Do You Sell "..." for Your Kids School?

I refused to do it. The school hardly makes any money off of this stuff. The company gets most of it. Instead, I worked to help the school with all kinds of volunteer stuff. We had a carnival once a year and I got raffle prizes from local businesses and sold raffle tickets to make money for the school. And yes, I've given donations, too.

I refuse to sell candy, wrapping paper, stuff like that which I know that no one wants. And though as a child, I sold candy door-to-door, my kids don't have the same personality as me and never felt comfortable doing it, and I didn't make them.

We don't participate in fundraisers either. I don't feel comfortable hitting anyone up for them. Also, we have 5 kids in school (4 in the same elementary school, and 1 in junior high). So, it would be unfair to buy from 1 kid and not the others, and we can't afford to buy from all.

i've bought stuff from kids i know out of obligation before, but i don't any more. it's so ridiculously over-priced, and the school or organization gets so very, very little of the money anyway.
it's really time for schools to think of a better way to fundraise.
khairete
S.

I refuse to pimp my kid.
The fundraising industry is way out of hand.
It's a pet peeve of mine.
Somehow they've found a loophole in child labor laws but really it's a way to get parents to work for less than 3rd world wages.
(I need to Google how to start up a class action suit.)
Many causes in question get maybe a %25 return on the money spent on stuff no one really wants and most sellers get rewards you could buy from your local dollar store.
I've done this.
When our son was upset that he couldn't 'earn' a rubber duckie by fundraising participation I got him the exact same duckie for a few dollars and WAY less time and effort than providing order entry/accounts payable/accounts receivable/warehouse services/delivery for whatever they were pushing at the time.

If the PTA has a way for me to write them a check directly, then they get money from me otherwise they get nothing.

http://unorthodoxepicure.com/2012/10/21/confession-no-64-...

I refuse to allow my kids to fundraise, and I refuse to sell fundraising stuff for them.

I hate that companies are USING my children to make a profit.

And I hate that 100% doesn't go to the school.

I'm not even going to get into what a waste of classtime fundraising programs are. Ridiculous.

Write a check. Absolutely.

Your school receives 100% of the money if you simply write them a check. With cookie dough, magazine sales, wrapping paper, etc etc, the school only receives a portion of the sales. They'd much rather have the outright donation. That's what we have always done.

I never ever do fundraising sales. I hate them. Wrapping paper for $10 a roll!? Nasty chocolate tins for $15?! What a crock. Especially since the school only gets to keep about 30% of what is sold.
I don't think it's lame to write a check. I think it's smart. Then ALL the money goes to the school.
L.

I am ON the PTA board. Our family doesn't participate in the "selling stuff" fundraisers. First, our school sells cookie dough. I am a cake decorator, I don't need cookie dough on top of all the cake stuff we have on hand. I think it's silly to promote healthy choices and healthy living in school and then ask them to peddle cookie dough.

Our school offers prizes to anyone who sells anything. Last year it was rubber duckies on a lanyard and you earned up from there. They they would do a prize call for anyone with the...batman duckie,etc. First I have issue with bribing kids. And I have a REAL issue with the bribes excluding kids. These stupid things are so important to the kids...there are tears, there are mothers yelling, it's crazy. So what about our families that just can't afford $15 on cookie dough? That alone is unfortunate, but those lanyards are a daily reminder for those kids.

What we do instead, is I pay the PTA directly. They get every single penny...no middle man to pay. We tell our kiddo that if we don't hear anything about ducks or lanyards (because it is soooo important to the kids), we'll use the money we could have bought cookie dough with to get a new Lego set. And we always participate and pay for other activities...the fun run, festivals, etc. And even before I was a board member, I tried to donate at least a little time to helping with PTA events.

I don't participate in the fundraisers at all. I have 3 school age children so even just asking family members seems like a bit much because they would feel the need to buy something from all 3.

I try to contribute in other ways. We have a school beautification day, I contribute to that. I give to the PTA. I pay for an extra child at field trip time. I tell the teachers to use it for a child whose family can't afford the field trip or for something the need in the classroom. Our teachers also make wish lists for things they want for the classroom and I will purchase some of those items.

IMO, this is enough. I do not need to hit up family and friends to by items that they probably have no use for.

Our PTA has two fundraisers each year. In the fall, they have "The Big Give" where people give money directly to the PTA. In the spring, they have an auction. Nothing for the littles to sell. Woot woot!

I would much, much, much prefer to give money directly to the school/PTA rather than sell something.

I love it when coworkers sell Girl Scout cookies. But that's it.

We're in the same boat. We usually just buy the stuff ourselves or, even better, give a donation, which usually ends up being more profitable for the school/organization than if we had purchased the items.

I'd prefer it if my neighbors didn't sell me their school stuff. I already pay high taxes to support the schools, and since I'm not using them, I'd prefer to not then contribute more money to them.

Thank you for not trolling the neighbors! They already support the school, via taxes.

I'm trying to figure out how to say "no" this year. Maybe I will just say "sorry, not this year." and leave it at that.

I would never ask friends or neighbors to buy anything to support our schools. I do exactly what you suggested... I write a check as a donation. Now for the last couple of years my kids school ask parents to donate money as a major fund raiser versus selling over priced stuff that nobody wants.

I'm like you - I just write the check... What's wrong with that? The idea is to raise the money the schools need and if this enables some people to be able to donate who couldn't afford it otherwise, then great. If you can afford to write the check and also don't have people to ask, then I've never felt guilty about it.

I do not sell for my son's school. I pay over $8000 a year in school taxes. I have lived in this house for 8 years before I had my son. He has been in the school system since last Fall. So I figure I have paid 14 years x 8000/year plus an ongoing 8000/year. I think my son should be able to get a good education for this. If there were specific items a classroom needed, I would much rather write a check than sell garbage.

On principle I will not allow my son to sell highly processed junk food that we would not eat. Or crummy promotional items that nobody really wants. I don't even buy the stuff - how could I sell it.

Never.
I wrote a donation check to the organization and left it at that.

Everyone in my office brings the brochures for their kids' fundraisers - school, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, church groups, athletyic leagues. No big deal.

I'm a horrible salesperson. I normally just write a check to the school and then take it off my taxes.

I just write a check to the school. I'm in the same situation as you--I live far from most of my friends and family, and those friends that I do have are all fundraising for the same school. Hubby can't sell at work, and even if he could, he would feel embarrassed asking his staff to buy to support his kids' school.

I don't need the junk that they sell--I'm trying to simplify my life, including my home, and the fundraising selling just doesn't work for our family.

It's one thing to sell $1 candy bars, but these catalog orders are totally out of control. When I was in high school I sold 12 cases of candy bars (each case had about 150 bars in it). I didn't ask friends, family or neighbors to buy--I went to football game tailgate parties, bowling alleys, bars (with the permission of the owners), etc. Didn't pressure people to buy--didn't bust any budgets. My school of less than 300 students earned more than $80k each year just from having us sell $1 candy bars.

Honestly the few boxes you buy - or a direct donation that you make in lieu of buying things you don't need or want - is all your school wants or needs from you. I am a PTA treasurer for one of my kids' schools. If everyone in the school contributed $50 to our PTA it would fund all of our programming for the year. Of course everyone can't and doesn't contribute that much, so some parents contribute more and it all works out. We don't really expect kids or parents to go selling items all around town or hit up everyone they know. When our fundraisers are item sales (vs. events) we try to change things up so they're not the same thing every year and include things that people would buy anyway. Last year we did one of the typical catalogs with wrapping paper and other items. This year we're selling flower bulbs (plant now, bloom in spring) and coupon books where the first 4 coupons are for our local grocery stores and are worth the price of the book. Sales for both are doing well, and of course we always encourage direct donations, where we keep 100% of the donation instead of just a % of the sale.

FWIW I rarely hit up anyone I know to buy items because most of my friends have their own kids to fund raise for. This year, I did forward to bulb catalog to my in-laws, parents and an aunt who I know buys bulbs every year and all were happy to place orders. I also bought a second coupon book as a gift for my sister, who is a single mom and could use the savings. We do something called Square One Art in the spring where the kids work on a special piece of artwork that you can have made into items. I use that to buy Mother's Day and Father's Day gifts from the kids - again, something the grandparents and my husband love, I have to buy something for them anyway, and it helps the school. Another fundraiser where we sell items is school apparel - I usually buy a sweatshirt or shorts or something else and the school gets a % of that.

If you'd rather just write a check, go ahead and do so! I can assure you that they'll be happy to take your money because they keep 100% of it. If your company does a matching gift program you may be able to get them to match, which is even better!

My son is 9 and for his school I have him write an email (or call) his grandparents and aunts and uncles. Besides us he usually gets 4 family members giving money. We don't walk around and sell door to door. I do not ask my co-workers. So, we do raise a little money for his school...but not tons. Its donations for a student "run" so 100% goes to the school at least. On the other hand, for cub scouts he has to sell popcorn. His dad or I walk around our neighborhood with him for that one. There are about 5 neighbors with boys who are now in high school/college who used to sell cub scout popcorn and they always are waiting for our son. It's sweet.

You mean PTA fundraising, right/ Free free to write a check instead. If you get pressured to have your child sell, smile and say, "Sorry, our family doesn't have time."

One thing to know, though -- your child may ask you if she can sell, or she may feel left out, if a lot of friends are excited about selling or if there are prizes for sales. Just be aware that you may get questions about, "Why can't I do it too?" Again, just say no.

Our new school (moved from elementary to middle) does NO fundraising at all. The PTA just asks frankly for donations and says that no donations mean no activities sponsored by PTA, period. Parents vastly prefer this to the selling and even the fundraising events like 5K races (very popular around here for elementary schools to sponsor a 5K for fundraising -- seems like a ton of work to me). Consider getting involved in PTA and finding out if enough parents dislike fundraising to go to a donations-only model in the future. But you'll find that some parents just love the sales-- strange, but true.

As kids get older there is zero time for them to hawk stuff for their schools. I am very glad that our middle school PTA is up front about donations.

UGH! I always hated this time of year. I never solicited to anyone other than my mom, MIL and a neighbor or two. Just so you know there are many parents who don't sell anything, or sell only to a few. Then there are the kids whose parents bring the stuff into their workplace. Just on principle I refuse to buy since they're racking up big orders from people in the office who don't have kids and want either to kiss up to this person - or jsut like to shop for anything.

Generally the merchandise is waaaay over priced and often the quality if sub-par. Over all the years the only thing I've found that was of high quality is the wrapping paper. But who cares - it gets torn off the package pretty quickly anyway. The candies are almost always poor quality and bad.

It's usually a PTA fundraiser to buy playground equipement - so just write a check to the PTA and go buy candy or wrapping paper at WalMart or Target - you'll be ahead of the game all around.

Do not feel guilty. Product based sales is such a chore and BORING! Your PTA/PTO should have an option for you to just write a check. It would certainly benefit them if you did because then they get to keep every dollar!

My children's schools have banded together (elementary & middle) and have created a 501c "Fund" for fundraising. All donation stays in our schools because we don't sell products. Last year was our first year, and we raised over $70,000 without corporate donations. This was all parents and community driven. This year, with corporate donations, we're looking at raising over $100,000.

Talk to your administrators and PTO/PTA leaders about something like this. Wrapping paper, bricks, wreaths, candy has been sold for years, and parents and grandparents are sick of spending money on that overpriced JUNK! haha! And not to mention having to make your kids go door to door in this day & age? Uh, no thank you!

Good luck and just write a check. :)

Good luck!

I absolutely HATED this about my childrens' school - especially since we were already paying tuition for going to this non-public school. The first time this came up, we sold some candy bars to my parents and went door-to-door, sold a few then I said screw it!! After that, we would buy the minimum amount and since I love chocolate I just tossed them in my freezer. That way I could just get a bar out of the freezer whenever I wanted some chocolate!!

As for selling at work, my husband works in an office and he would just put the box on his desk with a little sign indicating the price - never putting pressure on anyone. If someone bought one, fine; if not, that was fine too.

This is just another reason I'm soooooooooo happy to be out of that school and in a public school!!! They also have fundraisers, but they don't put the pressure on the kids and/or threaten them!!

Good luck!!

No, I don't sell. When my kids were in school and if we liked what they were selling, I would buy it. Otherwise, I would write a check for an amount and send it back.

We now have a Boy Scout or two that are neighborhood kids and we do buy from them. They are the only ones that we buy from. The local FHA usually has fruit or nuts and we do buy them. But that's it.

The carnival or bingo game night would be more beneficial as you would hope more families would attend and buy.

I don't miss those days.

the other S.

PS When we were in Las Vegas, NV in the early 80s there was a coupon book for the football that we couldn't keep in our hands they went so fast. This coupon book paid for many things that the team needed and beyond.

My daughter sells for dance - we don't do anything but dance. Her fundraisers make it so she can compete and continue dancing (VERY expensive sport) so we do it. I bring it to work, husband brings it to work, my mom sometimes brings it to work.

My daughter goes to our friendly neighbors always with Joe Corbi's and they always normally get something, even if it's a $14 pumpkin roll....that helps her out! $5 per dessert and $5.75 per pizza item sold - it adds up quickly.

We always donate items to the school, not money. One year we even brought in a truck load of toys. A lot of the kids in our school are from low income homes and we are hopeful that helped out.

I always buy a couple things, and attempt to sell to the family members. I don't go majorly out of my way. Donating directly is never frowned upon (at least not at my school!)

I run the fundraiser at the Jr. High I work at. You'd be shocked but 50-60% of kids don't even bother to sell 1 item (I think elementary schools have better participation, but I doubt its 100%). So I am extremely grateful for anyone who buys even one thing for their own family. If every single student just sold 1 item to their parents, fundraisers would be pretty successful. The reality is that a small percentage of the kids do the selling and are supporting the whole thing.

Good for you for getting a few orders in there for your kid. Not lame at all to just sell to yourself and the grandparents. That's doing your part for sure.

Yes, we buy things and sell things for the school or the PTA/PTO. I used to take the hard line (I pay taxes, that should be enough!), but soon came to see that this fundraiser money pays for things that the kids enjoy or that they really need. For example, at the elementary school level, a lot of the money raised pays for field trips for the kids. There is nothing sweeter to a parent then getting the field trip permission form with a fee of $0! The money raised also sponsors an Artist in Residence program, which changes every year. The kids have so much fun with it. They don't get bored and they learn so much. The school wouldn't be able to have it without the PTO's fundraising.

At the high school level, some fundraising pays for scholarships for the seniors. The more money they raise, the more they can hand out in scholarships. Having sat on the scholarship committee last year, I saw first hand how hard these kids work. They should be rewarded! Fundraising also allows for disadvantaged kids that cannot afford to go on science field trips to go. Fundraising also helps with teacher's wishlists.

So, before you write that check or sell that cookie dough, see where the $$$ is going. Chances are, it's for worthwhile extras aka enrichment. If you don't like the programs, don't donate or sell. Don't feel guilty about it either, but maybe get involved to change these things.

I hate to do it, but if it is something I can use and it isn't astronomically over priced I will buy (from my own kid and friend's kids but rarely from a kid who knocks on my door). We don't go door to door and I don't ask friends. I might casually mention that we are doing fundraising (usually in a grumbly voice) and if a friend says they will buy we will sell to them.

My biggest beef with the whole fundraising game is how they overplay the incentives that kids can earn. My first grade daughter came home last week all excited that if she sold 5 coupon books she would get her own iPod Touch. No, if she sells five she gets a cheap mustache shaped whistle (that we already have two of) and one entry into a drawing for the iPod.

I also hate how at least once a week our doorbell is ringing and it is some kid trying to sell something. We live in a different neighborhood than our school, but I had elementary kids trying to sell me the same coupon book that my daughter is supposed to sell. With something like 10 private schools, 16 elementary schools, 4 middle schools, and 4 high schools in our small city there is always someone selling something! Then add the various youth sport leagues and Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, our jr. college football team and even church youth groups. It is insane! I hate to say no, but I'd be in bankruptcy and on a show about hoarders if I bought from everyone who asks.

I wish PTSAs would do things like book fairs (Barnes and Noble book fairs are super easy!!), read-a-thons, 5K runs, family events (with a minimal fee) and things like that. Our daughter's school does a school carnival, bingo nights, and family nights at local restaurants who give back a percentage of sales. Those are events that are fun and stress free for my family. The school I teach at sells gift cards through a company. You can order gift cards from close to 100 different local and national businesses in denominations from $5-$200. I'd be much more inclined to buy that from kids because I always spend money at Target, I give gift cards as gifts, and I can always use restaurant gift cards when we travel. I can buy a gift card and tuck it away until I need it. Our daycare works with a company that puts kids' artwork onto various items from T-shirts to coffee mugs to quilt squares. There is my Christmas shopping done for grandparents and keepsakes for me.

As a teacher I see the value in the money that comes into PTSA funds but I also question how the money is used sometimes. I don't see a lot of value in purchasing junk for incentive programs and even for some assemblies, but I see a lot of value in an artist in residence being brought in. With schools underfunded the way they are any income helps for extras. Our PTSA is always helping to boost our technology and book collections. All those little things that tax dollars and government funds don't cover.

To the mom/ Teacher that said she wished the schools would host.." wish PTSAs would do things like book fairs (Barnes and Noble book fairs are super easy!!), read-a-thons, 5K runs, family events (with a minimal fee) and things like that. Our daughter's school does a school carnival, bingo nights, and family nights at local restaurants who give back a percentage of sales. Those are events that are fun and stress free for my family. The school I teach at sells gift cards through a company. You can order gift cards from close to 100 different local and national businesses in denominations from $5-$200. I'd be much more inclined to buy that from kids because I always spend money at Target, I give gift cards as gifts, and I can always use restaurant gift cards when we travel. I can buy a gift card and tuck it away until I need it."

Get on it. Organize it, buddy up with an enthusiastic, teacher or parent and make these things happen.. I was a PTA President at 2 different schools, we would have loved your ideas, enthusiasm and willingness to make these happen,. We would have been all over it to help you..

I know a lot of parents that just write a check. If you can afford it, It is greatly appreciated.

At least you are willing to do that..

Some parents do not like funding further than their taxes for public school, even when their children are students at that school.

Our school doesn't sell anything, instead they just collect money (more of a check writing campaign). I am definitely not asking anyone to cut a check for nothing in return. Last year, I just wrote a check. This year, the grandparents also made small donations.

Not really. We only buy the things we really want during the fundraisers and I just have a really hard time believing my first grader should be tapping people to buy stuff. REALLY hard time with that one.

We just write the check, sometimes, too.

I'm sure your school would appreciate a direct donation. When you donate, the school gets the whole amount, unlike in a sales fundraiser. Let's face it - the reason that the wrapping paper/candy/popcorn/greeting card companies are in this game is because they make a tidy profit. I'd rather eliminate the middle man and pay the school.

My kids used to go to a school where many of us felt this way. The school figured out an amount per family that would mean no fundraisers for the year. Many of us chose to donate. Of course, not everyone can, so sometimes we still needed fundraisers. In those cases, the kids did a walk-a-thon. This accomplished two things that sales fundraisers don't - it allowed the school to take 100% of the donations, and it was a way for the KIDS to earn the money for their school.

I've often thought that if schools do feel it necessary to do sales fundraisers to pay for the things they need to provide an education for our children, then the fundraisers should be done during the state's legislative session, and as part of a field trip to the state capitol to see the house and senate in session. Classes of kids should hit up every office in the house and senate office buildings for sales, and school districts should coordinate so that a different one hits the capital each day. I wonder what would happen to state school funding levels if we all did this?

My children just had their fall fundraiser and I just wrote a check for both of them as a donation. Usually these things only give the organization 40-45% profit anyway. I am in the same boat as you and I don't feel comfortable trying to sell anything at work. That being said, I totally understand why there needs to be a fundraiser...I just make sure that I make a decent donation directly to the PTA for this.

I don't sell it for them. I let them figure it out. If they don't sell it, they don't get the prizes. However, I HATE the candy bar sales - ugh.
Last year our school did a cool cooking fundraiser AND they sold everything online - hello 21st century!
My boys used my email address to send out emails to friends/family, etc (as we live over 500 miles from ours) and then I posted a few times to Facebook.
Most of the times though, I wish they would give an "opt out" payment option.

I hate it too! I ask the grandparents but I always feel guilty about that too since they get hit up by six other grandchildren!

At the elementary school we have the option just to write a cheque. I have done it. I buy stuff when it is something I can use, but otherwise I don't feel comfortable to sell to friends and family either. My son who is in middle school now has lots of extra fundraising for his choir and his band, to help pay for all the travel they do. Each student has their own fundraising account. I really need to try and sell this stuff, or these trips are going to cost me a fortune, but sadly they don't seem to be selling anything good. The one school fundraiser I have been interested in buying so far this year is not being sold by either of my kids schools or the band or the choir, so I had to buy from another school!

Nope. How am I going help my son build a solid foundation of good work ethics if I don't allow him the opportunity to work for something?

I will never understand the buyout option. There are alot of prizes involved with my son's fundraisers big and small. There is no way I'm raising an American who gets a prize for not doing any work.

Since Kindergarten, we've always used school fundraisers to train our son to manage money and deal with people. He gets to reap the benefits of making money and earning prizes, as well as learn to deal with disappointment. I see it as risk free work training and he's been getting it since kindergarten. Its no cost to us as his parents and it is valuable experience for our son. So yes, we go door to door but then again we know all of our neighbors on the street and in our subdivision, so it isn't uncomfortable to ask them because they all know our son and all of them want to see our son do well. We are very proud of our son because of the fundraisers he's been involved in.

I never let my daughter go door to door and I didn't hit up friends because we were all in the same boat with most of the same fundraisers. Basically, you are just trading money around.

Our schools have a "buy out" program. Let's say, the goal is 20 products per person at $14 each. You had the option to sell 20 and pay the difference of the profit which was $7 per product OR you could write a check for $140 and be done with it.

I still have kids coming to my door all the time, mostly because I also substitute at the school and they all know me. I will not turn a child down and sometimes I am not interested in the junk they are selling so I write a check to their cause with their name on it so they get credit.

I am a check writer and I always did the buy out option.

I hated it when I was in the corporate world years ago and there would be sign up sheets for all the fundraisers where ever you went. Thank goodness, I don't deal with that anymore since I run my own company from home.

No, I don't sell the candy either. I work in a one-on-one situation (just boss and me). There are other professionals who rent an office that I am very friendly with but I don't ask them because none of them have children and it just doesn't feel right.

My GD does go door-to-door along our street and my mother's street. We know all the neighbors on both streets. She also sells to aunties and uncles. I don't feel guilty about not selling; I donate enough supplies to the classroom and I pay high property taxes - I'm already doing my part!

I write a check.

Passive fundraisers are the best. We have all of our grocery store loyalty cards linked to our school, including the one that is connected to gas stations. Every time I shop for groceries or get gas, my son's school gets money. We clip boxtops and have a couple of friends who clip them for us. Every family can do these things, regardless of income level, which I really like.
We also participate in the dinners where the restaurant gives back a percentage of sales to the school. We have 2 major fundraisers, one carnival/festival and one night time silent auction that is adults-only. With all of these, our school raised just shy of 100K last year, with no cookie dough or wrapping paper. So much better!
Best fundraiser ever was in my son's preschool- we had over 200 bottles of wine donated by a local distributor, then bottles donated by parents. We did a random draw of 3 bottles for $25, and the wines were all worth from $12 to $120. Everyone at my work was more than happy to participate in that one, and keep asking if my son's new school will have it! Probably an issue with a public school, but it was great for the parents and the school made $3500.

I do what I can and I cannot buy it all myself. If we can't "fill" the order they think we should be able to do we just turn it in and be done with it. They will stop doing them and find another way if the parents stop giving in to these selling item fund raisers.

So far this year I have bought about $100 in fund raiser items. The only ones I really want are the ribs they do later in the fall. They cook them all day and then deliver them to the people who've ordered and paid. So easy. You can keep them for several days and eat on them at different times. Now that's a good deal for me, well prepared and cooked ribs.

I saw other companies that I go to, they left the candies at the break room, with a note small note and no name ..so this way, you wouldn't really be considered presurring anyone to buy. Not sure if that is allowed, but you could check.

I have been involved for a long time in the school world, at 7 different schools so far if you count preschools (5 public schools). We have done school carnivals, a thons, auctions, etc. When it comes to fundraisers that involve selling, I am adamant that the sales be for something that people are going to buy anyway and those that don't buy that item are not obligated. Bulb (fall) and seed (spring) sales are great for those that garden. Here are other examples: turkey sales (November), holiday wreaths/trees (December). I will not do cookies or candy, magazines, even wrapping paper. My theory is that if I am buying something it might as well benefit the school. I also use scrip (both grocery loyalty programs and purchasing gift cards). Again, if I am buying groceries, I might as well have a portion go to the school(s) of my choice.

The only people I solicit for school fundraisers are my parents and inlaws. I feel it puts people...friends/neighbors/relatives...on the spot. I've seen friends solicit for fundraisers on Facebook or by sending an email. I don't choose to and only give what I can. I don't care if anybody thinks it's lame.

That can be an awkward situation, esp. at work. You don't want folks feeling obligated and perhaps you would have to reciprocate at some point down the road. Are you able to just put up a flyer with your contact info in a semi-public area in the company - meeting room/kitchen/back office area?

If you are on Facebook, you could post it weekly. What about a flyer in your neighborhood, building (if you're in a multi-unit place), local shop that you feel comfortable sharing that info, library, etc.? Guess it depends on what you are selling.

There's only so much you can hit up the family for as well, and there is nothing wrong about writing a check. At least you know all that money will get used entirely by the school, not just a percentage of sales of some random item that people may not even use.

If your school has a Scrip program, that is a win-win for the school and families/friends/relatives who buy items from grocery stores, pharmacies, department stores, specialty shops and a small percentage of the purchase goes to the school. Google eScrip for more info on this. Even your local bookshops and sometimes garden shops will have a seasonal fundraiser to sign up your school and if people purchase from there within a specific time frame, x % of sales goes to the school.

The Tea Collection (kids clothing) has an online school fundraiser once or twice a year which you can sign up your kid's school, send out a special link or flyer to the parents, and again a certain % of sales goes back to the school. If folks want to shop online, they might as well be helping out and it's no skin off their backs.

Also want to mention that any type of fundraiser at your child's school should also emphasize community building, not creating community frustration with busy-work, etc. It's great when families get together for a common purpose and have fun at the same time.

Good luck!