School fundraisers, they don't stop do they?

[Martivir]

When DS's school said they did a couple of fundraisers a year I figured no problem. So far we have had a school shirt sale, a catalog full of oddly reasonably priced stuff, a fall fair and now an entertainment book sale. The fall fair is tonight and we are not going. How many people does the school think I know to sell crap to? I didn't do the shirt sale and I refuse to do the entertainment book sale. Seems like once one ends the PTA sends something else home. Kid's been in school less than 2 months and I'm already sick of these fundraisers. 

[Deleted]

I feel your pain.
I have three children, three times three a year fundraisers. PLUS two are in sports which also require fund raisers. Its been going on for years now and I am done. I would rather write a check for the full amount than do these ridiculous cookie / chocolate / mandarin oranges/ poinsettias sales. And lets not kid ourselves, it all falls on the parents not the kids.

Just say no, my family, friends and co-workers can rest at ease. lol

[Peace Of Mind]

No, they don't nor does neighbors and friends wanting our money for their kid's (fill in the blank) cause or trips to Europe.  Seriously?  WE don't go on these trips and WE don't get the child tax deductions that you do.  YOUR kids are using the schools, buses, etc.  but YOU get the tax break.  We don't. 

Would that be rude to say that next time instead of just ignoring their emails or requests? 

ETA:  I don't begrudge paying the taxes for education type things - but just the requests for more, more, more. 

[Deleted]

Oct 18, 2013 13:51:35 GMT -5 Peace Of Mind said:

No, they don't nor does neighbors and friends wanting our money for their kid's (fill in the blank) cause or trips to Europe.  Seriously?  WE don't go on these trips and WE don't get the child tax deductions that you do.  YOUR kids are using the schools, buses, etc.  but YOU get the tax break.  We don't. 

Would that be rude to say that next time instead of just ignoring their emails or requests? 

Go for it. Loosen up that filter! lol

[Abby Normal]

School fundraisers can be miserable because people always hit up their close friends and family.  Any kid who comes to my door, I generally will buy. I figure if they are brave enough, and hardworking enough to go door to door- I can spare a couple bucks.

[Peace Of Mind]

Oct 18, 2013 13:52:13 GMT -5 @joey said:

Oct 18, 2013 13:51:35 GMT -5 Peace Of Mind said:

No, they don't nor does neighbors and friends wanting our money for their kid's (fill in the blank) cause or trips to Europe.  Seriously?  WE don't go on these trips and WE don't get the child tax deductions that you do.  YOUR kids are using the schools, buses, etc.  but YOU get the tax break.  We don't. 

Would that be rude to say that next time instead of just ignoring their emails or requests? 

Go for it. Loosen up that filter! lol

Don't encourage me!  My filter already has huge holes in it. 

[8 Bit WWBG]

...:::"And lets not kid ourselves, it all falls on the parents not the kids.":::...

How young are we talking here?  I'm guessing all ages.  I think older kids should totally have to deal with the hassle and get the life experience of having to try and hock tired crap to people who are burned from being asked over and over.

On the other hand, when 6 year olds are coming home expected to do this, yeah I suppose they know most parents will just write checks.

[Chocolate Lover]

My teenager just throws them in the trash. He already knows no one is going to buy that crap.

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

We were being handed fundraising packets by our daycare for awhile.  My kid just turned three!  So far none this year ::knock on wood::

MIL tried to nag us into purchasing something from DH's nephew and I said no.  Like 60 cents of that goes back to the school, all I'm doing is lining the pockets of these fundraiser companies.   If you asked me to directly donate I might throw in $20 but I'm not paying $20 for overpriced crap and have the school get $0.60 while the company pockets the other $14.40.

[milee]

Sometimes the pendulum swings back.  A few weeks ago, I was kvetching about the over-the-top parent group at our school and the crazy, elaborate $300 fundraiser.  Apparently, I wasn't the only one that was unhappy.  The invitation to this year's fundraising gala just arrived and they dialed it back to $100 a ticket.  Not exactly cheap, but not as crazy, either.

[jeffreymo]

I have a co-worker that has been with us for 4 months and I bet she's already had 10 different school/sport fundraisers for her 2 kids.  She has 3-4 going on at any given time.  I don't think they got the memo that this sort of thing is somewhat "out of style" for the workplace.  I thought nowadays most parents/grandparents/aunts/uncles helped the kid meet the minimum objective and that was it. 

Our kids daycare does not have them luckily.  They have a book fair where all the kids guilt their parents into buying something, but I think the school is rewarded in books instead of cash.

[Martivir]

It is all on us as parents. DS is 4.  Everything comes home with a note not to sell door to door. I'm lucky that MIL's work allows them to put the stuff in the break room with a sign. That's how he got most of the sales. I can't remember doing near as many when I was in school. We had the overpriced wrapping paper and I think candy. Maybe a few events which I actually don't mind as much. At least you get an afternoon of something to do. 

And POM, go for it. Add another hole to that filter.

[Happy prose]

I hated them. I didn't mind the $1 candy bars because i could just leave the box on a table at work with an envelope. The catalogs were crazy expensive. I wouldn't even ask the grandparents to buy that stuff. You learn quickly though...after the first few I learned to just throw them away. In my school, the pta woman were fat assed women that never worked, so they had all day to come up with that happy crap. Don't miss that part of school at all.

[Formerly SK]

I have two kids - I've never asked anyone to buy crap.  Not even family.  We give as parents and that is it.

As the PTO treasurer for my DD's school I thought I'd throw it out there that all these things may not in fact be fundraisers.  For example, we sold school shirts recently but we did it as a "school spirit" thing.  The PTO made $1/shirt on it...and we probably sold 30 shirts.  Totally not worth the volunteer hours put into it except some people like to own school shirts so we offer them once/year.  Things like bingo night or carnivals etc. may not be fundraisers/money makers but just fun events held at the school.  So a school may actually only have two fundraisers because only two things actually make any money, but from an outsider's perspective it seems like they are constantly having to shell out money.  Don't feel that way - it's OK to say no. 

[alabamagal]

They stop in college.  Of course that is when you have to pay big bucks!

Actually, the university my two boys go to did call and ask for money from parents toward their "scholarship" fund.  No.  My kids are on academic scholarship and we are barely making ends meet.  Ask them when they graduate and hopefully have good jobs.

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

It frustrates me as a parent and a school administrator. 
I don't have time for it as a parent, plus I hate my kids asking people for money.
ive been trying to out the ka bash on it as much as I can,but I failed this week. We ended up with two different shirt sales. I really do offer my sincerest apologies. 

[toomuchreality]

I know what you mean.

But...
The best wrapping paper I've ever had, came from a school fundraiser. I really liked the print (printed on both sides) and the quality. Initially, I was shocked by the price. But I got over that quick, when it came. There was a ton on the roll, and it was a good width too. I've always wished I could get more.  (still do!)

The other day, I wanted one of those candy bars, something fierce. I heard my neighbor's grand-daughter was selling them for school. Perfect! I thought. When I called my neighbor to see if I could buy one, she said they weren't selling them any more. It was over. BUMMER! 

Not everyone hates everything.  I like having the opportunity/choice.

[GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl]

Oct 19, 2013 5:35:16 GMT -5 toomuchreality said:

I know what you mean.

But...
The best wrapping paper I've ever had, came from a school fundraiser. I really liked the print (printed on both sides) and the quality. Initially, I was shocked by the price. But I got over that quick, when it came. There was a ton on the roll, and it was a good width too. I've always wished I could get more.  (still do!)

The other day, I wanted one of those candy bars, something fierce. I heard my neighbor's grand-daughter was selling them for school. Perfect! I thought. When I called my neighbor to see if I could buy one, she said they weren't selling them any more. It was over. BUMMER! 

Not everyone hates everything.  I like having the opportunity/choice.

Oh, TMR, dear friend.  What is your address?  I'll send my kiddos to your door pronto.  They'll take checks but prefer cash.  Lots of cash.  

[tloonya]

OK, you shouldn't do fundraising, send a check for a few dollars made to school. Be understanding. Schools need money to benefit YOUR offspring!!! Or do you want school to become paid privilege

[giramomma]

By November, our school will have had 4 fundraisers, and that's not all of them. I know there's at least one more this spring.

We also have year-round fundraisers: Script, Box Tops, Cambells soup labels, Amazon, and Target.

We pick and choose, based on usefulness, ease and cost.  We never ask anyone else to buy anything.

[saveinla]

TMR,

I think you are talking about the Innisbrook wrapping paper. They are very expensive, but worth it. They also sell the Helen Grace chocolates which are some of the best ever. I had people in my office who would keep on asking me for both the wrapping paper and chocolate every year since I had brought some to the office as gifts.

I participated in many fund raisers when my son was in band, but did not ask anyone to buy from me. I only bought what I would use (like reusable bags in pretty patterns) or could give as gifts.

[happyscooter]

We participated in the gift wrap fundraiser for a few years while our kids were in elem school.  Just long enough for them to see that it wasn't worth asking people to buy the stuff just for them to get a small bounce ball.  Then we stopped.  I think one fundraiser in jr high and that was candy.   What they were selling in high school wasn't something that we bought and our kids weren't interested in hawking it either.  (Think poinsettias that you could get at Walmart that would live for 2 weeks $10-school was selling for $25-30 from a greenhouse and we made a few dollars per plant.)

Senior year of older son, the PTA asked for a flat donation.  $25, 50 or & 75.  Your name went into a page in the annual, the PTA got 100% and the yearbook sold a page.  Win, win for everyone.  And when someone complained about the amount, I could honestly say that their child benefitted from everything the PTA did.  Honor roll treats, perfect attendance treats, baccalaureate speaker, grad rehearsal breakfast, a portion went to the prom committee (kept the ticket prices down), etc...  I don't know who thought of the idea but it was a definite HIT!

[MarleyKeezy78]

Happyscooter, that is awesome! I hope when DS starts school we can do something like this because I don't want to sell crap, but I will happily donate cash 

[Deleted]

As a former PTA ways and means chairperson, it sounds great in theory to just ask for cash, that so many people would do that.  I did that for 2 years and had exactly 2 parents (out of a school of 500 students) send in a check.  The most successful fundraiser was yankee candle - the school made thousands upon thousands of dollars.  Also, as someone else said, not everything is a fundraiser.  For every fundraiser the PTA does, they have to have 2 family events.  So while we did fall festival, movie night, etc., we just hoped to break even (and let me tell you, the fall festival cost a fortune).  So if you don't like all the fundraisers, join the PTA and come up with some alternate ideas and see how they work.

[happyscooter]

They had a page in the yearbook that had bronze, silver, and gold patrons.  1 page in the yearbook costs $100 or $150, can't remember.  So if you had 20 people donate $25, (more people donated the larger sums) you made $500-100=$400 profit. 

Since elem schools don't have yearbooks, oh wait they do but no ads, why not put it in the PTA newsletter?

[happyscooter]

oh and it was tax deductible.  I knew there was something else I was missing.

[Shooby]

  FYI, if your child is in a school sponsored event and you are selling things via the Booster club, the Booster club has NO authority over you your child and cannot influence the coach or school regarding your child.  Your child cannot be held out from playing because you don't sell stuff that the Booster club "orders" you to do.  They are purely voluntary entities and if you WANT to participate in booster club activities, you can, but you do not have too nor are you compelled too nor do they have any say over your child's participation.

[suesinfl]

Thank goodness my kids in MS and HS are not so pressured to participate in fundraisers. But…….The cost of playing sports is another story. So far I’ve paid $50 participation fee, $650 for uniforms, $ for travel/meal for away games, admission to the games for spectators. The team also sold ads for the program and that money could be used of offset the cost of the uniforms, which is great if you can convince a business to pay the $ 75 - $300 per ad/banner. They also sold team spirit shirts and candy bars. Now we are on to districts, regionals and then state and I have no idea what those expenses will be. DS will be playing basketball in November, but thankfully it is at the middle school level, so I don’t expect it to be too expensive.

Don’t forget clubs and an organization, DS is selling popcorn and Christmas wreaths now for boy scouts. Needless to say, I don’t approach neighbors, coworkers or family. The get a small token and that is that. I don’t believe on setting a dollar amount for the kids to earn. If they do, great, if they don’t, oh well. I end up paying their costs either way, so I would rather not bother others with the stupid junk that is being peddled.

[suesinfl]

Oct 20, 2013 8:19:59 GMT -5 Shooby said:

  FYI, if your child is in a school sponsored event and you are selling things via the Booster club, the Booster club has NO authority over you your child and cannot influence the coach or school regarding your child.  Your child cannot be held out from playing because you don't sell stuff that the Booster club "orders" you to do.  They are purely voluntary entities and if you WANT to participate in booster club activities, you can, but you do not have too nor are you compelled too nor do they have any say over your child's participation.

Really? Come down south and you will see a difference. They can and will hold your child back, but will not say exactly why. But trust me they do.

Money talks. A kid I know does not have the talent needed to play a certain sport, but parents are buying new equipment, giving money to the booster club, etc. Guess who is playing over the kids that have the talent, but not the financial resources? The other team members are having to work twice as hard to cover this kid and everyone is getting fed up with the shenanigans.

[Shooby]

  In my district, booster clubs are separate from the schools.  They are distinct entities and have their own tax ID numbers and so forth.  They don't have control over the kids' schedules, coaches, playing time, etc.  It is SUPPOSED to be simply a volunteer organization of enthusiastic parents who like to do these kinds of things to enhance the kids experience.  And, i AGREE, these things have gotten out of control and have overstepped their boundaries.  Parents need to stand up and learn to just say NO.  And, one other point, you need to make your club ACCOUNTABLE for all of this money.  Some of them have tens of thousands of dollars and where is it all going?