It's back to school time and that means getting bombarded every month or so with fundraisers. I understand the fundraising needs of schools and clubs. With the constant school budget constraints it seems funding for "extras" isn't available and it's up to the parents to make up the difference. Participating in fundraisers may sound like a great solution to help out your child's soccer team or the parent's club, but there may be a better way.
Do a little digging and find out what percentage of your child's fundraising efforts really goes to the club or program. Then do the math. If they are selling pizza kits at $15 a piece and only make $3.00 off of each one, you can spend $45 for three kits and the school is only getting $9. Financially you'd be better off just giving the school the $9 and the other $36 you'd have left can go a lot further than just paying for three pizzas.
There are other benefits to this approach as well. You won't have to hassle with keeping track of all of the fundraising dates (when the orders are due, when you pick the items up, when the money is due, etc.). Of course your child won't receive their token "prize" for participating, but this may be a blessing as well. You won't have to deal with their hurt feeling when their prize breaks five minutes after being opened (which always happens).
So this year instead of ordering overpriced cookie dough you don't need or an entertainment book you stick in a cupboard and forget about, just simply write a check instead. Look at your budget and figure out how much you'd like to give to each organization and make a direct donation. You'll be glad you did.
Jennifer Applin is a freelance writer, wife and mother of four. She spends her days cooking, cleaning and caring for little ones, and her nights writing about parenting, pregnancy, and the quest for peace (as in peace and quiet—there is such a thing, right?).