Are you finding fund raising a problem?

Eenymeeny

I've worded the title of this thread very carefully so that it can be taken either way. As a Grandma, I am finding that I am regularly being asked to contribute to various fund raising events particularly in school. I know that the parents feel that they'd like to help but are finding it a struggle to keep up with the many requests, including wearing a certain colour which entails buying or dyeing tee shirts then paying a contribution for the privilege!
This must be really difficult when you have 2 or 3 children attending the same school. (The most recent event was a 'bake off' where cup cakes were made and contributed by each child, then an entry fee of £2 was collected and parents were expected to buy cakes back!)
Unfortunately, a lot of people don't like to say that they just can't afford to contribute.
How do other people deal with it?
I realise that there will be many of you who are involved in fund raising and wondered if we could share some ideas to help minimise the pressure on those of us who have a limited budget?
Thanks for any contributions

thriftwizard

It was a nightmare when I had 5 at school, usually a max of 3 at any one school at any given time. In the end I simply used to explain that I could usually give my time to help organise or make things (as I wasn't in a position to work outside the home with 5 kids very close together in age, one with undiagnosed special needs) but that I simply couldn't give as much money per child as perhaps they were hoping for. We were never eligible for any help; I'm not whinging about that, but they didn't expect as much from those whose kids had free lunches, yet they often had more "disposable" income than I did!

It was noticeable that many childrens' parents simply didn't attend fundraisers, and "forgot" to send in contributions for trips, and that they were often the kids who didn't have (or attend) birthday parties, either. But we live in a wealthy area, and people would die rather than admit they were feeling the strain financially. It wasn't helped by people sneering at "home-made" cakes & costumes etc. - this was 15-20 years ago - and awarding prizes to very-obviously expensive shop-bought offerings, rather than the ones that the kids themselves had clearly put their own time & effort into. I do hope these things are more sensitively managed now. When it came to costumes, coloured t-shirts etc. I used to raid the local charity shops; I found that if I asked in good time, they'd often keep aside things that might otherwise have gone into the rag bag for me to adapt. We still have a spectacular pair of Tudor costumes made from old curtains for the twins!

The one thing that everyone was always willing to help with, was jumble sales. Those who had nothing to contribute money-wise were always willing to help - that way they (rightly!) got first pick of the goodies! I'm very glad to see they seem to be making a bit of a come-back now.

And I think it should be possible for parents, grandparents & carers to explain to schools that some families, who may not be eligible for any state help & certainly don't want to be mean, need to hang onto every penny they can in order to stay afloat. Those few pounds per child contribution can add up to, say, family membership of the National Trust to entertain & educate the kids during the holidays - which teacher wouldn't appreciate that?

good_advice

Hiya
yes fundraising is something many people can do without.
When my x3 were at school the fundraising I hated was - sponcer me for something and the few with the most money given were given small prizes. Headbands or balls for tennis. It happened every year.

Here there was only the mum and dad to sponcer them. I once asked grandparents and it caused such a fuss, I never asked for another 50p for them.
Ware no school uniform day, red nose day and book day are a few more I can think of.

Last year I had one guy in the town come up to me and ask outright for money for his charity. I asked what money was I sepose to give him? I was only going to the CH for some recycled fabric for crafting.
I said he could ask the council for a refund of my concil tax or the fuel company. House bills have to be paid.
I think he was a bit shocked by my reply.

I have noticed - donate food area's poping up more. In supermarkets and banks here. Schools do a harvist collection, more like donate tins and soap/toothpaste for the local under 25 drop in. No things, send some money instead.

We keep getting books through the door. Betterware and clean easy this week. Last week one of those bags for clothes donations.

I think people asking is getting OTT.

Eenymeeny

Some very good points and tips there, thanks to both of you. Jumble sales are a very good idea, I think we should be looking back at the old fund raising ideas which didn't cost as much. I can remember making toffee cakes for our Girl Guides 'Bring and Buy' Sales. Much cheaper than cupcakes, and easier for those people who aren't used to baking. People used to donate whatever they felt they were comfortable with donating. I remember one lady who used to make 'lavender bags' from scraps and lavender from her garden and another used to knit tea cosies and pot holders. Children were encouraged to make something that they enjoyed making, not competing with the rest of the class. I'm sure that they learnt skills that came in useful in later life.
I like the idea of asking the local charity shop to look out for items in advance thriftwizard. I wouldn't have thought of that!
I know that my grandson was sent to school in a cardboard box painted to look like a book on one book day. There must be some very ingenious parents out there!
I must say that when my kids were at school I was working full time and it would have been a real struggle to have to cook or create for school events as well. Maybe it should be redirected to be something that the kids create out of recycled goods, not the best thing that can be bought?

camelot1001

I work in a primary school and fundraising is a problem. Of course we want all the children to benefit but it does always seem to be the same children/parents helping out. Staff are also expected to contibute time/money so it's not only parents/grandparents!

School need to fundraise but also part of the curriculum is to fundraise for outside charities. This does stick in some peoples throat as they seem to be asked for money from all sides. My school only ever asks for a £1 donation but I am aware of others asking up to £5.

I myself had 3 at school at the same time and it does become very expensive, my only advice would be to support where you can but by no means donate when you can't afford it.

good_advice

I think I would prefer a bring and buy table top sale.
Donating things, homemade crafts, plants and brick a brake.
Helped man a stall at a few when the kids were school age.

Eenymeeny

Camelot1001 I didn't know that fund raising could be part of the curriculum!
It's difficult to say no sometimes. I can remember being asked to sign a form donating my last hour of the Millenium's wage for charity. This was done by the store manager, in a matter of fact way as if it was all agreed. I was so shocked that I refused. (I was struggling to make ends meet and it was just after Christmas!) I felt very embarrassed about the whole thing, especially when it was pointed out to me that I was the only one in store who had refused. I wonder now if it would be looked on as bullying...

gayleygoo

I keep change in a small jar for whenever the school asks for donations - usually £1 for "wear something yellow day" or whatever. They are pretty good about letting parents know they shouldn't buy new things specially; the yellow thing could be an item of clothing, hairclip, socks, bracelet, badge, hat etc. They had "silly sock" day and many kids went in odd socks. The money is usually for charity rather than the school.

A bring-and-buy sale sounds like it would work well. It could take quite a bit of organising, but at least there would be elements everyone could participate in. Our kids' school have asked for donations of old clothes and handbags etc, that get bought by those clothing companies - lots of people seem to be happy with that as they get to clear stuff out and the school makes money.

I understand school funding is very limited though. Their educational basics are covered, but many activities and trips wouldn't happen if it weren't for parental financial support. Maybe if they didn't insist we had to buy logo-ed uniforms we'd have more money to donate to the school!

The bake-off thing sounds a bit OTT to me - did the children bake them in school or were parents expected to bake them, pay the fee and then buy back their own cupcakes? I might do one of those things for an event, but not all three!!

[Deleted User]

I suppose I am as charitable as the next person ,but I like to choose the charity that I give to, rather than almost be bullied into one that perhaps I don't want to.
That sounds awful as all charities are struggling along with the rest of the population at the moment.
My youngest DD actually did a charity walk last Saturday which I donated to, as its for a little girl locally who is in need of special treatment in the U.S. her family have almost raised half the amount since Christmas which is an amazing effort bearing in mind a lot of folk are having it tough at the moment .
Normally I donate to McMillan as its a charity close to my heart as it helped me when I was ill with cancer.I also support the Sally Army as I believe they do an amazing amount of work with-in the community

Near to me is Maidstone and you cannot walk down the high street without getting stopped ,usually by young men, and asked for your bank details etc to give towards some charity or other (chuggers) .Last time it happened I said to the chap,
'Do you honestly think I am going to give my bank details to a complete stranger in the middle of the high street' his reply was
'Why not, you look as though you can afford to give to those less well off '
I won't say what my reply was ,but it certainly wasn't very charitable, and needless to say I didn't offer my details .
Giving should be a choice not an obligation.My youngest DGS is 10 and his school are always asking for money for something or other,there are times when his Mum just hasn't got any available and has to raid her 'pamper pot' that she puts her small change in.He came home one day and said
'Teacher said can you make sure its not small change as pound coins are easier to count '!!!!
Obviously forgot about the widow's mite, which considering its a CoE school I found suprising

kathrynha

My daughters current school's PTA are really greedy on asking for stuff. Her first year there for the Christmas fair we were asked to donate chocolate for the chocolate tombola AND a bottle for the bottle tombola AND a prize for the regular tombola AND at least 6 buns for the cake stall. then they sent home £10 of raffle tickets with a letter worded in a way that suggested you had to pay for them. These requests were all with the criteria that unless you did, your child couldn't participate in a dress down day.
Could easily of spent £20 before actually going and spending money at the event.


I complained and was glad to notice that this last years requests were to donate one of the things not all.


As for the wear certain colours requests, I find with a girl then I can get away with just the closest colour we have and a correct colour hairband or hair ribbon.
For sports day she needed a tshirt that was her house colour, but as she will be in the same house all the time I didn't mind buying a tshirt. It might actually fit her by the time she is in year 6
On costume days homemade costumes are encouraged which I'm glad about, as I quite enjoy making costumes with my daughter.


As a Guide leader I am very aware that fundraising can often come down to extra expense for the parents, so try to do fundraising where we can get the wider community to give us money, or by organising fun family events, which parents don't mind supporting because they enjoy it.

MandM90

My daughter attends a private school which means many parents are flush with cash and others (like myself) don't have a huge disposable income and make sacrifices to give their child a good education.

What really boils my blood is when the school constantly ask us to attend balls (£80 a ticket) or the school festival (£20 a ticket) as well as all the other events and fund raising drives which go towards the school, ON TOP of the fees!

The mufti days etc for other charities I can definitely cope with as I only have one child and don't regularly support any charities myself, however I do struggle sometimes to produce cakes/hampers/harvest festival baskets when I'm working long hours, running a house and commuting quite a distance. On top of homework, dinner and any work I need to do at home it can be too much and I feel guilty being one of the few without something to present.

I'm sure in schools where there are kids whose parents can't afford to contribute it often affects the kids too I don't think it should be expected to turn up with a big fancy gift and in a new outfit to every birthday party. A lady I know recently asked for donations of books to the school library instead, which I thought was lovely (and I envy her after DDs recent birthday and trying to find a place for her mound of presents in our little house)