Rant/Question About School Fundraising

Just send the book back. I don't get what the big deal is. How they went about it is pretty standard. And yes, this is just the tip of the fundraising iceberg.

The easiest way to send fundraiser stuff home is through the kids' book bags. Can you go to the office and opt out of all fundraisers? Yes, this is the tip of the iceberg!

Extremely typical. This is the tactics they use promising kids special prizes and pizza parties. Having kids in the school system, I would think you would be aware of this by now. The mom probably had very little to do with the techniques of getting the kids to sell these books. I taught my kids right from the beginning it comes home and straight into the garbage can. By 3rd grade, they know just to throw it in the trash at school.

I also I'm NOT a PTA hater. I have been involved with all the various parent groups and understand the need for fundraising. I just hate the way they go about it, I hate all the useless junk, so I say NO.

You really need to take a deep breath and get over this, and go to a PTA meeting so that you understand what the PTA actually does with your money.

The books are not aggressive, and it's really not the PTA's fault that your son has an unusual issue with this. If you want him to be able to play with the book, donate the $25 and you can keep it. If you don't want the book, send it back. It's that simple.

The fundraising coupon books are enormously popular and effective. The school typically receives 50% of the money and you get a book that usually pays for itself in just a few coupons. My book this year had several $5 off $50 grocery store coupons and I've used them all already. I will definitely get my money's worth and more as I do holiday shopping this year. People like the books because they don't feel obligated to buy (or encourage other people to buy) things they don't want or need.

Your school's website probably has the PTA budget posted somewhere so you can see where the money goes. In my school (I'm the treasurer), here are some highlights:
- $10,000 to offset the costs of field trips (plus paying the entire costs for students on the free or reduced lunch program if needed)
- $15,000 in enrichment programs that we bring to the school
- $5,000 in field day
- $1,000 in family activity nights (movies, skating, ice cream social)
- $1,000 in Citizen of the Month t-shirts and snacks
- $2,000 to bus an entire grade to support classmates in the Special Olympics
- $500 in playground equipment such as jump ropes and balls

Over the years, the PTAs I've been involved with have purchased iPads for classrooms, renovated a library, built a school garden, installed playground equipment and have funded other large improvement projects.

Most of the experiences that your son will really enjoy and remember about school are paid for by the PTA. Your taxes don't pay for that cool animal guy to come in and bring reptiles into school, or an author to come in and give a seminar on writing. Your taxes don't pay for field day, or a teacher appreciation lunch, or the extra-curricular math club.

Please, before you get all riled up understand that the PTA is made up of VOLUNTEERS who are trying raise money to fund good programs that will benefit YOUR CHILD. If you can't or don't want to participate in a fund raiser, simply send the product back and move on with your life. Don't harass or complain to the people running things. If you have a better idea, participate - show up to a meeting, come up with and idea and run with it.

I think I've responded several times on here about the importance of fundraisers and where I stand on them. A lot of work goes into them as well from the planners/organizers, some of whom are staff members getting no extra pay, and others who are straight up parent volunteers just trying to help the school. You have the easy part: Say yes, write a check, say no and do nothing. Other people have the hard part of organizing, keeping track or sales, rewarding kids with incentives, working with the company etc etc etc. I would definitely NOT send a disapproving email to these hardworking people. Just send the book back.

This next part might come off a little harshly but I need to put it straightforwardly. The problem here is not the type of fundraiser. The problem is that your child is atypical. And that is not the fundraising team's fault, responsibility, or obligation. Don't take it out on them. I think your instinct is right not to ruffle feathers with the other mom.

That would be annoying...but it's not that big of a deal. I'm actually on our PTO...the fundraisers we do are a fun run, pizza night, schoolstore, a school carnival, and the scholastic book fair. We don't have the kids sell stuff. But every x number of years the PTO evolves to have totally different people and I'm sure things change. So...every PTO/PTA is different and every year can be different. Don't be annoyed at your PTA...they are really just doing their best and trying to help the school. Someone thought that coupon book would be a good idea.

Yes this is just the tip of the iceberg. School, sports, scouts, visual/performing arts programs, all these thing have to be funded by SOMEBODY. They are not "using" your kids they are trying to provide for them. I'm sorry you were annoyed. Perhaps since your son has special needs you can talk to his teacher and see if she can intercept these things before they come home but honestly you will be asked time and again for money and/or time to help. Just give/do what you can or want to and ignore the rest.

We never got much head's up what the fundraiser would be, only that there would be one. Our school went to direct funding. If they did a fundraiser every month, I would probably go insane. I do not think the book was intended to cause problems. Coupon books are pretty common. Just put it up til you send it back if you have no intention of doing this fundraiser. I would not consider this "aggressive" fundraising.

This is a good learning experience for your child. Take the time this time, Just because the school sent it home, does not mean you all are going to purchase it or sell it. Heck our daughter learned this also. We just did ot have the money to buy all of that stuff.

I understand he has an IEP and you feel like it is harder for him, but if you want him in a school with all sorts of children, you will be dealing with a lot of things that he may need to have explained to him by you.

You are the mom, who better to explain these things to him?

FYI, if you do not understand why your school has to have fundraisers, go to campus meetings. Here where we live our state has been cutting school funding for years.. And we have more and more children that need special programs. Our schools want to be the best, but the funding is lacking, so it is up to us to do our best to help.

One thing being stationed overseas has shown me is how much easier it can be if the school gets creative with fundraisers. Sales really doesn't work because all the kids on base go to school together and mostly live in the same communities so we can't sell to each other and we are across an ocean from home so we can't sell to our family. Coupon books don't work because there's no Applebee's and the communities around the base are more interested in helping raise money for THEIR schools.

What might help is if you make friends with a mom who is in the PTA and offer suggestions. Here are some things our schools have done.

1. Every month at the elementary school there is a family movie night. You bring the kids and camp chairs, bean bags, or blankets and sleeping bags and you can bring snacks. They show a movie on the overhead projector and big screen in the auditorium. Going to the movie is absolutely free but the PTA sells hotdogs, popcorn, drinks, chips and candy.

2. Every month the middle school has a dance that they sell tickets to for $5 in advance or $7 at the door. That money pays for a DJ with the extra going to PTA along with sales from the above mentioned snacks.

3. Halloween pumpkin decoration contest. $5 entry with rewards of gift certificates to base attractions for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place.

4. Same with Gingerbread houses for Christmas.

5. Recycling. There is a company here that recycles used clothes. The PTA accepts donations for a month and then turns them in. Last year they made $1600. In the US it could be aluminum or something.

6. The fall and spring carnivals.

7. Valentine and Halloween sucker sales.

8 The elementary school had "Glow Grams", they bought the cheap glow bracelets (you could get them at the dollar tree there) and sold them with a little note to be delivered on the day of Halloween.

Just offer other ideas that work better.

Please note that schools are very underfunded today. Please note, as well, that schools have a legal obligation to teach each and every student who walks through the door. It sounds like your children's school is doing just that-and your response is to berate the PTA!! Please try to understand that if you want your school to have all the necessities for education today-and you have four children who will be at this school- then, yes, parents are going to have to help out a little more. BTW, these coupon books can be great. My church sold one and I save a bundle. One more suggestion-if you don't want to give money, why don't you consider volunteering for the PTA?

You have a long road ahead of fundraisers so you might consider relaxing a bit. This is what schools do. They are not trying to manipulate you or use your kids. They are trying to raise money for things that YOUR kid will benefit from. Can you just hold on to the book over the weekend then take it in yourself Monday so your child has nothing more to do with it? This is going to happen again at some point so you might think about how you will handle this in the future so it doesn't get you so worked up.

We have similar things and the schools need the funds so I am never annoyed. If you have a child on an IEP which costs the school extra money and 3 other children who will be entering the public school system, I'm sure you are aware of the costs of educating your family. I'm surprised you are this annoyed about $25. The schools typically need to be a little aggressive because the money is needed as other public funds are cut. PTA members are not raising money for themselves. They are working for all the children and could likely having paying jobs instead of donating their time like this. Coming to your house and asking for money and refusing to leave until you give them a check might be viewed as aggressive. Not sure how a little book sent home is. There is a town near me where PTA members do go to the homes and basically demand a check for $5000. It's a very wealthy town. But the schools are great...

I would imagine that many school PTAs are actually much more aggressive than this. The fundraisers are super annoying, and yes, I vent to my husband and friends when the kids come home with yet another fundraising packet. The truth is that schools just do not have enough funds to operate the way they need to. Our elementary principal sent out a letter that basically broke down what the government gives them for field trips, what it costs to use a bus for a field trip, how many buses they need, etc. It was very eye opening... without fundraising, it would basically make it so that 1 grade was able to go on 1 field trip if using a bus.

I do get very annoyed with the fundraising presentations where they pull all the kids into the auditorium and promise them a prize if they sell x amount. Our school will do all sorts of rewards such as the principal wearing a clown suit, or the kids get to throw a pie at their teacher, and of course the kids very much want these rewards. I feel really guilty when we cannot participate. However, you are helping as you can already, and that is fantastic. Don't feel bad about just writing a check out to the PTA for what you can contribute.

BTW we just received a newsletter from the school yesterday and it broke down all the fundraisers for the year, they literally have at least 1 fundraising activity going on each month. At least not all of them are "selling" ones. We get about 2-3 of those per year. So get used to it! It's just how it is!

Your kids will continue to bring home fund raisers that you know nothing about if you don't go to the PTA meetings. That's just how they are done.

If you don't want them send them back. Other kids will be glad to sell them. Our kids didn't sell many of them and we always sent the rest back.

We have even bought the cards that have multiple business names on them and if you show the card when you go to that business you get a discount. The cards are only $5 but we always forget to use them.

Fundraisers are important. I prefer the ones where they have a fall carnival or something. Then we can all go, eat, play games, have fun, and spend a little cash that goes to a good cause.

How else would they get the fundraising packet/book to you? I have never had a fundraising event where they didn't send the info home with my child, ever. Yes, we've had fundraisers where the actual items came home and if we didn't want them we returned them. Just wait till they give out monkey keychains if you sell so many, or a limo ride!! At least it was for something useful, not the dreaded magazine/gift wrap fundraiser.

This is that way things are done these days in many schools. We go to a charter, they just outright ask for money. They have fund drives where they set up in front of the school and you aren't getting past them with out the eyeball. They ask kids to bring their piggy bank money. The thing is they need it to offer an awesome education to my kids.

Why not check out the coupon book? I've bought those over the years and they have always been worthwhile, I save in the long run and the charity gets some cash.

This is going to continue, it's not the schools fault your boy was confused. Seems like a fairly small thing to get all worked up about. While annoying, school fundraising is ultimately serving the best interest of your child.

$25 is nothing. Try being forced to sell $200 of anything.

Your annoyance is justified however, don't act on this inconvenience.

The school is already accommodating your child with the IEP. They still have the rest of the school to think about as well, and probably could use the extra funds.

The school sent 2 books home with my daughter. I sent two books back to school. No big deal. If your son has a hard time with you saying no, explain to him how your family has $25 to spend... Does he want to buy the book or go get a new game at the toy store or a pack of gum at the food store? He will most likely act in his own self interest.😊

I understand your frustration. My 3rd grader had the opportunity to sell boxes of candy and the PTA set up a big assembly to light a fire under the kids. She was stoked-1st place wins a trip to a waterpark! I explained that I can not sell because I don't work out of the home like other parents, and that I wouldnt want to pay for the candy her siblings would sneak in and eat etc. My elementary school kids go to three separate schools now. The kindergartners school sent home a fundraiser free year proposal. If every family donated what they could(suggested amount was 25) there would be no further fundraising efforts. I wish all three schools did that!
Don't be worried about hurting her feelings-but remember she's a volunteer. Maybe you can give her other suggestions(they could have sent home an order form for the books instead of the books).

That is how most fundraising is approached. And there are usually "incentives" to sell and that can be even harder to explain. My daughter came home all excited that if she sold 5 coupon books she would win an iPad. Nope, for every 5 books you sold you got your name in a drawing for an iPad. Fundraising is usually presented to the entire school in a presentation or as a presentation to a class so it is pretty much impossible to keep your kids away from the presentations. You are under no obligation to sell or buy. Get used to it. It will probably happen at least once a year until graduation and with every activity your child is involved with--sports, Scouts, church youth groups, band/choir, etc.

It's pretty standard operating procedure. We used to get those books, too. Actually, I used to buy them because I easily used over $100 worth of the coupons - totally worth the $25 price tag. You should flip through the book - you might actually find something worthwhile.

Oh, and expect this kind of stuff to continue throughout Elementary School. It drops off in Middle School.

When my son was in kindergarten, the fall fundraiser was the same coupon book sent home the same way. I thought that it was ill-advised that they did a $25 coupon book for a Title 1 school in which at least 75% of the kids were on free or reduced lunch. They were essentially selling a coupon book for places that most of these folks couldn't afford to go to...

Anyway, the PTA was initially told that they fundraising company did not inventory the books at the end...WRONG. They did and they had a heck of a time either getting the book or the money. Frankly, it was such a mess that the PTA swore never to do this particular item for a fundraiser again.

I don't understand you being THAT angry about it. If you don't want the book, simply send it back. If enough people do that, then the PTA will not make much money on the fundraiser...hence they won't do it again.

YES!! Our school has an annual winter carnival and each class collects items of a certain type to be raffled off. For the entire fall, we get about 4 emails a week asking for donations or just $10 cash - to the point that it is becoming spam. And then this year they changed tactics and offered the first and second class where each student contributes, a pizza or ice cream party. Way to go! So now the kids are coming home and squeezing the parents. In addition to the donations, we will have to buy raffle tickets for these baskets and other games and food. By the time we are done, you may as well buy the basket items yourself. This is just one event! I have spoken to my kids and said we cannot pay for everything - if they want to buy something for their class basket, they can take the money from their piggy banks and I'm happy to take them shopping. Or I just say, we can't pay for everything and we will pick and choose certain things during the year. It is absolutely out of control!!

Sorry but it just does not seem to end.

Fundraisers have been part of school ever since I was a kid, and I'm sure long before that.

I'm sorry he gave you a hard time. I understand he just couldn't grasp that concept. It would be very frustrating to handle the everyday things without someone, the PTA, putting another thing on your plate to deal with that you didn't ask for. Annoyance, yep, but let it go.

This IS just the tip of the iceberg. Maybe you could address the problem at his next IEP meeting. I mean, not to have fundraisers sent home with him.
Which is the real crux of the problem, not that you hate helping out the school which you do with your volunteer work.

Thank you for going the extra mile, volunteering. You make our schools a better place :)

It is frustrating, but that is how it has always worked around here. I'm a high school teacher, and it works that way in our school, and it has worked that way in every school both of my boys have ever attended, too. They're in 4th and 10th grades. I'm sorry you had such a difficult time today.

Unfortunately, the PTAs have to do this. If states funded schools properly, there'd be no need for fundraisers, but they're a necessary evil.

Right now, I'm faced with having two kids wanting to win prizes for selling a lot of tote bags. There are only so many we really need and I'm not going to hit up friends and relatives to buy them. Even if I buy a few of them, which child gets the credit? Split it up, they don't earn a prize because the item count is too low. Blah.

I grumble at all of the fundraisers ($15 tubs of 2 dozen unbaked chocolate chip cookies, anyone?), but know why they're needed.

I suspect in your situation they sent home the book so you could just see what's in it and better determine if you want one and want to sell them.

I think you have a really valid point in stating that this is a bad practice, to send home an item which was not asked for and not yet paid for. On many levels, this was a really stupid move. How is the *teacher* supposed to keep track of which families paid, which families returned theirs, etc etc.

I cannot imagine a teacher thinking this was a good idea. We have coupon book fundraisers; each child is given an order form which they then hand in and only then are the books (or the smartphone loads-ups) delivered.

So, no, we don't do it in this fraught-with-problems way at our son's school. That sounds awful. :( I see that you aren't upset by the FACT of the fundraisers, you were offended at how it was executed. I would be too, only because, for this grade, kids really don't understand that level of responsibility. Fundraisers are a fact of life, and I don't mind them, I do mind when someone makes things more difficult than they need to be.

Welcome to the school world..

the thing is all schools have fundraisers. if you don't want to sell the book or buy it yourself then send it back. Your spending way more time stressing over and being angry over this than it warrents. I get that its hard to explain it to your son but a long drawn out discussion is not needed. just a hey this is a cool book but we don't need it take it back is all you need to say. and then let it go. this is no different than them taking spring pictures and sending them home for you to purchase in the spring. those are a lot harder to return.

I know. I hate it too. If I put forth money for every fundraiser, we'd be broke. I will give money for class trips, a gift for the teacher, or something like that. I won't buy expensive popcorn or cookies from a catalog. I won't go to Chick Fil A nights.

The principal pumps it up big time on the loud speaker to the kids before the end of the day. I'm sure she does it more than once. Occasionally my kids remember and will ask me in the car if they can go to Chick Fil A or whatever junk food restaurant. I say "no."

Another time, my older son brought home a jelly bean fundraiser catalog. He was so gung ho about it. I explained how expensive they were and told him if he wants jellybeans that bad, we go to the nearest CVS and get them for half the price.

Now tonight we are going to an expensive fundraiser for the school- a Fall festival. We are only going because my MIL was nice enough to pay for all three kids to go.

Well some PTA's are overly aggressive or intrusive.
They can get very "enthused" about what they are doing and the goals for the school etc.
Fine.
But their approach will vary per school and group and personalities and who is in charge of the PTA etc. Like anything.
And well, per any dispersing of info., there has to be an "approval" process. ie: is it the Principal of the school who has the final say and "rule" about how the info/fundraising is sent out to parents?
Or not? Or does the PTA just do what they want?

Then, the coupon books were sent home.
Okay.
They probably did this so that the parents can "see" it, the actual coupon book. Versus, if they just sent home a flier about it, then parents would not know maybe, what that coupon book was or what it looked like nor what stores were in the coupon book, having coupons.
Most buyers of these coupon books, like to "see" what is in it. So that they can then decide if they want to buy one.
But, by doing that and sending it home, those books can be damaged.
And, if it is not returned to the class, because a parent does not want to buy it or maybe they do want to buy it... then HOW.... is that accounted for? By the PTA?
How do they keep track, of the "inventory" of coupon books, that was sent home, and then returned or not returned, or paid for or not paid for?
Is the Teacher keeping track of that list, and who actually returned the coupon books or not.
What an inventory nightmare. All around.

Sloppy.
If you ask me.

The PTA probably thought, that by sending home the coupon books, this was their best bet... of getting people to buy it.
But well, like anything, it can just get lost. Or forgotten.
And then what?
Will the parent/child still be responsible for paying for... any lost or un-returned coupon books?

Well so you vented about it to the person "in charge" of it.
What is done is done.
Maybe then, they will rethink... about how they go about it next time.

it is standard, but it does make me mad when they have a school assembly for the sole purpose of getting kids hyped up to make money for the school. This wastes their learning time. I buy things for a few fundraisers every year, but when I see the rest come home, I pull the sheet out and toss it. That way my dd forgets about it and it takes the pressure off of me.

Yes this is just the begining. I know last year with many of them they pumped the kids up like crazy and offered rewards for 100% pertisipation well I don't like most of them myself so don't like asking others to buy them. I have done a few for my son's gymnastics but when I do those I know exactly how much is going straight to my kid and I make sure and let the people know that are buying. Plus they are good products. (Yankee Candles and Worlds Finest Chocolate) But the school so far for my 5th grader has sent home three this year. We didn't order anythign for any of them. My other son is in band and FFA. He's brought home one from each and we only ordered from the band cause it was coke's and it was a great deal. The schools really don't care that parents don't like them and I think they try to get the kids to annoy us enough to where we will give in.

This is pretty typical. Our school did the Entertainment book every year up until this year. It was included in our family packet on book day (the day before school starts). Some years I'd buy it, some years I'd send it back. Annoying, but not really a big deal.

You better get used to it because they have a fundraiser just about every month. It's ridiculous!

I would also be annoyed. It's like the spring pictures here. The pics go home and then you decide what to buy and return the rest. Needless to say, my GD gets upset that we return any of them. Also, what if you were to misplace the booklet or one of the younger children got a hold of it and ripped it up. Then you're on the hook for paying for something you really didn't want anyway.

I would send the e-mail, but try to be as nice about it as possible. I think they should know that they are causing problems for some of the parents.

I'm with you on being annoyed by fundraisers. I'm understand the need but some schools go overboard.

My daughter is in 1st grade. Her school had a fundraiser in October. The items from that fundraiser haven't even arrived for pick up yet. Yesterday she brought home another fundraiser where the school wants to send magazine order forms to everyone your child has ever met in the hopes of suckering people into subscribing. The school also has a winter carnival and the proceeds from that go to the school. So, three fundraisers in three months. A little excessive in my opinion.

I also do not like that they tell the kids sell this much stuff and get a prize (which be bought in bulk and is sucktastic) instead of try to raise funds for the school so you can get a new rock climbing wall and go on a wonderfully fun field trip this spring.

Do you want your son to be included rather than isolated due to his IEP? You cannot pick and choose.

we did a lot of "catalog" fundraising at our school, but it was the PTA push and not the teacher. This is certainly a diff. way to raise funds. I'd rather go to a spaghetti dinner or kids bingo nite and have things to bid on in an auction.

My son came home with a book of high priced items to sell to help raise money for going to camp and I threw it away. I would rather write a check for the whole amount than mess with a fundraiser. If it is easy for me, I will participate. The coupon book sale is so easy for the parents. Buy it or send it back. Done!
I don't bother complaining about which fundraisers they choose because I know most of the PTA people who organize them actually hate messing with them. It is a LOT of work. So I participate when it is easy and forget the rest.

I think it's ok to ask the person in charge about it (the mom in your son's class). If you can talk calmly and express why this particular tactic doesn't work for you, it might help for future fundraisers. Maybe they will realize that it isn't the best approach if someone can help them understand the pressure it puts on families when their kids are excited.

Another option - we have envelopes that go home every Thursday. They have the kids' work from the week, but also any info, permission slips, fundraising info, etc for the parents. A parent volunteer stuffs these envelopes and the kids don't really look at them until they are home with their parents. If you have a similar system, ask that all fundraising info goes home that way, so you have a chance to see it before your child.

Well if the money was going to the school I wouldn't mind so much as we have a budget for that but my kinder came home from school with a fundraising box for a childrens cancer society and he was just as excited as your son. We already give to our own charities and now we are being sucked into this one. Grrrrrr....

Hopefully by now you have it returned or ready to be returned. Welcome to the future of fund raising...I will probably never feel guilty about this like I should but I sent those things back all the time. I just couldn't do it. And my children wanted to walk around in the middle of the night and compete with every other one on the block to see wrapping paper that was five dollars every inch and candy that was twentyfive for an ounce. Thank you for the rant. There's got to be a better way to get new things.For example Why don't they recycle uniforms for anything anymore?and I could go on... geesh

Fundraisers are a pain in the neck, both for the parents and the teachers. I know because I am both! LOL

The thing is the money goes back to the kids. When they have fairs, special assemblies, field day,etc. So I do feel that if I want to participate in the family fun days I need to contribute. We usually just buy something ourselves, the grandparents do and , on rare occasion, some close friends.

Parents rarely get notice before hand. Honestly, I just found out the other morning that my students were having a fund raiser assembly that day!

I don't think the PTA is being aggressive, just normal.