I know this post is from a while ago - but I thought I would chime in. This is a tough one! Candy bars are best sold in person - not on a sign up basis. So you hate for kids to try to sell the candy bars to a friend, take the money and then need to get back to that person with the candy bar - it is just too much work for a low cost item. On the flip side, if you just give the box of bars to the kids - the money can be mismanaged, or even lost, and the parent is feeling like it is not their problem to pay for the missing funds. I know you mentioned you have done this fundraiser for years, but I wonder if maybe trying to choose another fundraiser for this next school year may be more helpful and less frustrating for your PTO?
Low income schools may be best trying a simple evening event such as a BBQ Dinner with silent auction (or raffle where those who are present can win) and sand art activity for the kids or something of that nature. You may also want to couple it with another school activity (with the principals approval) like the science fair display - so on an evening that you know parents are coming to the school anyways - why not grab dinner at school and then have some other items that will allow the PTO to raise money to benefit the school? Just some thoughts

In Tennessee, this process is not allowed. You would loose your non-profit status with the State. You may want to check with your state to see if it is the same. Basically, in Tennessee no child can be left out or no child can be given more benefit as it is related to funding or fundraising. I know this gives a lot of parents an "out" as it relates to working or supporting the cause. So, you end up with the age-old axiom of 20% doing 80% of the work.

In our school we "inconvenience" the parents in this situation. We hold 2 mandatory fund raisers a year. The parents sign a form with their registration forms every year acknowledging they are aware that they are "MANDATORY". The mandatory fundraisers is a $1.00 raffle ticket of which they must sell or pay for 100 tickets twice a year. If the parents do not return the money then their child(ren) are not permitted at any Home and School or school functions until the money is paid. These include any dances, holiday parties and our end of the year Field Day. The school may withhold report cards and school records if they decide not to return the following year. Any parent who has ANY unpaid balances by mid May is subject to the above. This can include tuition, mandatory fund raisers and a library book that has not been returned or paid for or any fee owed to the school. If they are not paid for by Field Day (the end of May) the parent must make other arrangements for their child(ren) that day as the student(s) are not permitted in school that day. It may seem a bit harsh but if everybody else has to do it so do they. Any special circumstances can be discussed with the pastor and principal and they can make final decisions regarding the fees.

You could take them to small claims court. If the school isn't helping, that may be your only recourse. But if the amount is really $48, it may not be worth it. One alternative is to flip the way you sell and require kids to collect and submit payment before the product is delivered. You'll sell less that way, but you eliminate the issue of people not paying. You could still buy a few extra cartons and sell them at local events to boost your overall sales. And in those situations you could have someone from the PTO supervising and taking the money.

I am the PTO president of a small low income school. We depend on fundraisers to keep the school running for the most part. We always do the Cherrydale candy bar fundraiser. It is always profitable, but every year we have parents that don't turn in the money for them. This year we had to cover about $1025 worth, which was all profit. My question is do I have any recourse against these people? I sent home multiple payment reminders, myself and the school called multiple times, and I even mailed a letter home for the ones that wouldn't answer the phone. These are people that have sold before and I have never had a problem getting the money. Our principal said he would help us collect, but then backed out. The secretary keeps telling him not to get involved because PTO profits are 'non-public money'. It just infuriates me to see these people that owe money running around with their fake nails and $300 cell phones, but they can't pay $48 for candy bars. It is the only good faith fundraiser that we do and I would replace it with something else, but the reality is that we still made about $3000. What can I do?