Stop with the Fundraisers Already!

[JamesMom]

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 -

 

[itutorfortravel]

ITA...I understand that organizations and schools want to raise money for improvements and projects, but are they oblivious to the fact that ordinary families are struggling in the current economy? Our DD brings things home from school and scouts all the time and like you I'd just like to send in a donation and skip the purchase. It's usually stuff I don't want anyway. And I refuse to allow DD to go door to door to sell stuff...just a couple days ago a 10 year old boy came around collecting money to support a $6000 trip to Australia next summer with some type of organization, not service or anything like that and I thought "you've got to be kidding me!" Ugh!!!

 

[belle&sebastiansmom]

My dd is in kindergarten, so this is our first foray into the fundraisers. Between my mom and myself, we bought 15 crap items so that she could attend the big bounce house prize party with all the other kids. Yep, suckered! I definitely can't afford to do this once I have both kids in school.

But I wouldn't mind a pie though . . .

 

[C.Ann]

$18 for a frozen pie??? Over my cold, rigid, lifeless body!!

I don't mind fund raisers - when the items are useful and reasonably priced - but some of the stuff I've seen is absolutely ridiculous..

 

[aka-mad4themouse]

Moving to the Community Board.

This happens every fall when the kids head back to school. It's as predictible as the tides. You just have to learn to say 'no' and mean it.

But those little faces are so hard to resist! I admit that I have no resolve when it comes to them. But I'd just prefer to write a check to the Cub Scout troop or the PTO and be done with it. I'd rather see 100% of my money go to the kids than spend the larger portion of it on some "stuff" that I don't really want or need.

 

[lovetoscrap]

When our kids started school we immediately began a policy of "NO FUNDRAISERS" in our house. Our kids knew from the beginning that we would NOT participate in buying, selling, raffles, etc...

The irony of this? I am in charge of the fundraising for the Middle School PTA! We are doing a strict donation fundraiser. Here is our goal--please give what you can to help us meet it. No selling crap. No junky prizes. Okay, we are going to duct tape the principal to the wall when we meet our goal, but still, all the money goes directly to our programs.

I have relaxed our rules for 2 things. DD13 sells nuts for the band and they are very popular. She can only go to our immediate neighbors that ask for them every year. We are required to sell a certain amount or to write a check, which we would do if needed.

DD9 sells GS cookies, same rules. Only the neighbors we know are interested. I am actually writing a check to her troop for double the annual dues because we aren't participating in the fall fundraiser and I feel it is the right thing to do.

 

[Ohiodislover]

I feel ya

My youngest sells Girl scout cookies, OR innisbrook wrapping paper. She always chooses cookies--Thank Goodness.

My oldest PTA asks for a $40 donation at the beginning of the year, with the promise of no fundraisers. Sounds Great huh? Well--not so much. We still have the fundraisers for orchestra, Honor society, French club, etc.
I do feel sorry for her though. The youngest just took orders for cookies, so she isn't getting too many donations for the breast ca walk she is participating this weekend.

 

[Ephany]

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 -

DD started with fundraisers the first week of school. The kicker? We'd lived here only a week before school started, we didn't know anyone to hit up even if I was going to allow us to be put through that. The first big prize for selling coupon books was a Nintendo DS. DD was very upset that I sent the paper back saying we couldn't participate in the selling. She already has a DS! They get the kids all psyched up about the prizes, it's absurd. I'd rather just give the school a donation.

 

[aprilgail2]

:Between my mom and myself, we bought 15 crap items so that she could attend the big bounce house prize party with all the other kids. Yep, suckered! I definitely can't afford to do this once I have both kids in school.

But I wouldn't mind a pie though . . .

We have pies at our school-I don't sell them but I buy 2 for us- we love the cooies and cream pie and the chocolate brownie pie!
Our PTA does NOT allow things like parties for who sells the most and prizes for who sells things- and I am very happy with that rule!

For our 5th grade this year the 5th grade trip is going to run about 75.00 per kid- we raised most of the money but are a bit short so right now every parent is getting 5 raffle tickets at $5.00 each home- they can sell them or buy them themselves but either way they have to send in $25.00 by the end of the month- of course if you don't want the tickets you can send in $75.00 and pay for your own kids whole trip!

 

[MIGrandma]

I stopped buying crap from my grandchildren.

I don't want anything. I don't need anything.

What I now do is write out a check directly to the school. That way they get 100% of the money, and not $2 off a $20 candle or some other trinket.

 

[PrincessNancy96]

ITA!!! I know right where you are coming.. Lately we have been hit really hard.. we have 3 high schoolers and a middle schooler, and our youngest in elementary... When the school corp has their annual candle sell, we get hit 5 times! What! I finally talked to my DH and said, ok.. how much do you think they really make off the sell... so we donate X dollars directly to the school corp. (although in the state we are in; we pay book rental 5 times so they have tons of my money already!)...

DS13 brought home stuff for Choir Friday.. I looked at him and said no way, I'll donate $20.00 for her to use as she wishes...

 

[KristaTX]

Just think how those of us who don't have kids selling this crap feel when we get asked to buy . Super annoying, and we don't even have kids in the school or program who are going to benefit from it.

If they're going to sell stuff, sell some tasty cookies like the Girl Scouts for $3.50 a box and that lead to immediate gratification. Now THAT is a decent program. Or sell Toblerones like we did when I was in French Club in high school or M&Ms like the band did. Something that costs a couple of bucks and that you can eat right then. I hate the expensive garbage you have to pay for and then wait for. $19 for a 7 oz. can of nuts, and then I have to wait weeks and weeks to get it? Huh?? No thanks.

 

[Duchie]

I have 3 kids and at the beginning of the school year I had 6 fundraisers on my desk. SIX OF THEM! Two different organizations were selling cookie dough, and two (not the same two) were pushing magazines and the catalog o' crap. The one that shocked me the most was one for the middle school theater program. My DD only has a 12-week rotation of theater arts this year, after that she moves on to Art. So by the time the money comes in, she'll have moved on to her next rotation and won't benefit from it at all. It's just gotten waaaaaay out of hand!

 

[lovetoscrap]

Take it from someone that has seen/heard/experienced the pitches for absolutely everything that can be sold. Your school/organization is not getting much for your purchase. A profit of 30% is considered excellent. Usually it is closer to 20% or below.

Send in a check. Look at what you MIGHT buy and just write a check for that amount directly to the organization--or an amount you can afford. Less paperwork for them too--they don't have to process more orders for the crap they really don't want to be selling anyway. Believe me, we hate selling it as much as you all hate buying it. I have been involved in fundraising and trying to find "alternative fundraisers" for years now. I hate the organized crap where we get little benefit, do lots of work and the kids get junky prizes, or parties that take so much out of the profits it isn't even worth it.

The organizations do need your support. Please support them as you are able. Write the check and put on it DONATION. And if they are a nonprofit--like most PTA's-- then you can also use it as a tax write off. Buy your pies and wrapping paper and candles and all that crap at Walmart! And if your kids are upset about not getting a junky prize give them $5 to spend at the Dollar Store or take them out for ice cream. Family time and a happy child.

 

[PrincessNancy96]

Well stated lovetoscrap!!!!!

That is my feelings exactly!!

 

[jam217]

The best fundraiser that my son's school did was selling gift cards to grocery stores. We paid face value for the card and the school received 5% cash for all cards sold. I didn't mind buying the cards because they were for stores that I regularly shopped at.

 

[cvjw]

Our elementary school started the fun run fundraiser last year. Instead of having to sell from the book of junk, now we pledge money for each lap our child runs in the fun run. The kids absolutely loved it. You can pledge any amount of money per lap, a penny or 10 dollars. We pledged a dollar per lap, and so did the grandparents. There is a company that handles the fun run, and they come in everyday before the race and get the kids fired up for the race. They also teach the kids a lesson every day - on topics such as work ethics, responsibility, etc. The kids get small prizes for each donation, but there is no rule on how big the donation has to be. A penny per lap donation is treated the same as the $10 per lap donation. It has been a big success for our school. The kids and parents are all happy!

 

[Angelhalo]

Our elementary school started the fun run fundraiser last year. Instead of having to sell from the book of junk, now we pledge money for each lap our child runs in the fun run. The kids absolutely loved it. You can pledge any amount of money per lap, a penny or 10 dollars. We pledged a dollar per lap, and so did the grandparents. There is a company that handles the fun run, and they come in everyday before the race and get the kids fired up for the race. They also teach the kids a lesson every day - on topics such as work ethics, responsibility, etc. The kids get small prizes for each donation, but there is no rule on how big the donation has to be. A penny per lap donation is treated the same as the $10 per lap donation. It has been a big success for our school. The kids and parents are all happy!

And it encourages physical activity! What a great idea!

 

[dfsc]

I agree with lovetoscrap.

I started this policy this year. I find an amount I would normally spend on the unwanted stuff in the magazine and write a check to the organization as a donation. I feel this keeps my kids from having to call their aunts, uncles, and grandparents who always buy from the children simply because they are asked. Remeber the money is to help meet the organizations yearly needs, I'm sure they are happy to receive 100% of the check you've written versus 20% or so after the seller takes their cut.

 

[golfgal]

You do realize that your children benefit from those fundraisers you won't take part in, right? Send cash if you don't want to buy anything but keep in mind that the books in your child's classroom may very well have come from a fundraiser.

Having said that, I hate them too but I don't mind ones that I can use--like the Poinsettia one the choir is doing-I am going to buy one anyway and the price is the same as it is in the store or the volleyball team that sells pumpkins door to door-great. I would MUCH rather have my property taxes go up by a $100-200/year then have every school organization sell something door to door but since not many people agree with me, we have fundraisers coming out of our ears.

I REFUSE to buy anything from a dance studio, tae kwon do studio, or any place that charges a fee to participate.