donating to your kids school

[LivingAlmostLarge]

Got an email asking for a bake sale and donation to preschool for a specific program for $1200 goal. I don't mind baking and will but do you ever donate cash? I wouldn't mind that as well, but is it something people really do? If so how much? It's the YMCA so it's not a huge fancy preschool compared to what most in our area costs.

[disneysteve]

We have donated cash rather than buying ovenpriced crap that we didn't want (wrapping paper, cookie dough, etc.). We usually gave $10 figuring that's more than they would make from the other junk anyway.

[gloria7819]

I think that ultimately cash is going to help them. Although, if any program involves that kids having to work to get the donations, that is a plus as it helps them learn to work and not just expect handouts.

[sblatner]

We have 9th grade and 12th grade boys. The parents spend four years raising funds for the grad night party. The 12th grade parents have fundraised for four years.

The 9th grade class has sent a letter requesting direct donations instead of having to do multiple fundraisers over the next four years. I love this idea so much better. There are certain things we have to do such as flowers at graduation and running the concession stand but no wrapping paper fundraisers or dine outs for us. Yeah!

[~bs]

We have donated cash rather than buying ovenpriced crap that we didn't want (wrapping paper, cookie dough, etc.). We usually gave $10 figuring that's more than they would make from the other junk anyway.

It is better to just give them cash. If you buy $10 worth of crappy cookies, they'll probably make $2-3 on it. If you give them $10 cash, they'll make $10 cash. SO it's like you just bought $30 of crappy cookies.

[MonkeyMama]

At the for-proft preschool we skipped donations and fundraising. (I don't think there was fundraising, but it was VERY inexpensive and she asked for donated supplies. Fair enough, but we passed as I estimated her preschool was thriving financially. With her low prices she *never* had a vacancy and seemed to be making bank with her business skills).

At the K-8 public school level, my kids attend a public charter that is *amazing* and they don't have to go through all the district red tape with their spending. So, I am happy to donate money to them that I know is very well spent and directly benefits us. Our school does not generally do fundraisers, but asks for money. I really like not dealing with all the material crap where the for-profits take a percentage (Sees candy, wrapping paper, yadda yadda). So I love the approach. We are happy to give large sums due to the specific situation. I feel my child is getting a better education than would at any private school, so that factors a lot into it. They have some fundraisers but they are usually more food or babysitting based. Parents go out, teachers volunteer to have a fun night, and school gets to keep 100%. Stuff like that is so useful and so profitable. We also have a lot of stuff like that when it comes to food (where the food is provided and we keep 100% proceeds). We have been trying to figure out more "community" type fundraisers so it isn't always asking the parents for a handout. But I won't complain about a free night of babysitting or an *amazing* dinner for a $20 or $50 contribution. Especially when the school gets to keep 90% - 100% of that money.

[Petunia 100]

I don't participate in fundraisers. I feel that educating minor children is the financial responsibility of parents, not their co-workers, neighbors, or relatives.

When my children were homeschooled, it never once crossed my mind to fundraise (which boils down to people buying over-priced items they don't want in the first place) to cover any of our expenses. I mean, can you imagine if some homeschoolers showed up at your door wanting you to buy some expensive gift wrap so they could pay for their field trip or sports league? Would you find that odd? I certainly would. I would also wonder why I was being asked to pay for that.

Both our private and public school years had plenty of fundraisers. I learned to just say "no". I will send a check if there is a specific need, but I won't buy things or spend my time selling things.

I also do not think children should be required to spend their time selling over-priced items.

[disneysteve]

I don't participate in fundraisers. I feel that educating minor children is the financial responsibility of parents, not their co-workers, neighbors, or relatives.

One could easily use that same logic to not participate in any fundraising at all (Why should I pay to help those cancer patients or those folks whose homes were destroyed by Sandy?).The point of fundraising is to help support causes that you care about. I happen to care about education, particularly that of my own child, but education in general as well. I have no problem making a donation to my kid's school. I wouldn't be so quick to make a donation to a school with which I had no personal connection but I don't think that was the point of this thread unless I misread the OP.

[elessar78]

I think that ultimately cash is going to help them. Although, if any program involves that kids having to work to get the donations, that is a plus as it helps them learn to work and not just expect handouts.

If that is true then does it also teach them to inconvenience people and put them on the spot? If anything, straight up ask for the money? If I like you then you'll get some.

[Petunia 100]

One could easily use that same logic to not participate in any fundraising at all (Why should I pay to help those cancer patients or those folks whose homes were destroyed by Sandy?).The point of fundraising is to help support causes that you care about. I happen to care about education, particularly that of my own child, but education in general as well. I have no problem making a donation to my kid's school. I wouldn't be so quick to make a donation to a school with which I had no personal connection but I don't think that was the point of this thread unless I misread the OP.

I have no problem making a donation either. I do have a problem with expecting students and families devote time and money into selling overpriced gift wrap, kitchen wares, spices, etc.

[FrugalFish]

My kid is in her second year of public school now. The first year I was really stunned by the fundraisers and unhappy about them. This year I felt like i had a pretty good grasp of what we would spend in the course of a year, and it really was not that much.

When they ask for money or donations of supplies, we give. We are definitely not well off and it's not our position to pull a lot of weight, but DH and I are lucky enough to be able to donate when asked- I know a lot of the parents are not so lucky around here at the moment with the economy as it is (at least here). I am grateful to be in the position to be able to help (have also been on the flip side of that coin), so do so. That said though, don't give more than you are comfortable giving- I like $10 also. Then if asked for more, well you know...

When DD's teacher requests supplies, I will buy an item off the list. I don't usually buy more than one item per request for fear of appearing that I am trying to do too much- as if in return for a favor. If she is in need of many supplies, I might buy 2 or 3.

I still kind of hate the fundraisers, but we do them. We buy for ourselves and don't sell to anyone else. We do some of our Christmas shopping through the fall fundraiser- two birds, one stone sort of thing. I figure if we bought the items at regular resale, and then made a donation to the PTA, it would probably come out about the same... only I don't have to figure out where to start shopping, it's whatever is in the catalog that year

[Baby_nurse]

School systems can be touchy about donations of cash. DD3 is part of her school Honor's chorus. They are participating in a competition next month. To help fund the entrance fee and transportation cost, each child was asked to sell at least one box of chocolate bars. I didn't want the hassle (or the temptation of having all that chocolate in the house!)so is asked if I could just donate the same amont of cash they would receive from selling the box. The school said no, they weren't allowed to accept cash donations

Maybe my district is weird, we also aren't allowed to being in any home baked goods for school events because someone may have an allergy or get food poisoning...store bought stuff is fine, though...

[FrugalFish]

School systems can be touchy about donations of cash.

That seems to be the same here. I think ours does it to level the playing field of 'haves versus have-nots' where some kids end up busting their humps to sell overpriced wrapping paper for the cause while other kids have parents who will just write out a check. Our district also has a policy that kids are not to sell to people they don't know.

Our district also does not allow any food stuffs that are not commercially prepared.