As a Parent, What Should I Do When a School Fundraiser Comes My Way?

Supportive Parents Help Kids With Their Education.

What Should I Do When a School Fundraiser Comes My Way?

Hey, let's face it.  As a parent, we want what's best for our child.  We read to them, we help them with homework, we get them to school on time (mostly).  Stop to think about the things you'll do to show your love and commitment.  You tie your kids shoes, pack lunches and put permanent marker to brand new jackets.

Some parents do even more.  

There are school helpers, who volunteer time inside the classroom.
There are library volunteers who read to children.
There are crossing guards, who enjoy their morning coffee at a crosswalk.

What's more, there are parent groups such as the PTA or PTO that provide for the classroom as well.  The parent group is a volunteer organization that originally provided the little extras that made learning fun.  Today, the PTA is responsible for making up for budgeting shortfalls.  In some cases, this means they are funding music and art programs, buying books for the classroom and even providing the new technology inside the classroom.

School Fundraising is evolving.

It's becoming more necessary and at the same time, more resisted then ever before.  As a parent, you've seen your share of fundraisers.  And that's part of the problem. Too much fundraising is partially responsible for poor results...  It's very common for a parent group to promote something that generates very little income right before asking parents to participate in something that would have made substantially more.

School fundraisers are improving so you can feel better about the value and quality.  You can write off your purchase just as you would a donation to the Red Cross or your church.  The difference is, your school is a charity that puts your donation to work right inside the classroom your child sits in.

So, provided your school is not over-burdening you, what you should do when you get a school fundraiser packet home is PARTICIPATE!

Pick out your items, email family, post on facebook, bring to work, do whatever you can!   Write your check and promptly return to the school!  Keep in mind, what you're doing by participating in the fundraiser is putting an iPad right into the classroom.  You're keeping the art teacher on staff.  You're buying a book.  All these things help your child find their passion!

Everybody else is not going to contribute - You still have to!

If what I've said here is offensive, chances are, your school is not making important fundraisers important.  It may be that they've gotten into a habit of fundraising continuously because of lack of participation.  If you're offended, you may just be the perfect person to change the way fundraising is done at your school.  Here's to fundraising LESS but MORE EFFECTIVELY!

Thanks for reading and sharing.  Keep the conversation going at twitter.com/believekids

Ok, until next time!



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school fundraisers

Encouraging Teachers to Participate in School Fundraisers

Photo - Joe Green 

Teachers are usually not big fans of school fundraisers.  There's a number of reasons for that but I just ran across something that may just be the catalyst for changing the benefit teachers get out of their fundraisers - at least in one school.

In this article, Northside Elementary in Mississippi will be dividing fundraising revenue from an upcoming carnival to any teachers that volunteer to support the event. 

I think they're on to something. 

Believe me, I understand both sides of the argument.  Teachers don't want distraction from teaching time and I get it.  I also know first-hand that a little support from teachers goes a long way. 

In fact, teachers that support fundraising activities create higher incomes for their classrooms where teachers that have negative attitudes towards fundraising actually hinder profits to the very school that supplies them materials to run successful classrooms. 

So, this is a good way to have teachers get involved and I think it's a pretty cool idea.  It's a good time overall to create bonds between educators, administrators and parents and this accomplishes just that.  It's a win-win.

Parents - Support Your Child's School Fundraiser!

This year, if you get a fundraising packet delivered to you from an excited child, do not recycle it.  Do not toss it.  Do not complain.  It's a real need, a real request.  School needs today are more dire than it would appear.

Plus your support means less fundraisers throughout the school year!

If your school is doing the 'fundraising thing' right, you will not see too many of them and it will not get overwhelming.  The school will focus it's efforts on raising significant funds on one main fundraiser per semester.  If you see one after another, refer them to this blog fundraising-advice.com so I can show them the error of their ways.

Schools are taking full advantage of their resources.  They are not wasteful and contrary to popular belief, funds are utilized in the best ways possible.  What's more, a school fundraiser impacts every child directly while they are at the school.

Other than donating time inside the classroom, is there a better way to support a child than improve their education directly?

I sound pretty darn uppety and I know it.  Forgive me.  I'm passionate that parents should participate in fundraisers and schools should limit fundraisers so parents WANT to participate.

I look forward to your comments.

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Jay Moneta is the vice president of Believe Kids Fundraising and blogs here at fundraising-advice.com as well as thefundraisingpln.com.  You can find me on twitter and can check out the elementary school fundraisers available at BelieveKids.com if it suits you. Thanks!

Help My School - Support School Fundraising

We just made a little ditty to raise awareness for the need to participate in school fundraising. If you like it, please forward it on! Thanks for sharing!