Agreeing with several others here, we try to always give plenty of information about what we're going to do with the money we are raising. We used to get quite a bit of complaining about the fundraisers but since we've started trying to really explain what we're doing and why, we get hardly any complaints anymore.
I agree about the reminders, too. A "friendly", non-intrustive, non-guilt producing reminder seems reasonable. We had a parent last year who would put things in the newsletter that were offensive to some (like "not everyone has done his or her part yet, so if you are in this group please take this opportunity to help us out" -- UGH!). This year, we have one person who is responsible for putting all reminders in the newsletter. By having just one person coordinate it, we make sure that there aren't too many reminders and that they are written properly.
All of our fundraisers are for school-wide projects, not for ones that benefit just a few grades.
About the K-8 question--how would you feel if your 8th grade dance committee was allowed to solicit using the lower grades (they're given the fundraising packets/order forms), but the lower grades could only offer the "service" ones like Market Day to the upper grades--in other words you aren't allowed to ask them for a donation basket towards a Silent Auction?
:confused: :confused: :confused:
That just doesn't make sense? 8th Grade wants a dance, 8th grade should pay for it and do their own fundraiser.... but on the other hand if the SCHOOL needs playground, K-8 need to roll-up their sleeves and pitch in!
Hey? Do you have a board marking your fundraising goals? Tends to ease some griping.
10-12?! And that was from the school?! Ouch! THAT is a lot!
One reason I ask this is because we seem to be the target of "too much" fundraising gripes--we're planning 6 total--and this is only for this year (hopefully some grants will come through and our local fundraising for this playground will mercifully end)! One is a school cookbook we're selling throughout the year (or until they're gone), we have a local nursery selling gift certificates through us until the end of the year, Market Day, a Silent Auction, walk-a-thon and a penny drive planned. We had originally wanted to kick off with the walk-a-thon, really make a push to do well there then hopefully not need all the other fundraisers. BUT the PTB felt that wasn't good planning, and has forced us into this arena we're in now.
General consensus seems to be that reminder notices are OK.
About the K-8 question--how would you feel if your 8th grade dance committee was allowed to solicit using the lower grades (they're given the fundraising packets/order forms), but the lower grades could only offer the "service" ones like Market Day to the upper grades--in other words you aren't allowed to ask them for a donation basket towards a Silent Auction?
Our school NOT PTO sent home 10-12 fundrasiers last year. THAT WAS TOO MANY. Optional yes, but come on! That was about two permonth and then you get the individual class ones so in my home with three in school I had 6 fundraisers!
1. I need to know it's okay to sent back the fundraiser.
2. A calendar of Fundraising events was asked for and agreed upon
3. Yes and No regarding too many family activities. Our skate parties are either awsome or not. Hoping our school night out dinners will be popular
4.YES to reminders! I forget, you forget...you bet! BUT if the family has already send back the fundraiser please send the reminder to someone else!
5. We are K-12 and they are always working together. I loved being a teacher's aide as a Junior and Senior also answering the phones in the office was anothe volunteer job that I enjoyed in High school.
Is this another issue you can talk about with your Super?
We do 2 big fundraisers in the fall and spring and then we have 4 skating parties, a Chuck E Cheese night, a chili/bingo night and the school carnival. We also sell tshirts and other school related items. Our computer program does one fundraiser that no one seems to notice and our school does a CiCi's pizza night to raise money directly for it's self. I've noticed as long as everything isn't the same it's not too bad, but some things interest some parents and some things don't so look for something that no one has done before that might be good enough to raise most of your funds in one shot so you aren't working on over kill for them or you. We talked about doing a Krispy Kreme fundraiser next year to help with our playground additions because you can get a lot out of those without a lot of work. Maybe you could also consider a poster telling how much you are trying to raise and why and see if having it right there might inspire people to help get it done.
The irony of commitment is that it’s deeply liberating-in work, in play, in love. The act frees you from the tyranny of your internal critic, from the fear that likes to dress itself up and parade around as rational hesitation. To commit is to remove your head as the barrier to your life. --Anne Morris
We're presently trying to raise money for a handicapped-inclusive playground. This is NO small job. We're not guilting anyone, nor are we using guerilla tactics to get them to participate. We generally put the word out there that we're having an event, please feel free to come by and support us as we try to raise these funds. We try to keep our sales etcetera to things we think everyone comes out a winner--Market Day, cartridge recycling, a local nursery offered 20% of every gift certificate we sell for them, we did a portrait day once--that sort of thing. We also have done a penny drive.
I ask because, among other issues, we'd like to have a more visible presence--NOT obtrusive--but visible. We know people are busy, want to support us, but just forget sometimes that something is going on. I'm feeling resentful that we're being treated by the principal and vice principal as if we're outside vendors profiteering on all our work. We're all parents in school, and we all get the same flyers and fundraisers. Actually--I stand corrected--the upper grades have been allowed to hand out their fundraisers to our lower-grade children for the parents to solicit, yet we were not allowed to hand out a flyer asking for donations to a silent auction to the upper grades.
I'm not a self-defeatist. I realize being obnoxious and in the faces of potential supporters is NOT going to win us any support. I try to be as fun and informative as I can in our flyers, yet can never seem to make the powers that be happy.
