I know at my child's school they are ready have them selling magazines in a fund raiser!!! To me this is insane. my children started school on Aug. 31 and this is only the 2nd full week of school!!! I think its ridiculous, parents are already at stress overload and not only are we all getting into the routine again, but we have our child's school supplies and such and now a fund raiser too!!
Absolutely, no consideration!

Regarding: "I want my money to go to the library, so I write a check to the school and specify where the money is to be spent. ... I wish more people realized they can specify how their money is spent ..."

No guarantees there, as in most cases the money is fungible. That is, if a lot of people donate to the library, that frees up some of what the district was planning to spend on the library and they can re-direct that money to whatever fad suits their fancy.

At our old school, the PTO asked for donations equivalent to what we thought we'd spend if the kids were selling all the junk no one wants anyway. The principal wouldn't allow selling. Yeah for him! I'd give about $100.

Now at our current school, they're doing what they call a Move-a-Thon. I can't for the life of me understand why it's a success, but it is. The kids get donations/pleges, but the pledges have nothing to do with how the kids perform at the Move-a-Thon itself. The M-A-T is an event during school where the kids run races, do obstacle courses and the like for about an hour. Last year they managed to raise $35,000! This year's goal is $45,000, and I'm not so sure they won't get it. They're already up to $20,000+, and that was only about a third of the donations so far.

Ideally they'd like each kid to bring in $100 in pledges, but there's no obligation. This year's winner for the most money brought in is a first grader! He got $900 in pledges and matching contributions from his mother's company. Amazing.

I don't like how they chose to spend the M-A-T money last year, so I didn't donate this year. I want my money to go to the library, so I write a check to the school and specify where the money is to be spent.

I'm all for PTOs or schools asking for donations straight out -- the school gets money without having to go through the hassle of selling junk, but I wish more people realized they can specify how their money is spent and don't have to donate to their PTA/PTO.

Our PTA asked for $20/child at the beginning of the school year. We also pay $10 for the membership fee. $500 is a very high amount. What are they actually doing with that much money?
We have another problem...most people are quite affluent, but they don't donate any money Iperhaps that's why they are affluent!! :) Most of the time, it's people who attend PTA meetings regularly also end up paying more and volunteering more!
Our PTA only takes cheques or cash.

Both of my girls schools have a Direct Appeal to the entire School at the beginning of each year asking for what each family can afford. They suggest a donation amount of $500. This is the extent of fundraising in the middle school. This fundraising continues throughout the year in the elementary school - Halloween Bash, Thanksgiving Pie Sales, break until the spring then it's a school fair, a school walk athon and readathon and the biggest fundraiser is the annual auction. All of the events are able to use credit cards.
Also for those schools where the PTA is demanding dues - check into the National Charter because I believe membership is supposed to be free to all parents and guardians of children within the school.

Our schools do PTA Membership Drives at the beginning of each year, which is pretty much asking for money in additiona to other fundraising activities as well.
I personally feel that receiving donations from parents of those children that attend the school are DIRECTLY benefiting from it. Of course we all wish they was money for EVERYTHING I am a realist and know that isn't possible and I don't like to depend on the government for all of my needs being met - we live in a community and I think doing fundraising for your school or anything you deem worthy of your time and energy is rewarding and contributes TO YOUR community.
I like that we raise money for our school and can spend that money HOW WE as a group see fit.
I know I pay a LOT of taxes and you would think that all of the needs of the school would be met with those taxes, but that's just simply NOT the case.
So....I choose to support our local public schools.

Instead of a parents group asking for coercive "donations" to pay for a government school district that isn't giving parents what they want, maybe you consider starting a parents group demanding a voucher to take the tax moneys being spent on your behalf and spending them on a school that you like better, whether another district or a charter school or a non-government school. Coercing people to donate to a government unit just so they can get the basics they expect sounds like a bad idea.

Our PTA asked for cash during the Back to School night. This school does not sell cookie dough, save box tops, magazine subscriptions, nor wrapping paper. They make it simple and just ask families to donate what they can. The suggested amount is $50 per family but it's clearly communicated to donate what you can afford. Typically, families donate more than what is asked.

Our PTA does not accept credit cards for the PTA donation. They do accept credit cards at the silent auction. In fact, that is the only time credit cards are accepted. The credit cards were accepted because it made the silent auction process go smoother, collection was easier and we think people felt freer to bid higher.

Just an update, with all the discussion, some parents found that both Yahoo and Google have website checkout services with much lower charges. One would run roughly $500 a year, and the other could be much less for a nonprofit including no charge per transaction. I'm glad people spoke up, since the $2000 seemed non-negotiable to me, and these fees are still not great, but apparently some local businesses want to donate and get their Frequent Flyer miles too.

teresastory, I appreciate your soapbox. :) As for why the large fees, our PTA is for a school of 400 kids, 300 or so families, and we have to pay for a PE teacher and an art teacher, and now a technology/computer teacher. These are not supported by the school district, so the parents must pay. I'm not doubting the necessity to raise the money, I just find it frustrating because it's not an affluent community, so we have to be resourceful.

My daughters PTO asks for the parents to join at the beginning of the school year. They host an open house and solicite donations as well. The donation is $3.00 (I think) per person. Ours does not accept credit cards and I think the reason is that if you have credit card machine you pay a fee per swipe. they accept cash or checks. I used to be Vice President, secretary and treasurer of the PTO when my oldest two were in elementary school. We use to have practical fundraisers though. Like every friday popcorn sales for 50 cent a bag. At Christmas we'd have "Reindeer food" baggies for 50 cent. We sold pencils in a vending machine 3 for 50 cents. These are things that were affordable for the kids and parents. Now they are selling wrapping paper, cookie dough and chocolates that are, frankly, to expensive.

What happened to bake sales and carnivals with food and gift donations? It seemed to be much easier as an officer of the PTO as well as being the parent. Our voices and concerns were heard from both angles.

I don't know if this has helped you. I sort of got on my soap box for a moment.

Good luck with your PTO/PTA this school year.

Parent involvement is so important. I am not so sure about monthly donations but in reality schools systems are going to have to make big cuts in the next year or two due to reduction in property taxes and due to increasing fuel costs.

Parents do need to be involved in the school and small donations may may the difference between your child being able to have more hands on learning by doing science labs, etc.

Many parents had perfer to make donations verses fundrasing also.

I am a teacher at North Springs Charter School which is a Science magnet and we do send home requests for donations by the students when our funds in the science department run low. But we do have such a wonderful science department and so many labs and so much hands on learning which I do think is extremely good.

Ella

I personally don't think the expense of $2000 would be worth it. If people are going to give, they will find a way (checks).

Thanks for the response jackieth.

The PTA dues are $6.

This is considered a direct appeal fundraiser. The $200 is to help fund a PE teacher, an art teacher, field trip busses, assemblies, etc.

And the credit card fees are the big question, would the donations we get be bigger than if we didn't have credit cards, or could those people just write checks. It's a big dilemma.

$200????????? Wow! To join our PTA, they charge $10. I don't think $2000 for credit card acceptance is acceptable either. That's $2000 that could be spent on something else. Of course, if it brings in more money and makes a profit.....

That's the challenge, buck. I'd be for a direct appeal in lieu of the daily/weekly fundraisers, but they're discussing this as an additional fundraiser. And asking for $200 or more per family seems aggressive the first year.

As for the credit cards, if the costs are $2000 I'm wondering if that's something that would make parents think twice.

I've seen schools advertise that in lieu of all the fundraisers, they request cash donations. Lots of parents are willing to put up cash if they can forgo all the time/effort/hassle put into fundraisers.