Wow! 3 of a kind, I'm looking forward to the fall and hearing about how all of this pans out!!!
This past year, my 3 kids were in 2 schools - Middle and Elementary. I participated in a large variety of fundraisers and helped with different aspects of many. For all 3 kids as a whole, I probably contributed $200.00 but I also contributed A LOT of my time volunteering (creating and maintaining school website, running BOXTOPS program, Room Parent, running Home Parties Fair, running Membership Donation Drive, Site Council Parent Member, Library, helping in classrooms and more...) Next year, my 3 kids are in 3 different schools. While I hope to have a "paying job" next year, I will still volunteer as much as I can.
My question then to you is, do you need volunteers and have you considered the value that they can offer (off-setting a donation?)Are other schools asking for a similar donation? If I had to face $600.00 for my kids next year, I wouldn't be happy! I guess I'm a rebel but when my local church suggested a donation amount per family for a building project it annoyed the heck out of me. While it was well more more than $200.00 I didn't like someone dictating an amount that should be given freely and willingly.
Okay, I'll step down now. I guess that you touched a nerve but I hope that I offered you an insight...Thanks for "listenin'"!

Thank you, mum24kids! I am in the process of writing our donation request. This letter really helps!

For anyone who does decide to go the donation route, here's a sample donation request letter. This isn't from my school but one close by that is in a high income area.
www.fcps.edu/colvinrunes/pto/mailings/fundraising.pdf

Mark's Mom -we do about the same as Pottsville Mom for our Fall Festival. For Fall and Spring festivals we give each child 2 tickets. At our holdiday shop we have "coupons" every student received 2 25c coupons. I noticed that many of the kids that had plenty of money gave their tickets to children that didn't have much money. It was very touching, I watched some of these children do it without thought. It was a good lesson in Character for EVERYONE involved. All of our games for festivals are a quarter. For our shop we had several items under 50c so everyone could have a little something.

I think donations are a great idea, the only thing people normally cannot donate the amount needed to have a successful turnout. I would suggest going with a fundraiser, candy bars are easy and for the parents that want to make a donation. Can.!!

Also suggest a buy out for parents, like the leagues do.

Thanks for the explanation Potts--can't believe it's so successful. We need to rethink the carnival idea!