We run a number of fundraisers a year and know how annoying it can be. What we do is make it abundently clear from the get go that we will be running X number of fundraisers this year and that we do not expect people to participate in every one and just ask them to participate in whichever fundraisers suit them best. Let's face it some people may be more interested in buying cookie dough then buying candles or vice versa. Some people may be more interested in buying magazines then buying coupon books. So we offer a variety of things so people can support the fundraisers that suit them best.
Debbiee makes a valid point in that some people do not want to participate in any fundraisers period and that type of person is not going to participate in any fundraiser you have period. Sure it is true if people participated more you would need to do less.
Some schools have been successful going the route of only having one or two big fundraisers that fund them for the year. In those cases the parents are aware that this is it and they need to really support these fundraisers so they can be left alone for the rest of the year. Obviously every school is different and it is really a matter of how it works for your school in your area. If you can get it to work this way then I think it is great and certainly less work on your part throughout the year.
My opinion is that if each student's family could purchase something from the fundraisers, the fundraisers would be much more worthwhile. But, unfortunately, they don't. What I don't understand from the families is that they know that their child is receiving pto funded trips, assemblies, etc. How could you not want to support it? I've actually had a parent say when she sees the fundraisers, she doesn't even look at it - it goes right into the garbage. So, to answer your question, a lot of the pto's have to run more than 2 fundraisers if they want to continue the programs that are given to the students, otherwise, they would have to be eliminated. So who loses? The kids.
Our school has a great PTU but I feel that over the last year or two many parents are becoming overwhelmed and burned out by the volunteering and fundraising efforts that we have for our school. It seems that our PTU is constantly asking our parents to sell this cookie dough or that magazine or to donate this item to the Carnival or that item to the school auction--not to mention volunteering their time too. This doesn't even include the fundraising for our child's after school activties (i.e. Scouts). When relatives and friends see my children they run for the hills because they know my kids are going to ask them to buy something! It's enough to send any parent over the edge.
I would like to know if any parent group out there promotes just one fundraiser for the entire school year. What kind of fundraiser is it? What time of year do you hold it? What are your profits? It would be great if we could focus all of our fundraising and volunteer efforts on one major activity. Is this just a crazy wish or can it actually be accomplished?
