Ugh! Fundraisers!!!

[Honeybell]

At my son's school we only have one selling fundraiser. We've talked about just asking for a straight donation, that's what my daughter's (charter) high school is doing. The problem is we have a group of people who will not send in money for anything such as field trips or a class party. They also refuse to buy things like planners or t-shirts (which the PTA sells at cost) They will sell wrapping paper, etc. because their child "gets" something from it. Because we have had this influx of people not paying last year most of the students didn't get to go on any field trips. This was a big disappointment to the fifth graders. We did still manage to fund some of the fun stuff like field day, but most of the money went towards school supplies. If our PTA only asked for a flat donation we would be subsidizing people even more than we are now.

 

[Pigeon]

I think I started a thread like this last year. My DD came home yesterday with postcards to fill out with people's names so they can be hounded for magazine subscriptions. I refused to let her do it last year and I refuse again this year. I will send a check to the school instead. I know DD's orchestra needs money, but I would rather give money than names.

Ugh is right!

I would fill in those postcards with the names of the individuals running this particular fundraiser.

We don't do any fundraisers. On back to school night, I write the PTA a honking big check and I'm done for the year. The school gets 100% of my money and I'm not buying overpriced trash I don't need or want.

We've discussed why we don't do them with the kids. While they might be a little sad not to attend the pizza party or get the dollar store crap reward, they mostly resent be expected to be an unpaid salesforce shilling junk for some company.

 

[3darlings]

At my son's school we only have one selling fundraiser. We've talked about just asking for a straight donation, that's what my daughter's (charter) high school is doing. The problem is we have a group of people who will not send in money for anything such as field trips or a class party. They also refuse to buy things like planners or t-shirts (which the PTA sells at cost) They will sell wrapping paper, etc. because their child "gets" something from it. Because we have had this influx of people not paying last year most of the students didn't get to go on any field trips. This was a big disappointment to the fifth graders. We did still manage to fund some of the fun stuff like field day, but most of the money went towards school supplies. If our PTA only asked for a flat donation we would be subsidizing people even more than we are now.

After being involved for too many years at various schools, I can tell you this is absolutely correct. People say they would prefer to just make donations and have no fundraiser but, in actuality, the great majority do not send in donations. The "no-fundraiser" fundraisers (that what our school calls it) take in no where near what the regular (especially the Sally Foster type) fundraisers take in. No one likes them but they raise alot of money. I just never understood why people can't just buy one item even if it is only a $5 item. That way your child is participating (which is all that counts at our elem school). I personally like the way my middle schooler's chorale does it. There is the usual fundraisers (Ent. Book like book, Sally Foster type) and 30% of the proceeds you raise goes directly to your bill for your child to take their big end of the year trip. It is much less painful to buy stuff (stuff I want) when I know it is going to take money off the bill I owe!

 

[TLuvsD]

You might check with your school, but around here if you want to make a donation instead of selling, your students gets "credit" for participating in the fundraiser. That way the parents who want to write a check are encouraged to do so asap...and the student whose parents have made a donation gets included in the fun. I've been PTA Treasurer mulitple times, I know the "donations only" fundraiser will not raise enough money to cover the field trips, etc. By combining it with a fundraising event, well everyone can choose the option they prefer.

 

[karice2]

I don't have any children and dread this time of year as much as the parents do. My coworkers always put the thing on my desk and I never see anything I want. It is all over priced and not anything that I want anyway.

I know I should not want to do a tit for tat but I will never be able to reap any benefits of helping you buy this "crap". I don't have kids and do pay property taxes so I am already contributing to the benefits of the school. I also work in a different school district than where I live so I am less inclined to buy coworkers stuff.

I have made my donation to a teacher in the school so I am way over quota for school support of something that I don't use.

I am just asking parents, please be considerate of those individuals that do not have children and don't try to guilt people into buying those fundraisers.

 

[melancholywings]

I refuse to participate in them as I find it morally wrong. I don't believe it's a school's job to bribe children with dollar store crap and pizza parties in an attempt to get them to sell overpriced junk to the neighborhood. And I don't think my kid should be taken out of class to be given some sales pitch about how they need to sell. I won't even send in a check as I feel it is still encouraging the idea.

I do however support other fun raising events, such as a collection to help a teacher who was handicapped in an accident, food collection for families in need who are part of the school, even a saturday plant sale where proceeds go to school landscaping, or collecting change for new equipment. These all foster a sense of community spirit.

 

[sophie832]

I don't have any children and dread this time of year as much as the parents do. My coworkers always put the thing on my desk and I never see anything I want. It is all over priced and not anything that I want anyway.

I know I should not want to do a tit for tat but I will never be able to reap any benefits of helping you buy this "crap". I don't have kids and do pay property taxes so I am already contributing to the benefits of the school. I also work in a different school district than where I live so I am less inclined to buy coworkers stuff.

I have made my donation to a teacher in the school so I am way over quota for school support of something that I don't use.

I am just asking parents, please be considerate of those individuals that do not have children and don't try to guilt people into buying those fundraisers.

I'm with you...I don't have kids, but this is the time of year where my co-workers start showing me the fundraising catalogs. I do take the time to look at them and see if there's anything I really need, but I'm not afraid to just tell them there's nothing I want. Luckily, my co-workers don't do the "hard sell"...there's no pressure.

I remember when I was in school and felt pressured to sell stuff. Sometimes it was a catalog, sometimes it was candy. If it was for a club or extra-curricular activity I was in, my parents would usually end up paying for it. I was never able to push people to buy something they didn't want or need.

 

[cari12]

At my kids school, they don't have pizza parties or anything to entice the kids -sometimes the dollar store prizes. But we only participate in what we genuinely want to buy. We do not sell at work but do ask a few of our friends and family if they are interested. We never do a hard sell and let them know they are not obligated to buy. Doing this, we usually sell a few things for most of the fundraisers.
Regarding asking people with no kids -please try not to be offended that people ask. Just because you don't have kids to sell stuff back, does not mean you can't help. If you can use the item and can help the school in the process, it is a win-win! In fact, we sell 2 Entertainment books (the $46 ones) each year to 2 people we know that don't have kids because generally school kids are the main place to buy them. I know personally my husband and I had trouble finding somewhere to buy an Entertainment Book before we had kids in school.
I have never heard of the magazine postcard thing. I would not do that either. Our magazine one is where you can either sell face to face or send an email where they buy/renew online and the school gets credit. We have emailed a bunch of friends/family for each of 2 years now and it is surprising who comes through for you! Someone across the country can support your child. This way, we have participated and have not spent a cent of our own money (we don't read magazines) and our friend gets a magazine they love and the school gets a cut. Again win-win.
Try to look for these types of opportunities and then it is not such a burden for the person selling or buying.
Happy fundraising!

 

[pfeifferdcat]

I do however support other fun raising events, such as a collection to help a teacher who was handicapped in an accident, food collection for families in need who are part of the school, even a saturday plant sale where proceeds go to school landscaping, or collecting change for new equipment. These all foster a sense of community spirit.

That's great that you are supporting those events & they do teach your kids about community, but our school's fundraisers pay for the kid's field trips. If they don't raise enough funds, then no field trips.

I just got the fundraising books for my 2 kids. I looked through them & didn't really see anything I want, so I'm just going to write the PTA a check for 50% of what I would have spent & call it a day.

For people that don't like co-workers bothering you with the fundraisers, maybe you can offer to save your Box Tops for education or Campbell's labels for them?

 

[LovesTimone]

I don't have any little ones to try to fun raise for anymore - What I did when I was doing this.. gift paper - I would buy Christmas paper, cookie dough sales and frozen pizza kits, I would save for when DD friends were over, or donate to the church or domestic violence shelter, or Ronald McDonald house. I still do this for co-worker and friend kids or grand kids and still donate the same way.

When DD was in HS the only fundraiser (band and colorguard)was the spag. dinner, which was a huge event, we offered sit down and to go meals we made a ton of cash, Her team sold dessert, but the piece or whole desserts lots of cash, and we did a basket auction, everything from car care to beach baskets. Each girl made one, and all the proceed when for equipment, uniforms, and competition fees. Some parents would get in bidding wars, funny but it paid for alot so that we did not have so much out of pocket. We open it up to the whole school and community, Her last year we raised, 4,000.00 from the spag dinner, and 2,300.00 for the dessert and basket auction, lots of to go orders, for parents on there way home. Kinda off topic just felt like sharing

 

[StitchBuddy]

It irritates me too, and I'm a teacher, club sponser, and team mom. I limit my daughter to 1 fundraiser per year. That even included when she was a Girl Scout. I would rather just make a donation.

 

[fallcolors]

With the economy - it seems that schools need these additional funds for all the extra's that we used to take for granted (playground & gym equipment, band instruments, field trips, etc). Also, difficult because families don't have extra to give and many fundraising items are junk. I agree with giving cash/check - that way the school doesn't have to share any of those funds with a company - 100% goes to the school.

 

[3boymthr]

Anyone besides me HATE this time of year when the fundraisers start coming out in full force? Don't get me wrong... I understand the importance of these "sells" as far as providing additional funding to the schools for whatever reason, and I totally support them, however, WHEN DOES IT END!!

My boys proudly bring home thier fundraiser info (immediately multiply all fundraising efforts times two) and I go into the office today and there are 5 of my coworkers kids fundraiser info on the kitchen table! oh, and several kids were running around church last week with thier fundraisers! (and I'm not even COUNTING the various sports/cub scouts/girl/boy scout ones!) The thing I don't get, is the fundraisers and the schools specify for the kids to NOT to go up to strangers, just family and friends... so what do the kids "take away" from the typical funraising event when it's mom/dad taking the forms to work or shoving them under neighbors/friends/grandparents/aunt/uncles noses to buy something?

personally, I usually just send in a check to support whatever the cause is, but then my kids are made to feel like they are "punished" by not being able to go to the (whatever kind) party to "celebrate" the kids who's parents DID harass all the neighbors, family members, friends to buy something that they prob would have never bought if not for the realtionship to said child. (say its not so!) (and ok, maybe harass is a strong word but you know what I mean!)

OH WELL... no offense inteded against fundraisers themself and I'm not talking about a team raising money for a trip or uniforms or something like that.. I'm talking about your typical elementary school fundraiser... like I said I support the school, (my kids, my many nieces/nephews/ Coworkers kids, friends kids... I mean, if you expect them to buy from your kid you have to buy from thiers right?) I just get so tired of being "guilted" into buying something that I don't really need. yet when I don't participate, I feel like a bad mom! (nasty mom just sends in a CHECK instead of lugging the forms/books etc around...)

Thanks for letting me vent!!!!

I totally get where you are coming from and feel like I'm drowning in fundraisers. We get the take home sell this fundraiser and the school book fair at the same time.

We've gotten around the party issue by buying ONE item from the fundraiser so that the kids don't feel left out from the crazy parties, etc. that are meant to incent the kids to push their parents to sell. Usually whatever is cheapest that I can find a use for. Though lately our school fund raiser has had magazines in addition to the usual "stuff" and my mom is always good for a subscription to sports illustrated.

 

[brymolmom]

I've been reading this thread and trying not to reply...but want to offer my perspective.

I hate almost all fundraisers - some I genuinely don't mind buying because I'll use it (even tho I know it's overpriced, it's for a good cause) - like we sold coffee cakes that were DELICIOUS last spring so I got one for Easter morning and one for DS's first communion party.

I will not ask people at work to buy - everyone has family, neighbors and friends who are selling too...so I won't bother them (kind of reminds me of home sales parties where people feel OBLIGATED to buy) - I won't ask my coworkers for obligatory sales.

Now, all that being said, as Vice Pres of our PTO I do realize that without fundraising of some sort - we won't be able to do much of anything. And I, personally, feel that would make the entire environment of the school much less fun and overall not as good a school. We really provide the 'community' aspect that honestly the school with such limited funds CANNOT do on their own these days. We do monthly roller skating, Chuck E Cheese nights, a fall pizza party, a spring open house and we also pay for 1 field trip per year and a special event for 4th graders (before they go up to middle school) - not to mention the teacher grants where we get classroom materials that the school can't pay for for each teacher that submits a request AND bus driver and teacher appreciation things.....Plus a bunch of other things that people seem to like. Our school has a very good reputation and I think that our PTO does help with that reputation.

So, when I do not want to buy the stuff, I send in a check for whatever I would have spent. That way the PTO gets 100% of it instead of 50%. My kids have been denied some prizes (but we're workign on that - we USUALLY do get something small for direct donations and honestly we're likely going to eliminate the prizes entirely at some point), but they can learn to live with it.

One suggestion for those who have issues with fundraisers and who do not want to (or can't) contribute directly...IF you do like your school and do like (or your kids do) at least some of the activities - consider donating your TIME. You would be amazed how many people complain about the events we have or want new and improved ones (love new ideas) or don't think that the money raised is really used up or whatever. Out of 650 kids in our school, we have a pool of about 20 parents who regularly volunteer (maybe about 20 more who volunteer once in a great while). Besides money and sometimes MORE than money, to hold these events - we need PEOPLE to volunteer. It irritates me sometimes, especially when like last week at a meeting someone came in basically saying we don't do enough in our PTO and I said 'you're right - we need more people like you to help out and we can do more' - and then, of course, she did not put her name on one volunteer sheet.

Anyway - another option would be to donate your time. I know in our PTO - it can be 2 hours for the whole year OR doing some work from home (box tops paperwork) once a month OR whatever amount of time you have to give - just do it!

 

[mjkacmom]

When DD was in HS the only fundraiser (band and colorguard)was the spag. dinner, which was a huge event, we offered sit down and to go meals we made a ton of cash, Her team sold dessert, but the piece or whole desserts lots of cash, and we did a basket auction, everything from car care to beach baskets. Each girl made one, and all the proceed when for equipment, uniforms, and competition fees. Some parents would get in bidding wars, funny but it paid for alot so that we did not have so much out of pocket. We open it up to the whole school and community, Her last year we raised, 4,000.00 from the spag dinner, and 2,300.00 for the dessert and basket auction, lots of to go orders, for parents on there way home. Kinda off topic just felt like sharing

Our only real fundraiser for the elementary school is a basket auction/dinner, and it brings in about $35,000 each year (small public school). I donate a basket worth about $100 - $150, buy a $65 ticket, and buy raffle tickets (about $150). I'd rather do that and be done.

 

[Jaime4004]

I refuse to participate in them as I find it morally wrong. I don't believe it's a school's job to bribe children with dollar store crap and pizza parties in an attempt to get them to sell overpriced junk to the neighborhood. And I don't think my kid should be taken out of class to be given some sales pitch about how they need to sell. I won't even send in a check as I feel it is still encouraging the idea.

I do however support other fun raising events, such as a collection to help a teacher who was handicapped in an accident, food collection for families in need who are part of the school, even a saturday plant sale where proceeds go to school landscaping, or collecting change for new equipment. These all foster a sense of community spirit.

I feel exactly the same! Definitely will not ask friends/family/coworkers to buy the overpriced junk... People feel obligated and many cannot afford it, no one knows everyone's financial situation. Also will not write a check. I do also support the other fund raising (bakes sales for school dance, raising money for new playground, christmas toys for kids who need them, etc). I would rather pay for the extra activities my kids are involved in, sports or field trips, etc. Just wrote a check for DD to visit the butterfly garden.
Now on a totally unrelated note, I also refuse to donate a portion of my paycheck to the United Way, even though my job strives for 100% participation. What?! I'd rather pick my own charities...

 

[jacksmomma]

I cannot stand them either! The worst part is the items are nothing but junk! It would be different if there were actual usable things, but I have seen better quality items from dollar stores (not to knock dollar stores or those who shop there) at a much better price!

Yet another reason to homeschool...no dealing with these things!

 

[mommy2princesses0309]

I hate that they tell the kids "You get a prize if you sell this many" or "The class that sells the most gets a pizza party". They also do that with our PTA sponsored events - "The class with the most attendance gets an in-school party". I don't think it's fair at all.

They very first week of school DD had GS cookies to sell and then the school sent home the entertainment book to sell (but don't go door to door!). We had already hit up all of our neighbors and family for GS cookies (and she still only sold 60 boxes) so couldn't ask anyone about the coupon book. I ended up buying one so she wouldn't be the only kid not selling one.

Also, with GS. Our leader told all the girls she expected them all to sell atleast 200 boxes Well, my DD sold 60. Another girl sold maybe 35. Most of them didn't sell even 100. One girl somehow sold over 200. I just think it's all too much to put on a kid! I know they need to sell the cookies to support the troop but to put expectations like that just makes them feel inadequate! Besides, other than DH and I, my DD has her grandparents, our few close neighbors and that's it to sell to. I can't expect them to buy everything little thing that comes down the pike, nor can we afford to.

I don't the answer but I do feel it's too much for kids to be expected to sell stuff all the time.

 

[Mickeypooh99]

One of the biggest problems with fundraisers is they all hit you in the fall. We are supposed to do school fundraisers for the kids, sell scout popcorn, another scout fundraiser (cake auction) in October, and then send in money to school for other things. We get hit up for picture money, class t-shirts, and other things. It is too much all at once.

I can't stand the prizes offered. There is such an importance put on earning prizes. So I have 2 kids, and this month we have 4 fundraisers going on.

The best one is my DS 8's walk a thon. Just ask people to sponser him in the walk a thon. The school gets 100% of all donations. The prizes are donated by local businesses. (like a gift card from subway type thing) Names are drawn for prizes. So anyone who participates is eligible. It has raised more money than our sale type fundraisers have ever raised because 50% doesn't go to the company. It really doesn't matter if there is less participation, because we keep more of the money.

 

[Mickeypooh99]

I feel exactly the same! Definitely will not ask friends/family/coworkers to buy the overpriced junk... People feel obligated and many cannot afford it, no one knows everyone's financial situation. Also will not write a check. I do also support the other fund raising (bakes sales for school dance, raising money for new playground, christmas toys for kids who need them, etc). I would rather pay for the extra activities my kids are involved in, sports or field trips, etc. Just wrote a check for DD to visit the butterfly garden.
Now on a totally unrelated note, I also refuse to donate a portion of my paycheck to the United Way, even though my job strives for 100% participation. What?! I'd rather pick my own charities...

Its funny that you said you would support raising money for a new playground. That is exactly what our fall pto fund raiser was for last year. It isn't all for field trips. Our school got a really nice new playgroud with the money raised.