Sorry, CoPrez but the public schools need to fundraise too. Budget cuts have left us without many of the necessities. 90% of our budget goes back in to the school for educational supplies and programs. I detest fundraising programs but they have become the necessary evil. We don't promote door-to-door selling, don't offer prizes, and don't require participation. Sadly, our just completed fall fundraiser came in at half of last year's sales. We haven't figured out all the hows and whys yet. All we know is there won't be the money in the classrooms that we had hoped for. This saturation issue may be something we need to look at closely. There are other fundraisers going on in our community, but not the same stuff as ours. Maybe that didn't matter this year.
I'm not sure if you're a public/private school. We are a private school and NEED to fundraise for the normal day-to-day expenses of the school. Much of our money is used for necessities, not for fun. (don't want to offend the public school people out there) But, it seems that the public schools are fundraising more and more out there and are doing the same things we've been doing for many years, thus lowering our profits (just as you're experiencing Crystal). I remember as a kid in public school we sold candy bars once a year and that was it. Now it's wrapping paper, entertainment books, christmas candy, lottery tickets, bingo, etc. Everything that we are doing. Then on top of that you have all the different organizations that fundraise within the school. I don't have any answers for you but I sympathize with your plight!
Well it has finally happened, our school missed meeting our target goal of our one and only fundraiser by about $400.00. This is due in large part to the fundraising company itself. In a 15 mile radius of our school there were at least four other schools public and private that were selling stuff from the same catalog during the same time span. When I was first made aware of this issue I called our representative and asked why this is allowed to happen, we have been with them for the past six years. She said she would check it out and let me know. Well it seems that this company has four different reps who work this area, who do not coordinate there sale dates. Although our school missed our target by only $400, the others missed their's by way more. Sadly, our group feels their explanation is not good enough and have voted to not continue our relationship with them, as have the other schools. I am curious if this is a common practice or if this company has just gotten greedy. It is not good business sense to do this, as they have not made their full potential and now have lost valued customers....
