On the day of the Fall Frenzy Fundraiser, my five-year-old returned home from school visibly upset, feeling crushed and disappointed in both himself and me. I had forgotten to pack the envelope containing the funds we had collected, and he knew he had let down his school’s Parent Teacher Organization (PTO).
Throughout the month leading up to this event, we were bombarded with reminders about incentives, deadlines, and the amounts needed to qualify for prizes like movie tickets or participation in the Color Fun Run. They were “strongly encouraged” to raise significant sums, with the top two fundraisers receiving illuminated scooters. Additionally, all students would have the opportunity to engage in fall activities like pumpkin bowling and mummy wrapping on the day of the drawing.
While these incentives might seem appealing to young children, they effectively pressure them into soliciting funds from family and friends without a true understanding of the value of money or the social norms surrounding fundraising. My support for the PTO is unwavering, but I struggle to align with their current fundraising methods.
Who Are We Supposed to Ask for Donations?
First and foremost, who are we supposed to ask for donations? Most of my acquaintances also have kids who are currently fundraising. The only individuals I would feel comfortable approaching are those without children, which essentially leaves us relying on our own parents. I cannot send my kindergartner door-to-door to request money from strangers. Perhaps if he were selling candy bars or coupon books, I might feel more at ease. However, outright asking for cash feels inappropriate and disconnected from reality.
Moreover, it troubles me that these young children are motivated solely by the prospect of prizes or fun activities, with no real understanding of the effort or learning process involved. Why are we instilling in them the belief that this behavior is acceptable? The funds are meant for extras like field trips and special assemblies—not for essentials like books or supplies. Many of these children lack the maturity to grasp the nuances of this situation. By placing fundraising responsibilities on young kids, we are inadvertently teaching them that this practice is acceptable.
The Pressure on Young Children
What pains me most is the pressure placed on these little ones. My heart goes out to those students who lack the financial means to participate, through no fault of their own. Not every family has the extra money to spare or friends to ask for contributions.
Reflecting on my childhood, I distinctly remember the knot in my stomach whenever a teacher mentioned a “fun” activity requiring money from home. Often, I didn’t even bother asking my parents for help. Even though my choice not to participate was my own, I still felt awful being the only child who usually sat out.
So, you can imagine my disappointment when I found the envelope on the table, knowing it was due by nine o’clock. I felt terrible for my son, who would be left out. When I rushed the money to school, it was already too late. He came home dejected, believing he was excluded from all Fall Frenzy activities due to the missing funds. In reality, he only missed out on the prize drawings, but at five years old, he couldn’t grasp the full context.
Later that day, the school shared pictures in their digital newsletter. In several images, I spotted my son in the background, biting his lip as he fought back tears, while other kids enjoyed themselves. This is simply unacceptable. The responsibility of fundraising should not fall on the children.
Feel free to remind me daily about the fundraising, but I’m the one who has the checkbook and understands who is an appropriate person to approach for donations. I should be the only one feeling disappointed about a missed envelope.
While the PTO did receive my contribution, I can’t support fundraising practices that fail to teach children about the value of money while leaving those with limited means feeling excluded. For further insights on this topic, you can check out our other blog post here. For authoritative information on home insemination, visit Make a Mom. Additionally, IVF Babble provides excellent resources for pregnancy and home insemination.
Conclusion
In summary, the current approach to PTO fundraising should be reevaluated. We must prioritize teaching kids about financial responsibility without placing undue pressure on them, ensuring that no child feels left out due to financial circumstances.
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