As Tim suggested above, our PTO has had a "fundraiser opt-out" for the last two years. We calculate our spending per student and make that number our suggested amount. Each family gets a receipt with our tax id number. Gift wrap has always been our major fundraiser but with an ethnically diverse population, many families (including mine) have already celebrated their holidays by the time gift wrap is delivered and therefore don't order. We've had a tremendous response to this and so far, it has not affected gift wrap profits. While some families give just $5 or $10 most donate the full amount with a few giving even more.
Questions for you, backhoed: do folks who don't join get to vote at meetings? How much time and energy do you folks spend on your membership drive?
I'm interested, because this has a been a big topic of late at our conferences. I'd say your way (relatively low dues, some benefits of membership) is the most common.
As noted, I find the "no dues" approach best, but I know dues are very common.
Our group has dues and has had it for years. It is only $5.00 per family. According to our bylaws we do charge dues, but dues paying member families get to go to family fun night for free and have voting rights. We have never had a problem with it. I could see a problem if you are charging an exorbitant fee such as $50. We feel $5.00 is pretty nominal and we do not get any complaints.
We offer a pizza party to the class with the highest membership at the conclusion of our membership drive (Novemeber). This is for both our schools.
we have zero dues.Mainly because when we were started in 2001 our principal felt it made a huge statement and to this day I have to say that we have NEVER even mentioned dues. I have to say that this year our fundraiser total went from $26,000 to $47,000.00 Why? I think it is because we have put a very strong push on free family nights(we charge for none-have about five/six a year) Our attendance has doubled at some events, I think we are getting a following so people WANT to support us.We also try to push that if every family buys a couple of items they still help the school. That seems to work. I do know of a neighboring school who up their dues from 4 dollars to ten and their group is struggling so the $50.00 thing seems really high...I myself wouldnt pay it. I am loyal but that seems to send a strange message. If you were elminating all fundraisers it might work but to keep hitting them up I think it might cause some problems. at least at my school it would....
"When you stop learning you stop growing."
Honestly, I'd advocate going the other way and bringing dues down to zero. I'm always struck by the fact that -- for many groups -- getting more parents involved is the number one challenge, but then those same groups put a price tag on belonging.
(I realize that may not be the case at your group.)
I think it's a great message to say something like: "all parents and guardians of the XYZ school are members."
You can make up the $$ in a couple of ways: 1) increased involvement almost always equals more $$ in the long run because connected parents buy more gift wrap (etc.) and attend more functions. 2) you can ask for a voluntary contribution. You might be surprised that you get some $20 and $30 donations along with the folks who choose to give zero.
In my experience, most groups who replace all fundraisers with a donation program go back to the fundraisers in a relatively short period of time, because the donation momentum doesn't keep up. I've some decent results (mixed bag) for first year of such a program but very, very few examples of sustained success with it.
$10 to $50 is a big leap. I wouldn't pay that much. I think perhaps you should look at the type and number of fundraisers that you have been doing and see if perhaps there isn't something that would yield a better percentage and perhaps be more appealing. $50 for your dues is too much!
