<p>two fundraisers I don’t mind…schoolpop where your school gets a percentage of what you were going to buy online anyway, and recylcing phones and ink cartridges. I like shifting selling to online options in a rapidly changing world. My neighbors are also solicited to death and solicit each other for many many causes.
My kids study till 11 pm due to sports and hard classes. They also go to school an hour early to do the unweighted music programs that also brings their class rank down. On weekends, they have plenty to do with homework and a few activities plus I protect their right to have some down time. I frankly don’t see selling products as an appropriate way to blow a weekend or as a testament to their work ethic. I would prefer that they get a real job. </p>
<p>However, I like that Stickershocks group that raises money for the entire trip so it is effortless for all the kids to travel with them, and can get behind that kind of goal…singing for a supper etc.</p>
<p>Faline…I hear ya! I also have mixed feelings about all these fundraisers because with kids who are busy with very full EC lives and very hard classes…my kids were like yours…out all day with school and ECs, had evening ECs and weekend ECs and many hours of homework per night and weekend, there was barely time to sleep let alone participate in all these required fundraisers. For instance, one D was on three sports teams and also in the music program and they all had fundraisers and so she had to work on many at once. We live in a very small town (1700 people) and it is hard to hit the same friends and neighbors up over and over again, as well as the same small businesses. There were times when I just would have rathered giving them the money than the amount of work required to raise it and to have to awkwardly be asking the same folks in town for these things for multiple EC fundraising efforts. I do prefer as a donater myself to get a product or service and so I do have mixed feelings about doing those kinds of fundraisers vs. begging for money.</p>
<p>Soozievt - I agree, the safety issue doesn’t seem to fit this particular instance. What I meant was that in general, safety is an issue that parents, teachers and other youth leaders need to consider, and we’re seeing the effects of that in the world of fundraising. A high school student, yes, should take the lead role in raising funds, especially for something like a trip.</p>
<p>^^^^I do understand about the safety issues. I was just commenting on this particular case that the OP brought up.</p>
<p>In our town, the individual fundraising quota is optional. If you don’t have the time (or inclination,) that’s fine. You can just write a check. Parents love that flexibility. But since an entire year of fundraising opportunities are always avaliable, the families with tight budgets are given plenty of opportunity to earn the $$. One popular item is those suitcases of candy. It holds 50 large candybars. The student buys it for $25, and sells each bar for a buck, ralizing a $25 profit. It’s easy to just leave out in the office break room, or at the counter of the family take-out joint, or in the waiting room of a dance studio, or at the beauty salon. My point here is that parents who hold low-end jobs can effortlessly raise the cash. Nobody is left out.</p>
<p>Soozievt - It seems I’ve strayed into the general fundraising arena :)</p>
<p>StickerShock - I’ve heard of a lot of organizations fundraising in a similar way. They implement a “fundraising fee” that is paid by the student or parent who then receives a product to sell. They have the option to keep the product or fundraise to earn their money back. It’s not an ideal model for all organizations, but many have been getting great results and a lot of positive feedback from it!</p>