Its not so bad now (I'm 40) but when I was a kid-school, basketball (Indiana), church, boy scouts, soccer, YMCA fundraisng and thats only what I can remember- lots arent against it- mainly because its a neccessary evil (a means to an end) but too much can be enough for a family with 5 kids (3 or more in school) plus relatives and others...
Its like a never ending cycle- I think would clear up some mis conceptions (most dont see it as begging but inundation) Chris D.- and welcome to the board [img]smile.gif[/img]
<font size=""1""><font color="#"black"">Liberalism is not an affilation its a curable disease. </font></font><br /><br><font color="#"gray"">~Wisdom of Shawnshuefus</font><br /><br><font color="#"blue""><font size=""1"">The punishment which the wise suffer, who refuse to take part in government, is...
I find it a bit ridiculous that people have problems with fundraising.
Many groups outside of schools do fundraising: libraries, clubs, sports teams, and so on.
Fundraising is not begging.
Begging carries with it the general connotation of it being done out of selfish desire, for personal gain, while FUNDRAISING is asking someone to donate to a cause you believe in, so that it could be used to start or benefit a group that DOES something with it.
Lainey ... I am part of a new PTO board that is taking over from the board that built a new playground at our school. They raised over $200,000! They are a tough act to follow! I think that everyone gets behind a playground fundraising effort, because it is a community resource as well as emotionally appealing. I wanted to mention that there was a lot of local corporate support, so find out who knows who in the local business community, or approach the local chamber of commerce. Also, they did a very successful "buy a brick" program. $40 a brick. Good luck!
Thanks all for your comments. We do have a clear purpose for the fundraiser (new playground equipment for a REALLY run-down playground) and the PTO funds field trips and pretty much everything else that the school needs. Guess I just needed a pep talk...was feeling like the evil greedy new president or something.
I'm also a new president and have the task of getting fundraising going when it was really avoided in the past. Our school has a high number of low income families and there seems to be resistence to fundraising because not everyone can afford it. I tend to say that those who can, will spend the money and those who can't help in other ways....like volunteering their time etc. We have just had amazing success with a Halloween festival and raised over a $1000...unheard of at our school....but the thing that seemed to work best was telling the parents what we would do with the money. So some of the funds were for a holiday assembly, and some are going to recess & sport equipment. Those things will happen very soon so parents can see an immediate result for their efforts & $$.
Hang in there....once people see what you can do, they'll support the fundraising....send a questionnaire home to get people to rate things they would support in order of importance. Then you can't be accused of choosing something only "you" like.
