What are your thoughts on this fundraiser?

[MichelleinMaine]

Suppose you received an email from your child's school. Click on this link to buy a personalized, photo card for $3. (You design the card, can add your own photos, etc. They address them and mail them out for you.{I can't remember if the $3 inlcudes the stamp or not, so maybe $3.44 mailed.) The school gets half the money from each card.


Does it change your opinion that when you get to the website, there is also information about how to own your own retail card business, with a referral link that benefits the school if you opt to do this?


(This was a debate at a committee meeting I was at last night. I'll comment, but wanted to hear others' thoughts first.)

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Suppose you received an email from your child's school. Click on this link to buy a personalized, photo card for $3. (You design the card, can add your own photos, etc. They address them and mail them out for you.{I can't remember if the $3 inlcudes the stamp or not, so maybe $3.44 mailed.) The school gets half the money from each card.


Does it change your opinion that when you get to the website, there is also information about how to own your own retail card business, with a referral link that benefits the school if you opt to do this?


(This was a debate at a committee meeting I was at last night. I'll comment, but wanted to hear others' thoughts first.)

Is this going to be set up for the year or is this a limited time offer?

If it is a limited time offer I will probably pass however if you are going to do this for all next year then maybe I might have incentive to buy, like for Mother's Day, Father's Day, birthday's, etc.

It is a little steep in price to do for Christmas.

As far as the "retail issue", I cannot comment without seeing the website. It might bother me or it might not.

 

[golfgal]

Is this Send Out Cards by chance? If so, it does include postage. Like anything else, you are paying a premium for convenience. I know several people that use these in their business or even just for Christmas Cards. Yes, it is more expensive but again, you are paying for the convenience. As a fundraiser, why not? If people want to use it, great and the school gets some money from this. I certainly would not be happy if it was mandatory though.

 

[WDSearcher]

If I have a choice as to whether or not to click on the "start your own company" link, then I see no problem with it at all.

If choosing to purchase a card means that the "start your own company" pitch plays automatically before sending my card, then I'd be annoyed.

I see no problem with the company sponsoring the fundraiser trying to drum up business. That's why companies do fundraisers in the first place -- to expand their marketing reach. As long as they're not forcing you to watch / listen to a sales pitch, then I'd be fine.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Agree with PP. If it is the "Send Out Cards" thing and I was forced to listen to a sales pitch to start my own company then I probably would pass on buying a card for the fundraiser.

That site is ANNOYING and a turn off. Upon further research the company is an MLM and while it is not a "scam", I hate MLM marketing as it is very pushy. Once you buy they are all over you bugging you.

Also adding that if someone you know within your PTO is associated with this company, I would have a huge ethical problem with going with this fundraiser.

 

[horseshowmom]

Is this going to be set up for the year or is this a limited time offer?

If it is a limited time offer I will probably pass however if you are going to do this for all next year then maybe I might have incentive to buy, like for Mother's Day, Father's Day, birthday's, etc.
It is a little steep in price to do for Christmas.

As far as the "retail issue", I cannot comment without seeing the website. It might bother me or it might not.

I like this idea for a fundraiser and can see how it could be useful. I would probably want prior notification from my school before I would click on anything in an email though (too many fakes out there sending out viruses).

As MM said, I would have to see it to know for sure, but more than likely I wouldn't have a problem with it.

 

[Tinkermommy]

If you can just buy the cards without a pitch on starting a business I think it's fine.

I like that the kids don't have to sell anything to neighbors, family or anyone going into Wal-Mart.

I would not like it if I had follow-up emails, phone calls, etc about the company. That would make me mad.

 

[Ceila]

We used to do a fundraiser with Photoworks. I'm not sure if they still do fundraising alliances, but you might want to check them out before going with another company. There was absolutely no pressure at all.

 

[okeydokey]

I hate being pitched to buy extra or join so I'd pass. This is one reason I refuse to go to home parties. At the end the gal running the show will say "So when can I put you down for a party at your home?"

 

[MichelleinMaine]

Thanks all for the responses. Answering some questions-

Yes, it is Send Out Cards. I don't have an issue on whether $3 is ok for a card or not. Fundraisering products by nature aren't generally a bargain. I wouldn't pay $3 for a card, but if someone will- great!

It is intended to be a long term (eg ongoing/multiyear) fundraiser.

I can not get a clear answer whether the "start your own business" option is just a link, or if it's something you have to sit through to buy your $3 card.

That site is ANNOYING and a turn off. Upon further research the company is an MLM and while it is not a "scam", I hate MLM marketing as it is very pushy. Once you buy they are all over you bugging you.

Also adding that if someone you know within your PTO is associated with this company, I would have a huge ethical problem with going with this fundraiser.

You hit my two biggest concerns with this. I am turned off by the mere concept of MLM programs. The whole thing rubs me the wrong way from the get-go.

And the second part- yes, there are 2 women on the committee who are already "dealers". I was flabbergasted the committee (my first, I just joined earlier this month) had a meeting last night to have to sit through an hour and a half sales pitch and how this can help out organization raise money. No mention of the $450 start up cost until they were asked. Everything was peachy and rosy and we'll just be rolling in dough.

There was no mention made these 2 ladies would also likely be getting a referral cut (or whatever it's called) for us signing on under them. (Lots of talk of the money we'd get for others signing up under our group though... wasn't too tough to see it was going to go the other way. This is just completely unethical to me. Someone compared it to a typical product sale- sub sandwiches, say. The sub shop is "making money" off us at the same time we fundraise. Totally different in my book- there's no illusion. Of course the shop is making money, and we get some too. This card thing, particularly as they are presenting it, is not as obvious. They want it to go out to every kid in the school- so gee, everyone who signs on is lining their pocket too. I might (?) feel better if they offered to pay the start up costs as a donation from their own business. No mention of such things at all.

And then, I was researching some since posting this morning- Here is SOC's income disclosure statement. It looks to me that 90% of the people doing this are only averaging $89 a year? Take a long time to make up that $450 start up + $59 annual fee!

 

[golfgal]

I would just make it VERY clear to the Send Out Card rep that they are in NO WAY to contact families to become a rep. If someone really wants to, THEY can contact your rep for information. Any presentations should simply be how to use the website.

$3 for a card that gets mailed for you really isn't all that bad considering it is at least $2 to buy one from the store, plus 44 cents to mail.

We have done some fundraisers with home based businesses with great success and clear guidelines on what is and is not acceptable.

 

[MichelleinMaine]

I would just make it VERY clear to the Send Out Card rep that they are in NO WAY to contact families to become a rep. If someone really wants to, THEY can contact your rep for information. Any presentations should simply be how to use the website.

The difficulty lies in the fact the Send Out Card reps are on this committee. So a parent making an inquiry to our organization, would be talking directly to the rep/marketer.

My understanding, too, is that our organization's site will link them automatically to us- and- ergo, to these two higher up on the "food chain" so to speak.

 

[okeydokey]

The difficulty lies in the fact the Send Out Card reps are on this committee. So a parent making an inquiry to our organization, would be talking directly to the rep/marketer.

My understanding, too, is that our organization's site will link them automatically to us- and- ergo, to these two higher up on the "food chain" so to speak.

It seems wise for the school's position to stay clear of fundraisers in which the organizers of the fundraiser make money for themselves and not the school.

 

[Ceila]

The difficulty lies in the fact the Send Out Card reps are on this committee. So a parent making an inquiry to our organization, would be talking directly to the rep/marketer.

My understanding, too, is that our organization's site will link them automatically to us- and- ergo, to these two higher up on the "food chain" so to speak.

That is a major conflict of interest and I would stay far, far away from anything like that. If it was me and the committee moved forward anyway, I would honestly resign. I would not want to be associated with that group any longer, no matter how much "good" they do in other areas.

 

[2disneyboys]

It seems wise for the school's position to stay clear of fundraisers in which the organizers of the fundraiser make money for themselves and not the school.

That is a major conflict of interest and I would stay far, far away from anything like that. If it was me and the committee moved forward anyway, I would honestly resign. I would not want to be associated with that group any longer, no matter how much "good" they do in other areas.

ITA!!!
'nuff said

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Thanks all for the responses. Answering some questions-

Yes, it is Send Out Cards. I don't have an issue on whether $3 is ok for a card or not. Fundraisering products by nature aren't generally a bargain. I wouldn't pay $3 for a card, but if someone will- great!

It is intended to be a long term (eg ongoing/multiyear) fundraiser.

I can not get a clear answer whether the "start your own business" option is just a link, or if it's something you have to sit through to buy your $3 card.




You hit my two biggest concerns with this. I am turned off by the mere concept of MLM programs. The whole thing rubs me the wrong way from the get-go.

And the second part- yes, there are 2 women on the committee who are already "dealers". I was flabbergasted the committee (my first, I just joined earlier this month) had a meeting last night to have to sit through an hour and a half sales pitch and how this can help out organization raise money. No mention of the $450 start up cost until they were asked. Everything was peachy and rosy and we'll just be rolling in dough.

There was no mention made these 2 ladies would also likely be getting a referral cut (or whatever it's called) for us signing on under them. (Lots of talk of the money we'd get for others signing up under our group though... wasn't too tough to see it was going to go the other way. This is just completely unethical to me. Someone compared it to a typical product sale- sub sandwiches, say. The sub shop is "making money" off us at the same time we fundraise. Totally different in my book- there's no illusion. Of course the shop is making money, and we get some too. This card thing, particularly as they are presenting it, is not as obvious. They want it to go out to every kid in the school- so gee, everyone who signs on is lining their pocket too. I might (?) feel better if they offered to pay the start up costs as a donation from their own business. No mention of such things at all.

And then, I was researching some since posting this morning- Here is SOC's income disclosure statement. It looks to me that 90% of the people doing this are only averaging $89 a year? Take a long time to make up that $450 start up + $59 annual fee!

Huge ethical problem with this marketing technique!!!!

Does the Principal know about this?

 

[MichelleinMaine]

Thanks all for the replies. The ethical/conflict of interest concerns were huge for me, just wanted other opinions that I wasn't being unreasonable.

I had intentions of figuring out who was in charge/where to express my concerns. (I spoke up, loudly, last night as well, but there was a canned marketing response for everything.)

In responding to me about who I should contact, a friend accidentally included said person on her response. OOPS! Well, since half my concerns were in that one email, I replied to her with the other half of them. I guess if they choose to proceed with it, that may be the end of my involvement. (Boy, one less meeting a month to go to, I could get used to that! )

 

[SOnotLayuh]

Thanks all for the replies. The ethical/conflict of interest concerns were huge for me, just wanted other opinions that I wasn't being unreasonable.

I had intentions of figuring out who was in charge/where to express my concerns. (I spoke up, loudly, last night as well, but there was a canned marketing response for everything.)

In responding to me about who I should contact, a friend accidentally included said person on her response. OOPS! Well, since half my concerns were in that one email, I replied to her with the other half of them. I guess if they choose to proceed with it, that may be the end of my involvement. (Boy, one less meeting a month to go to, I could get used to that! )

You're definitely not being unreasonable... I agree with PPs that this is a major ethical concern!

 

[ChrizJen]

Nope, I totally agree that this is something that your organization needs to RUN away from!!! You're not "fundraising" if your organization has to pay a startup fee and an annual fee!!

I've heard of reps for MLM companies (Like Pampered Chef or PartyLite) running a fundraiser through their own MLM business, and just giving any "profits" back to the organization instead of pocketing them. That to me would be OK. That way the rep running the fundraiser isn't making a profit. But to pimp your business out and mask it as a fundraising opportunity is plain wrong in my opinion!! That ON TOP of asking the organization to fork out money up front?!?!? NO WAY!!!
And as others have said, I would resign from the organization if they went forward with this hairbrained idea!!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Nope, I totally agree that this is something that your organization needs to RUN away from!!! You're not "fundraising" if your organization has to pay a startup fee and an annual fee!!

I've heard of reps for MLM companies (Like Pampered Chef or PartyLite) running a fundraiser through their own MLM business, and just giving any "profits" back to the organization instead of pocketing them. That to me would be OK. That way the rep running the fundraiser isn't making a profit. But to pimp your business out and mask it as a fundraising opportunity is plain wrong in my opinion!! That ON TOP of asking the organization to fork out money up front?!?!? NO WAY!!!
And as others have said, I would resign from the organization if they went forward with this hairbrained idea!!

Yes because they are doing a charity in the hopes that people get their name and then they make money off a doing the "charity work" from a referral.

That is how it is supposed to be done.

What these women are proposing crosses the boundary line of ethics for school charity work.

To give these women money up front is wrong on so many levels....