Just a suggestion, we have used a test a thon every year for the past 4 years as a money maker. We have "attendance centers" not neighborhood schools, so our parent organization is for all three of our schools (K-8th grade). Anyway, we send out a "pledge sheet" that the kids obtain pledges from family members. They take a normal spelling test on Friday and however they did, they collect the money from the people who pledged. This past fall we made close to $6000.00 we have 900 kids in the district and of course not everyone participated. But year after year it is a great money maker. Each child that participates (returns a pledge sheet) receives a Hersheys chocolate bar and the top collector in each class wins movie theater tickets. It is great!
All of your suggestions are great ones. Unfortunately, the school not only will not allow a simple candy drive, which I know could be successful, no dances are allowed, no fall festivals (teachers claim it's too much work), santa shops have been banned (principal claims kids are too young), etc...you can see where I am going with this. I do understand that many parents do not have family in their area..I do not also. However, the majority do and we definitely could make a profit. I guess I am still waiting for someone who has an answer...Can the school board turn down everything? If the school didn't want to be the ones handing everything out, would I be allowed to do it through another building or source? Thanks, I love this site!
newkids-Our school doesn't sell anything. I know in the past 30 years there has been no selling and probably before that. It is an unwritten rule. Teachers don't want it and parents definately don't want it, so here is what we do: We usually clear at least $10K from our Fall Festival (this year it was $19K!) because of our Royalty contest,also we sell "Spirit" clothes, last year we made around $1200.00 on our Santa Shop (it was still fixed where every child could purchase something) last year we made around $1200.00 on a change drive, and about $1200.00 on our Spring Fling, our basketball tourney usually makes around $2000.00. Our talent show is not a fundraiser, we usually end up losing money but that could be fixed it we wanted. The bookfair money goes to the library, but because we were almost in a bind trying to purchase mulch, the librarian offered to share. Our PE teacher does a Ropin' and Shootin' marathon. Flat donations are requested for that. That is just some of the things I can come up with right now. Hope it helps. I hope you can convince your principal of your views.
I also don't have family in the area, and my son has no interest in doing door to door sales. I've always told my kids that the prizes are junk that we can pick up at the dollar store if they "had" to have it. So, I usually just buy one to three items. Many parents take the order forms to work. I think the vast majority of students no longer sell door to door. They have parents that buy a couple of items, they have granparents that buy a couple of things or parents that sell at work. So what if some people can't sell at work? From helping out with the fundraisers for many years, apparently many people can sell at work. I'm always amazed when there are orders for over $100 worth of wrapping paper and candy. I think we also send a letter out prohibiting door to door sales although I'm not sure if it's that or just not to sell alone. Since my son doesn't do that, I don't usually pay alot of attention to the cover letter except for the due date.
My personal justification for wrap and candy sales is that we've picked the best company (their products are great quality, including the candy) and if everyone just sells what they can then we can afford to do so much for our kids. A typical wrap and candy fundraiser brings us $4,500 in profit for our school of 300 students. We are in a semi-rural area and we do not do a kick-off sale. I was totally against wrap and candy fundraisers until I saw the ease of doing it, the profit and the lack of any negative feedback from other parents. jmho....
Hi,
We are trying to bring a Pto back to our school this spring. The principal is already looking for fundraising and of course selling something seems to be the idea. I've expressed my views but, besides auctions of some kind what has anyone done that they fill is successful. We are prk-2 school with about 800 kids.
Thanks for any ideas
Three years ago the PTO Board and membership agreed we were sick and tired and fed up with selling items and have been able to find great fundraisers to support our group without selling burden on our parents. The school board supports our decision and is really proud of the fact this is the route we are taking.
That being said I should add we are not the fundraising machine for the school. They actually have many of their own fundraisers that have made us decide what we did.
Door to Door is such a general statement but when I see the catalog for a fundraiser the first thing my kids look at are the prizes and begin BEGGING to "go out and sell!" Nope! With family miles away, can't take fundrasier to work and we have already fundrasied our friend to death and line needs to be drawn. Asking if the school and your president have the right makes me wonder why can't they make that kind of desision? Someone looking out for the welfare of children, isn't that their job?
