sent home a flyer listing all of the things they have funded in the past. And, while it is all wonderful, just because we live in the district, doesn't mean we can afford all of this extra stuff. They have a Creative Arts program that they fund that brings in different speakers for different grade levels...I think they should look at bringing in speakers that are will to donate their time. We should not have to pay for these things. Now, my DS 3.5 is in the school department run preschool program, and we can't get them to put a fence around the playground equipment...That is something I will donate too....It is a safety issue.

 

[ksumn1]

That sounds pretty high to me. I would think a more affordable donation would be $50-$75 at the most. Has the PTO given an itemized list of what the money will be used for? Example, the new fence you spoke of. What if you could use PTO funds to buy the material and have a work day to have it installed. Ask for volunteers, and that would really save on the cost. I would call the PTO president and tell them you can't afford a donation of this size, but you'd be happy to donate $xxx. Let her know that you feel the donation amount is set too high. Maybe they could do one big fundraiser instead of several throughout the year. Sell the Entertainment books, AYP cards, cookie dough, etc instead of gift wrap, then soups, then raffle tickets for the Fall Festival, then cookie dough and magazines (These are the fundraiser for DD's school, or at least the ones we've done or know they have planned) Hope ya'll figure something out!!

 

[MSSANDRA]

Give what your family is comfortable giving and do not worry about it.

 

[Worfiedoodles]

I agree with the PP, you should give what you are comfortable with and not worry about it. That said, I would gratefully donate $125 if it would get me out of the three mandatory fundraisers at DS's parochial school. My minimum donation is $300, and that doesn't count the non-mandatory fundraisers, volunteer time, or the field trips and other events.

Especially since this is per family, that $125 doesn't sound too scary. That means whether you have one child or 5, it's $125 -- so if you have five, that's $25 per child, a real bargain...then again, I live in one of the most expensive areas in the country...

Unfortunately, public school funding is being cut left and right. Families are having to make up the difference if they want basic items -- like a fence for safety, or extra-curricular enrichment, like sports, art or music.

I encourage you to give what you are comfortable with, and volunteer if you can (and are comfortable with that). DH and I both work full-time, so a cash donation is preferred by us. I know some SAHM's who are lunch monitors every week, and work at the various fundraisers.

Families will have different skills and abilities, and any contribution should be gratefully accepted. I'm sure $125 is the hoped for amount, but they should not complain at whatever you choose to give.

 

[HappyDznyCamper]

Give what your family is comfortable giving and do not worry about it.

It is nobody's business but your own whether or not you can send in "x" amount of money, just send what you are comfortable with.

 

[Disneylush]

Here the public school have a $25.00 per student "opt out all year" deal you can do at the start of the year.

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

Our school (also a public elementary school) asks for $75 per student, so I guess whether or not $125 is a lot depends how many kids you have in the school. Not everyone at our school participates, but most do at least at some level. Some families send in more, some less. Do what you are comfortable with. I think the point (at least as our school explains it) is that the school can use all of the funds, the donation is tax-deductible for the parents, and the kids are not being asked to sell door-to-door and the parents are not bringing order forms in to work to sell to co-workers. It is worth $75 to me, and it will be worth $150 next year when DD4 moves into kindergarten.

Some people donate time, some people donate services, and some people donate money. Do what you are comfortable with to support your school and kids and know that you have done a good thing whether it is $25 or $125.

 

[Stephres]

Our PTA asked for $25 per student. I am on the board and I can't believe what the county no longer pays for in the school. Our new music teacher asked for $1,000 for instruments because the old ones are falling apart. We just bought new maps and globes for all the classrooms because the old ones still had USSR on them. More and more of this stuff is falling to parent organizations to pay for.

 

[StephMK]

Wow, that seems really high to me. We were in a well off area & had trouble getting $25 from each student for class shirts/trip when DD was in 6th grade.

I wonder what kind of response your school will get from families on that. I would pay that for both of my kids maybe but that is still a lot! IT really seems excessive since you've already paid dues & 1 fundraiser!!

What do they do in the spring that raises that much money???!!

 

[Vacation Lover]

When the kids are selling gift wrap or whatever, they usually go door to door, or the grandparents or parents coworkers buy some. In other words, your friends/neighbors are helping to reach the fundraising goal. The higher amount is probably covering the lost money from kids selling tons of stuff to "win" a scooter. I know at our school we had a few kids that sold around $1,000 each. That said, if I wasn't comfortable with the suggested amount, I'd write a check with an amount I that I am comfortable with and be done with it.

 

[MiniGirl]

We just got the paperwork for the 5th school fundraiser for the year. So far, we've done the Entertainment Books, Original Works, a 50th Anniversary fundraiser, Book Fair, and now the Jog*A*Thon. That is all in addition to the monthly Scholastic book orders, skating party nights, pizza nights, and contributions to class parties and teacher gifts. Oh, in addition, school pics were more this year because the school was getting a certain percentage back from the company that did them.

Our school also has 4 fundraisers (that I can remember anyway) each Spring semester. None of them are very much, but I hate that every few weeks the school is looking for more $$. I would gladly pay a set fee and be done with it. The kicker is that our Spring Fling (a tiny little games/carnival type night) is the only one the kids enjoy.

 

[theparsons]

First, let me start this with "I homeschool my kids, they've never been to a public school" so I am most definitely uninformed and apparently naive about this subject.

Now my question....are you saying that you are REQUIRED to donate/buy things for the fundraiser? Wow....so we're all paying taxes and since they spend the tax money so poorly now you are in essence being taxed again? What would happen if you say "Nope, not gonna give you a penny this year....instead I'm donating it to Give the Kids The World or some other charitable organization" or even..."nope, spending on a trip to WDW for myself". Will they throw your kids out of class? Will your name be plastered across the wall as a cheapskate? Will the class bully come to your house?

Ok...some of that was obviously in humor....but I'm just floored that you are REQUIRED to fundraise or donate. I graduated in 1981, so it's been a while, but I only recall requirements that you go out door to door TRYING TO sell because you were in "whatever"....cheerleaders, football, clubs....but for those of us who never did sports or clubs, I never had to even do that much. And I certainly don't recall any of my jock friends fretting over having minimums they had to sell (of course, I was always buying the candy bars from them, so maybe they never had to worry about minimums with me around).

Dictionary.com defines donation as a "gift" or "contribution"...and contribution is defined as "to give money, time, knowledge, assistance, etc to a common supply fund".

So...based on that I'd tell them I don't allow others to dictate my gift giving....but I'll contribute my knowledge or time instead of my money. Many of us who don't have a lot of extra cash around have great knowledge and maybe some time to "donate".

And I guess I'll keep this lesson I've learned in mind next time one of your kids come to my door trying to sell stuff I don't want.....maybe I better help the poor kid out so that he's not ostracized by his classmates for failing to meet his sales quota in the 2nd grade!! I'd hate to see what happens to these kids by junior high.

 

[MiniGirl]

Now my question....are you saying that you are REQUIRED to donate/buy things for the fundraiser? .

I can only speak to our school's fundraisers. We do not participate in all of them. There are just too many. I have 2 children in school this year, and we only bought 1 Entertainment Book. I did not buy the school pics because they are always so bad. We did buy a few books from the book fair and gave a small donation towards the 50th Anniversary fundraiser. We did order from the original works because I will use the cards I order thoughout the year, and we will also sponsor each of our girls for a modest amount for the Jog*A*Thon. We never seek donations or try to sell things to others though. I'm just not comfortable with that. If my girls decide to do that at some point in the future, I will walk around with them, but I will not help sell. The other monthly things (Scholastic, skate night, and pizza night) we sometimes participate in and sometimes don't.

Truth is we don't mind making these contributions to the school. I just don't like the nickel and dime way they do it. I'd much rather give a one-time gift and be done with it.

 

[Nicolepa]

I have 2 kids at 2 different public schools. Both schools ask for $100 a family. If both my kids were at the same school I would do the $100, but since I only have 1 at each I give $50 per school. (BTW one school is very affluent, one is not.)

 

[princesssfws]

We ask for $60 per family but will take whatever the family is comfortable giving. We don't do any other fundraisers thruout the year.

As a PTO board member I will tell you that in our school the PTO dues go to operational funds ie - class parties, teacher appreciation gifts, yearbook costs, carnival etc. The donation money goes directly for improving the educational experience of the kids ie - field trips, guest speakers, teacher grants for classroom items, after school study club.

The dues and "fund raising" monies are usually for 2 different areas.

Also by having a donation type fund raiser the school gets all the money, not just 50% like most traditional selling fund raisers. Also a lot of companies will gift match your contribution so check into where you or your spouse work.

I think if you just give what you are comfortable giving the PTO and school will be grateful.

 

[meandtheguys2]

I'd love not having fundraisers, but that would be steep with 3 kids. I'd happily donate an appropriate amt. to avoid selling junk.

 

[Annette_VA]

Wow, that is a lot. We're doing the "nonfundraiser" as well, but the suggested donation is only $40 per child.

 

[The Disney Bunch]

Give what you are comfortable with - fundraisers are just that - somethign to raise money - not everyone gives the same amount so they are unrealistic to require people to donate the same amount. Some will give more, some will give less.

Though to be honest with you - I don't live in a terribly expensive area - $125 for the entire school year sounds reasonable. I have 3 kids so broken down it would be a bargain. We do not charge for our PTO though. When we did it was only $8.