Of course, no matter what you do, there will always be those who complain. We have not done a fundraiser at all this year (yet!). We do a Christmas Carnival and usually raise a couple thousand. This year we decided to do a little extra work and hope to make a lot more money. The event is still a few weeks away.
With that said, our teachers are already complaining that we have asked too much. We have asked each class to donate a basket for our silent auction and for each class to sponsor a game. By sponsor we just mean provide the volunteer to run the game. We are drastically increasing the number of games, etc at the carnival and really need teachers (who know their parents better than anyone else) to help out with this. We are also working alongside our City Chamber of Commerce in their annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremonies. They have a truck brought in that sprays "snow" (really crushed ice, we live in South East Texas and rarely see real snow) for the kids. They have tried to make their event more family-friendly for more of the day, and we are the solution to that.
Let me tell you that in the past ALL of the proceeds from the carnival were divided among the teachers to use in their classes as they determined. But does that stop the complaining? No! We only hear the negative comments from the teachers and not from the parents. It is so frustrating that the teachers, who should see the benefits of PTO, are usually the ones who complain the loudest.
At least our principal is on our side and she helps to get the teachers lined up. I'm sure there are many more groups out there who run into the same problems. How do you combat this?
If you REALLY need to have two fundraisers so close together, the best way is by having them not connected. For example, do a catalog type fundraiser and then something that wouldn't be seen as a direct request for cash from parents.
We start our school year out with a craft show where we make money from renting spaces, lunch, kid's make and take crafts and raffles. It's the community as a whole that is "giving" us the money.
Another idea we use is that when we have our Donuts with Dads in January,using Krispy Kremes, we send home fliers asking families if they would like to order some also. The closest Krispy Kreme to us is over 200 miles away and everyone hears about how fantabulous they are and we are offering them an inexpensive way to try them out.lol The flier subtlety suggests that IF they would like to let their friends and relatives in on the deal, we'll take their orders also.
We pay $3 a dozen and sell for $6 and even with all the donuts we used for Donuts with Dads and put in the staff lounges at two schools, we still made almost $900.
Our school board has a policy that students can only be "used" twice a year for fundraising and the school has a catalog sale in the fall and we sell mags in the spring, so this is a good way to still fundraise and not hit parents up directly for money.
I would think that 2 fundraisers back to back would get on my nerves as a parent. I know that starting with no money is hard, but instead of doing a lot of big fundraisers you may want to try doing a few that are only a buck or two. That way it doesn't seem like it is always a big thing. Good luck getting started and I do agree that if you are asking for money you need to tell them what you plan to do with it. That way it doesn't feel like it is going into a great unknown.
TwoKids, you are having fundraisers but are you telling parents and students what they are raising money for? Have you done a no or low cost family event that isn't a fundraiser to show your support and thanks? These things tend to help when trying to get a bunch of support in a short time. One other thing, 2 fundraisers is seen as too much at our school and even though you are new, it may be too much for yours too. You may want to survey parents to see what they think. I know you are trying to do good, but you may be doing more damage than good by turning people off. It's a fine line we all walk everyday, but keep up the good work and enthusiasm because that's all most of us have.
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
Unfortunately, most parents won't distinquish between PTO and other "fundraisers". I am sure all they know is that they have had to shell out money 4 times in a relatively short period of time and teachers have had to collect four times.
I think a lot of parents have this problem. I know that one of the first things that new parents to our school comment on is the fact we only have one PTO fundraiser. They love that.
However, that doesn't mean we are not hit up for other things. Relay for Life, Jump Rope for Heart, Christmas Food Drive, and such as well as the things the school and booster clubs are selling.
I am on a PTO for a brand new school so we started with no money. We have done two fundraisers to raise money however they were done back to back. Only because the PTO was started late (due to being a new school) and we wanted the merchandise back by Christmas. Now parents and Teachers are complaining that we are asking too much!
The school has done things that also involve money, like school pictures and a releif fund for the Hurricanes. I am asking myself if these teachers and parents will have a problem when we start spending the money on the school!
I wonder if the problem is with the PTO rather than how much fundraising we are doing? Does anyone else have this problem?
