Stop with the Fundraisers Already!

[georgina]

Here is my issue right now. My dd had the "sell magazines" fundraiser already.

I just went to the website and it states...

The magazine subscription fundraiser
is our largest, annual effort
each year. We receive 40 cents of
every $1 applied toward the program.
From the profits, we are
able to supply vital class funds for
all three grade levels and yearround​

teacher support.

OK, WTH does that mean? Tell me who is getting the money and what it is going for.

Ask for a copy of the budget or treasurer's report. I always have this at our parent group meetings, and could tell you exactly where our money goes. I have heard the "I don't go to the meetings because it's a clique" excuse often.

I have been in charge of fund raisers at elementary level, for girl scouts, and helped with magazine sales at higher levels. Magazines are a good one because most people can read or know someone to buy a gift subscription for. Everyone in my family reads at least one magazine regularly, the profits are good and the magazines don't cost any more than if you just bought a subscription.

 

[Pigeon]

But, the PTO board (and many members) prefer to have fundraising that involves sales and/or parties (auction dinner dance, for instance) than to ask for donations. I haven't quite figured this out as they get to keep a fraction of the money spent... and the fundraisers are very labor intensive.

Mine, too. In our case, it's because the PTA is comprised almost entirely of Ladies Who Lunch. The LWL have a great deal of time on their hands, and this kind of crap gives meaning to their lives.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Ask for a copy of the budget or treasurer's report. I always have this at our parent group meetings, and could tell you exactly where our money goes. I have heard the "I don't go to the meetings because it's a clique" excuse often.

I have been in charge of fund raisers at elementary level, for girl scouts, and helped with magazine sales at higher levels. Magazines are a good one because most people can read or know someone to buy a gift subscription for. Everyone in my family reads at least one magazine regularly, the profits are good and the magazines don't cost any more than if you just bought a subscription.

That is absolute horsecrap. You want me to sell stuff to raise money for the school. Tell me what the "vital needs" are.

How hard is it to write 2 sentences on the website stating what the kids are working for.

 

[NotUrsula]

My routine with any sales-type fundraiser is that I ask what the minimum sale is per child (if any), then I ask what the profit percentage is. Then I do the math and give them a check for double the amount of money that they would realize from my child's participation in the sale process. I have NEVER had anyone turn it down, and I would cause a stink to raise the rafters if anyone tried. Refusing no-strings gift money is just plain stupid, and I don't accept stupid as the status quo.

We're in a private school, and we are are required to do the SCRIP store rebate program; it is calculated as a percentage of the tuition. There is a cash buyout option if you really don't want to buy groceries anywhere but Whole Foods: in that case your tuition is a flat $300 higher.

 

[Tinkerbelle's Mom]

You could ask the school administration or the teachers themselves. PTA's are all cliques. Our fundraiser was not run by the PTA, it was a school function.

As President as my dds PTA I can vouch that not all PTAs are cliques.

Ask for a copy of the budget or treasurer's report. I always have this at our parent group meetings, and could tell you exactly where our money goes. I have heard the "I don't go to the meetings because it's a clique" excuse often.

I have been in charge of fund raisers at elementary level, for girl scouts, and helped with magazine sales at higher levels. Magazines are a good one because most people can read or know someone to buy a gift subscription for. Everyone in my family reads at least one magazine regularly, the profits are good and the magazines don't cost any more than if you just bought a subscription.

PTA "books" should be open and reviewed at every meeting. Tedious - yes but then everyone who attends the meetings or reads the minutes knows where the money goes to.


Boy, I wish I had all of you at my school. I would just drop the junk wrapping paper catalogue magazine and ask you for donations!

Yes, our PTA will take a donation. But... not many of my parents are willing to do that. This why we have the need to do this type of fundraising. First it doen't cost anything and second we get 50% profit. Where as fairs, auctions, and such cost money and take tons of time.

At our PTA we are very vocal about what the money goes for. I could tell you to the penny our budget and where we are. In these ecnomic times (especally since we are in CA with major budget issues in education) the PTA is being relied upon to help fund programs that were previsouly funded by the School Distrcit. We fund Field trips, classroom supplies, assemblies, an fully stocked art room, among other things.

As for Girl Scout cookies, as my dds GS leader I am glad there are cookies to sell, but....we only get to keep $0.75 per box (each box costs $4) that we sell. That's only about an 18% profit that directly goes to the troop. The rest goes to the council level. Now if you give my troop a donation as long as it is below $249.99 we get to keep it all but if you go over $250 we have to split it with my council. Cookies are popular but be aware that the troops are not keeping th bulk of the profits.

 

[aprilgail2]

Um, no. If you want me to sell provide the information.

That is very easy to get- at every PTA meeting a copy of the budget is right there on the table for anyone interested enough to want to look at it. It is up for a vote at the first meeting, if you don't like what they are spending money on you can come and oppose it.
The money goes for the cultural arts programs that the kids see each month - that runs about 10,000 alone for the year. The family fall festival, the family picnic, the family night at school (we are very family geared!), family movie night, the 100th day of school ice cream party, the welcome back breakfast for the kids, field day, kindergarten parents welcome tea, yearbooks for all the kids, homecoming parade, insurance bond, the school garden, health and safety, red ribbon day, 5th grade moving up ceremony, scholarships and much more. Our opperating budget is approx $60,000 for the year.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

That is very easy to get- at every PTA meeting a copy of the budget is right there on the table for anyone interested enough to want to look at it. It is up for a vote at the first meeting, if you don't like what they are spending money on you can come and oppose it.
The money goes for the cultural arts programs that the kids see each month - that runs about 10,000 alone for the year. The family fall festival, the family picnic, the family night at school (we are very family geared!), family movie night, the 100th day of school ice cream party, the welcome back breakfast for the kids, field day, kindergarten parents welcome tea, yearbooks for all the kids, homecoming parade, insurance bond, the school garden, health and safety, red ribbon day, 5th grade moving up ceremony, scholarships and much more. Our opperating budget is approx $60,000 for the year.

Apparently you are not understanding me. My dd is at a middle school. We do nothing as you do.

How hard is it to write 2 sentences in the website.

 

[JVL1018]

I am the Parents Association treasurer at my school. It is not cliquey-but when the same 10 people keep showing up at the meetings you tend to get friendly. LOL
I knew no one on the P.A. when my daughter started K there, I didn;t care I went to the meetings and volunteered wherever I was needed.

Every year when I get our fall fundraising catalog I pitch it right in the trash because anything I do want in there, I can get cheaper elsewhere.
This year though they sold food along with it, so I bought a cheesecake and 2 tubs of cookie dough-food I'll pay for! LOL
I NEVER ask friends or relatives to buy anything.

We have a tricky tray In May that I donate baskets to, and I buy tickets to that, we have an ice cream fundraiser that I run every Friday and that brings in a lot of money..but if you don't participate no one is talking about you. We need to do these because we pay for a lot of stuff at school(field trips, Weekly Readers, assemblies, end of year parties, new laptops and TVs and DVD players were donated last year..and this is all info available at every meeting), we hope to raise money, but no one.. at my school at least..keeps track of who particpates and who doesn't. Once the money is collected and deposited it's forgotten about. NO ONE says oh so and so didn't buy anything from the gift wrap catalog. I have no clue who bought and who didn't.

We do have a membership drive, we ask for $5 per family. That does okay, but not great.

ETA: What I am saying is that if you don't want to participate, don't. It's not mandatory. just say no! ;o)

 

[EthansMom]

We need to do these because we pay for a lot of stuff at school(field trips, Weekly Readers, assemblies, end of year parties, new laptops and TVs and DVD players were donated last year..and this is all info available at every meeting), we hope to raise money, but no one.. at my school at least..keeps track of who particpates and who doesn't. Once the money is collected and deposited it's forgotten about. NO ONE says oh so and so didn't buy anything from the gift wrap catalog. I have no clue who bought and who didn't.

Our PTO had a sub-fundraiser last fall. When they didn't raise as much money as they wanted, a guilt email was sent out saying, "only X out of Y families contributed" and "surely we can do better". This was at the time when many families were wondering how they were going to heat their homes for the winter and buy holiday gifts for their kids. I was deeply offended (1) that a PTO representative was using guilt to try to get more money out of people at such a bad economic time and (2) that a PTO representative WAS keeping track of who had contributed (and, likely, how much they had contributed).

 

[JVL1018]

Our PTO had a sub-fundraiser last fall. When they didn't raise as much money as they wanted, a guilt email was sent out saying, "only X out of Y families contributed" and "surely we can do better". This was at the time when many families were wondering how they were going to heat their homes for the winter and buy holiday gifts for their kids. I was deeply offended (1) that a PTO representative was using guilt to try to get more money out of people at such a bad economic time and (2) that a PTO representative WAS keeping track of who had contributed (and, likely, how much they had contributed).

well that stinks.
We didn't even have our spring catalog fundraiser last year because we decided that with the economy we could't ask people to reach into their pockets yet again.
Of course now this year we're scrambling because we use the money from last year for this year's activities and we're down about $10,000 from last year, but it'll work out.

 

[Tinkerbelle's Mom]

Our PTO had a sub-fundraiser last fall. When they didn't raise as much money as they wanted, a guilt email was sent out saying, "only X out of Y families contributed" and "surely we can do better". This was at the time when many families were wondering how they were going to heat their homes for the winter and buy holiday gifts for their kids. I was deeply offended (1) that a PTO representative was using guilt to try to get more money out of people at such a bad economic time and (2) that a PTO representative WAS keeping track of who had contributed (and, likely, how much they had contributed).

Not appropriate at all! That is the type of behavior that gives PTAs/PTOs a bad name.

 

[EthansMom]

Not appropriate at all! That is the type of behavior that gives PTAs/PTOs a bad name.

Yup. Our family contribution/participation dropped dramatically afterwards.

 

[luvsJack]

Ask for a copy of the budget or treasurer's report. I always have this at our parent group meetings, and could tell you exactly where our money goes. I have heard the "I don't go to the meetings because it's a clique" excuse often.

I have been in charge of fund raisers at elementary level, for girl scouts, and helped with magazine sales at higher levels. Magazines are a good one because most people can read or know someone to buy a gift subscription for. Everyone in my family reads at least one magazine regularly, the profits are good and the magazines don't cost any more than if you just bought a subscription.

Let me be clear on why I don't go to the meetings.

When my boys were in the same school as dd is in now, I used to be at every meeting. I used to participate in every event the PTA or Booster Club did. I was secretary/treasure of a community sports league and the Booster Club at the same time and active in PTA. We actually had meeting asking the members what they wanted to do to raise money, where they thought the money was needed the most, and letting everyone know where the money went to.

Fast forward to now. The same 4 ladies are over the community cheerleading organization, the community basketball organization, the community softball organization and the PTA. They decide what fund raisers each organization will do way before any meeting is held. I went to the first PTA meeting one year. It was called to order, stated that we would discuss fund raisers and they told us what we would be doing. No discussion, no call for ideas (and the few people who spoke up with ideas were shot down), I think we actually did vote but no one was quite sure what we were voting on because there were no choices. Why take my time out of my busy evenings to go to a meeting to listen to them tell me exactly what the note is going to say that they have already printed to go home the next day?? I have offered my assistance to these ladies, I get a blank stare and no response.

 

[goofyernmost]

My youngest DD is disabled and goes to a school run by United Cerebral Palsy. They send home fundraisers a few times each year. I know that they need donations but it's obvious that most of the children that attend the school are not able to go door to door or for that matter, most are non-verbal and can't ask. Of course, this then leaves it up to the parents.

To be honest with you...I can't think of anything more inappropriate then what you just described. It is a blatant manipulation of parents to spend more and more money on something that is probably draining the budget already. How are these people allowed to get away with that kind of extortion. Playing on guilt and sensitivities. Or is it just me?

I donate substantially, every year to Make A Wish. I know there are many needy things out there but I cannot afford them all. I chose my favorite and decide that I would rather contribute enough to make a difference, however slight, to one place than meaningless pocket change to all of them. Just my personal choice.

I remember donating once to a nationally known charity. I swear the dust hadn't settled from opening the envelope before they fired off another letter asking me for more. Not even a thank you for the donation I had made. They did reference it by saying we noticed that you sent us a donation but it wasn't enough to carry on the fine work we are trying to do here. Please send more.

Sorry, didn't happen.

 

[descovy]

I have 3 girls, all 3 attend the same elem school, and all 3 are in Girl scouts (different troops due to age)

As a family, we have chosen to only do Girl Scout Fall & Cookie fundraisers. One, because the school is in a highly affluent community, lots of silly stuff the PTO spends money one (ice sculpture at our dedication, for one!)

On the other hand, our Girl Scout Troops are financed purely by the girls. And the GIRLS (as a collective group) help manage the money and make financial decisions.

Other than the annual $12 to GSUSA and uniforms (every other year) the GIRLS pay for all troop activities/supplies. We don't ask parents for $20 here and there. All activities are paid for by dues ($1 a meeting that the girl is expected to *earn* either through allowance or an extra chore) or fall product sales/ cookies. The girls meanwhile earn budgeting... want to go on a $40/girl field trip? Sounds like fun... do *you girls* have the money? How many boxes of cookies will it cost? Is it still worth it to you? Conversly, as a leader, I try to be very conservative with their money...making sure I get the biggest bang for their buck. Reuse, recycle, borrow instead of buy, use the cheaper version, etc...

Anyway, I *see* the value in our Girl Scout fundraisers... how the money directly helps the girls... how it keeps parents (like myself) from being nickled and dimed. So we participate in that fundraiser.

But fundraisers where adults treat it like free money (ice sculpture anyone?) I'd rather pass...

 

[JamesMom]

Wow!!! The $400 for Tiger Cub Scouts is what shocked me! Our registration dues are about $38.00 here -- I do believe we are going to raise them to $40 for next year as that includes the book & neckerchiefs (sp?), those have gone up in price. The popcorn is national I think (similar to Girl Scout cookies). I know a cut of that goes to the council.

OP, here

The $400 cub scouts =
$90 for registration, annual dues and Pack t-shirt
$60 for uniform & book for tiger cub
$50 for uniform for me (den leader)
$30 for fishing gear (never been before)
$150 for camping gear (never been before - tent, sleeping bags, cots, lights, etc)
So, yeah - cub scouts is expensive starting out. Won't have many of these expenses next year.

 

[NC State]

Hi, My name is Nancy and I am broke.

Not really, but I am telling everybody that. Last month my 1st grader and special ed 4 year old brought home from the public school a Magazine fund raiser. I don't pay that much for magazines, so we passed.

My Tiger Cub Scout brought home a popcorn fund raiser a couple of weeks ago. My husband loves popcorn so we and other family will buy about $100 worth. Unfortunately, they want us to go door to door and reach our 'goal' of $250 per scout. Can't I just write a check for $100 and call it even instead of parading my son for solicitiations? Plus, I just shelled out $400 for dues, registration, uniforms and camping gear. I'm tapped out.

Today, my boys come home from school with ANOTHER fundraiser -- PIES. Are you kidding me? Frozen pies for $18 each? Your kidding right? I bake my own pies for the holidays, thank you very much.

Oh, while i don't count it is a fundraiser, the school does make a cut off the photos they took last month, too. Or the high school cheer teams selling stuff door to door.

Ugh. I don't mind supporting causes like scouts, bringing canned food to church and such, but this is ridiculous. I pay property taxes, buy our own school supplies and buy Scholastic books every month -- that's my support! Stop reaching for my wallet! I'm broke, darn it! LOL

Another thing -- stop with the stupid rewards for the kids to get them pysched to sell (or rather for ME to sell). The pie fundraiser? if they sell one they get...wait for it... a glow bracelet! something I can buy a whole can of at Michaels for a $1 and will fade before he even gets home from school. Please--kids in china get paid better than that -

I'm so glad that my daughter is 23 and no longer in school! Back when she started to bring home a fund raiser every three months, my husband wrote a note to the school and board of education.

"I pay my taxes and I don't get "reduced" for "free" anything. I send my child to get an education, not to become a salesperson unless she wants to do that when she's finished with school." Let's just say that we were never asked to sell anything else.

 

[ilovejack02]

OP, here

The $400 cub scouts =
$90 for registration, annual dues and Pack t-shirt
$60 for uniform & book for tiger cub
$50 for uniform for me (den leader)
$30 for fishing gear (never been before)
$150 for camping gear (never been before - tent, sleeping bags, cots, lights, etc)
So, yeah - cub scouts is expensive starting out. Won't have many of these expenses next year.

Aww Thank you for being a den leader!!
Yeah it can add up . Thank goodness we are a camping family and had all of the fishing and camping gear.
I just spent 64.00 on uniform and I think dues were around 20.00.
I will prob spend around 100.00 on popcorn, but it is because I love the kind with the nuts and give some as gifts.