School Fundraising, my trials and tribulations

My children are young. All three are in elementary school and so, by the time I realized that my tax dollars weren't picking up the tab for all of the extra curricular activities (like field trip buses and what not) my oldest was in 3rd grade, my youngest just entering kindergarten.

It all became clear to me on that afternoon when I unpacked the three backpacks and found (3) candle catalogs, (3) chocolates and nuts catalogs, (3) Local "FUN" books and I looked up to see 3 smiling faces that said... Would you buy something from me Mom?

Up to that point I had not attended a single PTA meeting, however I felt like a full fledged volunteer, financially since I was spending a crazy high amount on calendars and other things that I really didn't need or want.

Finally, I attended a PTA meeting and I found a bunch quasi organized busy people trying to get things done for the school in their limited spare time.

I realized 2 things:
#1) The PTA is responsible to buying and supplying many of the things that I thought my tax dollars provided, such as; playground jungle gyms and equipment, indoor gym equipment, coach buses for field trips out of state, scholarships, special programs, and parties.

#2) No one WANTS to be there and they realize that if they don't take care of this... then who will?

That first PTA meeting really inspired me to come up with things that would earn the PTA money but not necessarily break the bank of the individual home. (You see, I'm a single parent. Spending $30.00 per child for a silly calendar or chocolate or nuts is $60.00 that I simply didn't want to spend on those items!) So, I got to work thinking about things that happen in the community that would be a great opportunity for the PTA. Yard Sales.

I really thought I had a great idea, I would charge $5.00 per home to get listed on a yardsale map and we have a town wide yardsale. The maps would be printed free and available at the local convenience stores... and it's a win-win situation. The yardsale people get the benefit of more traffic and the PTA gets the benefit of the $5.00 map registration fee.

The only problem was... no one could tell me how to collect the money.

This was the first fundraiser that was asking the community and not necessarily student parents to contribute and no one could tell me where to tell the people to send the money. There was no PO Box setup for the PTA, there was no PAYPAL account setup by the PTA, there was nothing.

My first great idea fizzled like a burnt side of bacon... it smelled good... but it left a bad taste.

Then I decided to put together a program that I could run and wouldn't have to really involve the PTA. I could raise money and DONATE it to the PTA myself. That's when I came up with School Promise.

Basically it's a rewards program. Parents shop at their favorite sites, and buy what they were going to buy anyway, except they go through my site to do it! So, I went out and I got about 900 partners, from BestBuy to Walmart and I write little posts and I display products and I provide click through coupons and codes... and each time someone buys something by going through my site, I get paid, that translates into earnings for my PTA.

I checked it out and found that there are several other websites that provide a similar service, but that just means it's a good idea. I also checked and found that I pay a higher percentage then some of those other programs. And.... I'm a human being not a corporation (yet) and I am providing this service for parents and kids who are like me. Tired of chocolate sales and nut sales and calendars and candles... I am happy to do my shopping at KMart School Promise...

Here's the thing, the PTA's and PTO's of the past (like when I was growing up 25 years ago) are long gone. Those people had full-time jobs RAISING THEIR FAMILIES, now the participating parents are working full-time, raising their families, some have 2 jobs, some are single parents, some are still stay at home parents... and the stay at home parents are the ones that are manning the classroom parties, and the library and going as chaperones on field trips... thank goodness for those people... but it's different. No one, and I mean no one has a single second free to really come together as a team and get things done. It's always the same few people that get stuck doing everything.

I get it... it's not easy for anyone.

I think we all just have to figure out how we can contribute. My contribution is School Promise. I can't be at the other events and I can't afford to buy $60.00 in calendars... but I can design a website and hook up with popular online stores to raise money for my school.

Everyone has a skill, we owe it to our kids to apply it towards their future. :) Let me know what you think.