http://community.greatschools.net/q-and-a/247190/PTA-Direct-Appeal-and-Credit-Cards My daughter's school PTA is moving in a bold direction. Along with the cookie dough, giftwrap, and spellathons, they're now looking at asking for a cash donation up front. In order to accommodate parents who'd like to make a monthly donation rather than lump sum, they're investigating getting a merchant account and accepting credit cards. My questions: Does your school/PTA make a direct appeal for donations at the beginning of the year? If so, what is the amount they actually suggest? Is it per student, or per family? And how much money does that raise for the school? And secondly, does your PTA accept credit cards? If so, for what? Every function? or only for donations? And if anyone knows, what are the costs involved? Thanks in advance! GreatSchools en-us kornysnaps MagnetMom, our PTO began accepting credit cards last year. They use The Paperless PTO at www.paperlesspto.com . It seems to be working well as just about every event now can ... http://community.greatschools.net/q-and-a/247190/PTA-Direct-Appeal-and-Credit-Cards?cpage=1#comment_259176 5100.259176 Sat, 27 Sep 2008 12:05:36 -0700 jlharshbarger 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 ... http://community.greatschools.net/q-and-a/247190/PTA-Direct-Appeal-and-Credit-Cards?cpage=1#comment_253771 5100.253771 Wed, 17 Sep 2008 20:51:24 -0700 KevinKillion 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 ... http://community.greatschools.net/q-and-a/247190/PTA-Direct-Appeal-and-Credit-Cards?cpage=1#comment_253505 5100.253505 Wed, 17 Sep 2008 14:08:01 -0700 Anonymous 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 ... http://community.greatschools.net/q-and-a/247190/PTA-Direct-Appeal-and-Credit-Cards?cpage=1#comment_253463 5100.253463 Wed, 17 Sep 2008 13:34:17 -0700 eccentric 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 ... http://community.greatschools.net/q-and-a/247190/PTA-Direct-Appeal-and-Credit-Cards?cpage=1#comment_253217 5100.253217 Wed, 17 Sep 2008 09:51:21 -0700 reyyelmom 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 ... http://community.greatschools.net/q-and-a/247190/PTA-Direct-Appeal-and-Credit-Cards?cpage=2#comment_253160 5100.253160 Wed, 17 Sep 2008 09:04:23 -0700 summerblue 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 ... http://community.greatschools.net/q-and-a/247190/PTA-Direct-Appeal-and-Credit-Cards?cpage=2#comment_252533 5100.252533 Tue, 16 Sep 2008 11:44:30 -0700 KevinKillion 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 ... http://community.greatschools.net/q-and-a/247190/PTA-Direct-Appeal-and-Credit-Cards?cpage=2#comment_250994 5100.250994 Sat, 13 Sep 2008 13:36:45 -0700 OliviaMum 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 ... http://community.greatschools.net/q-and-a/247190/PTA-Direct-Appeal-and-Credit-Cards?cpage=2#comment_249977 5100.249977 Thu, 11 Sep 2008 22:34:51 -0700 MagnetMom 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, ... http://community.greatschools.net/q-and-a/247190/PTA-Direct-Appeal-and-Credit-Cards?cpage=2#comment_249954 5100.249954 Thu, 11 Sep 2008 21:42:36 -0700 teresastory 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 ... http://community.greatschools.net/q-and-a/247190/PTA-Direct-Appeal-and-Credit-Cards?cpage=3#comment_249946 5100.249946 Thu, 11 Sep 2008 21:32:44 -0700 ellasmith 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 ... http://community.greatschools.net/q-and-a/247190/PTA-Direct-Appeal-and-Credit-Cards?cpage=3#comment_248888 5100.248888 Wed, 10 Sep 2008 12:58:25 -0700 jackieth 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). http://community.greatschools.net/q-and-a/247190/PTA-Direct-Appeal-and-Credit-Cards?cpage=3#comment_248595 5100.248595 Wed, 10 Sep 2008 07:03:49 -0700 MagnetMom 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 ... http://community.greatschools.net/q-and-a/247190/PTA-Direct-Appeal-and-Credit-Cards?cpage=3#comment_248592 5100.248592 Wed, 10 Sep 2008 06:54:16 -0700 jackieth $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 ... http://community.greatschools.net/q-and-a/247190/PTA-Direct-Appeal-and-Credit-Cards?cpage=3#comment_248585 5100.248585 Wed, 10 Sep 2008 06:46:18 -0700 MagnetMom 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 ... http://community.greatschools.net/q-and-a/247190/PTA-Direct-Appeal-and-Credit-Cards?cpage=4#comment_247232 5100.247232 Mon, 08 Sep 2008 09:35:41 -0700 buckaroo 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 ... http://community.greatschools.net/q-and-a/247190/PTA-Direct-Appeal-and-Credit-Cards?cpage=4#comment_247213 5100.247213 Mon, 08 Sep 2008 09:11:41 -0700