WWYD? Suggest new ideas for PTA?

[UMTerp]

What really frosts me is that my kids' public school actually has a school wide assembly to get the kids hyped up about selling overpriced crap in exchange for a plastic trinket. My dds were all upset yesterday when I had to explain to them that no, the Sally Foster people could not use them as an unpaid sales force.

We get notes home from the school about the importance of not scheduling doctor's appointments during school hours because teaching time is so precious. I guess it's not really all that precious if we can have Sally Foster marketing assemblies during school hours.

Boy, isn't that the truth! I agree 100%

Our school is having a 5K run this year as a fundraiser. We will see how it goes. I "sponsored" my own child and did not ask anyone else for donations.

UMTerp

 

[mickeyboat]

I think our fall fundraiser will be a fall bulb sale - but I think the bulbs will be purchased and planted in a garden at the school. I can't remember all the details, but it seemed like a good program. I also think the organizer uses her "profits" as a donation to a charity of the school's choice.

Denae

 

[BuffettFan]

I've served as PTA president 3 times.
I said when I was elected that the first thing I would do is get rid of the "wrapping paper" sales. But here's a sad truth that I learned: The elementary school they went to had 900 kids. They would do appox. $50,000 in sales from "wrapping paper", $25,000 of which stayed at the school. One year they tried the "No Fuss Fundraiser" (Just write a check if you want) and the same school raised only $4,500. Quite a difference.

They're in middle school now. The PTA there has tried "Fun Runs" and "No Fuss", and they make about $5,000 for each.....No where near what the elemenary school (on the same campus) does. Of course, the middle school has less "events" to fund....and they also have booster clubs for all sports, chorus, band etc. So each dept raises money for itself, and the PTA isn't the "central organization" like it is in elementary school.

As smaller scale fundraisers, we did things like a Family Bingo Night, Carnival, Spring Flower sale.....

Good luck this year !!

 

[simpilotswife]

Just wanted to say that I don't believe that there are any restrictions on PTA for asking for money directly. Any restrictions that may be experienced by units may be being imposed by school district policy (which should not be happening since PTA is a separate entity from the school or school district).

For anyone who wants to ask people directly for donations please sure to stress to your members that ALL of their contribution is tax-deductible as opposed to a fundraiser.

I am president of our local Special Ed PTA and we are going to try out nice refrigerator magnet picture frames as a fundraiser. We are hoping to do well with it since no one else in the district does this. We are also planning a fundraiser night at the local comedy club.

 

[grlpwrd]

Grlpwrd- You are so crazy, but I dig that about you! I know most of the ones there, but I truly am tired of the junk that is over priced and you can only use once.


Except I do love the Krispy Kremes fundraiser

Thanks to everyone for their ideas and how I should go about it.

Please check your email later tonight....like 11pm lol. I have a back to school party coming up.

 

[CPM]

Just wanted to say that I don't believe that there are any restrictions on PTA for asking for money directly. Any restrictions that may be experienced by units may be being imposed by school district policy (which should not be happening since PTA is a separate entity from the school or school district).

.

Correct, that is why I said it was in our school district. And, do you really want to make waves with administrators in the school?

Like Buffett fan said, even though it stiks to have those wrapping paper fundraisers, it's hard to beat the profit with little or no effort on the PTA's part. Matter of passing out booklets and collecting money.

 

[aprilgail2]

Fundraising ideas:

Krispy Kremes(info on their site)

I wish we could do Krispy Kemes but no way would they let us do that. We can't even do the candy bar selling ones. Our school is one of 3 in NYS that is into this healthy living thing (our district was featured on Rachael Rays show) so they don't let them sell unhealthy things.

 

[simpilotswife]

Like Buffett fan said, even though it stiks to have those wrapping paper fundraisers, it's hard to beat the profit with little or no effort on the PTA's part. Matter of passing out booklets and collecting money.

Unfortunately here the wrapping paper fundraisers have done very poorly in the last couple of years which is why we are switching to something else.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I think many parents (myself included) would much rather have the option of just writing a check to the school PTA instead of doing fund raising.

This year our school is doing this. It is also tax deductible.

They are still doing wrapping paper however....so I guess we will see how it goes.

They also have a "Gold Dust Gala", which is a fancy-schmancy party/dance for adults, that I don't go to. It is pretty expensive.

They also do raffle baskets and each class "makes" something cool to auction off at the Gala.

My old school did "Trivia Night" and it was VERY FUN but required a TON of work and Staff, planning, etc....It did rake in 30,000+ but wowee was it work!
They did dollar raffles (that raked in moola!), gift basket raffles, silent auctions, etc...alot of stuff.