My five-year-old, Max, came home from school after the Fall Frenzy Fundraiser feeling utterly crushed. He was heartbroken and disappointed—not just in himself, but in me too. I had forgotten to place the envelope with the money we had raised into his backpack that morning. He knew he had let the PTO down.
For weeks, we had been consistently reminded about the incentives, rules, and deadlines. If they raised a certain amount of money, they would be entered into a small prize drawing for things like movie tickets and gain access to the Color Fun Run the following week. They were “strongly encouraged” to raise a higher amount, with the top two fundraisers winning light-up scooters. Everyone would also be able to take part in fall field day activities like pumpkin bowling and mummy wrapping on the day of the drawings.
These incentives can be enticing for elementary-aged children, motivating them to ask for money without fully understanding its value or the social norms around fundraising. While I support our school’s PTO, I find myself at odds with their fundraising methods.
Who Are We Expected to Ask?
First and foremost, who are we expected to ask for donations? Everyone I know has school-aged children who are also in the midst of fundraising campaigns. The only individuals I’d feel comfortable approaching are those without kids—mainly our own parents. I can’t send my kindergartener door-to-door asking strangers for cash. Perhaps I’d be more at ease if he were selling candy bars or coupon books, but outright soliciting money feels off. This isn’t how the adult world operates.
The Pressure on Young Children
What troubles me even more is that these young children are encouraged to solicit funds simply to enter a prize drawing or participate in a fun run. There’s no real effort or learning process on their part. We should be teaching our kids that asking for money isn’t appropriate behavior. The funds raised are intended for extras like field trips and assemblies, not essential supplies like books. Most of these kids lack the maturity to grasp the implications of this situation. Why are we leading them to believe this is acceptable?
What strikes me the hardest is the pressure placed on these little ones. My heart breaks for those students who may not have the means to participate, through no fault of their own. Not every family has extra cash in their budget or a network of friends to ask for help.
Personal Reflections
I remember growing up with similar experiences, feeling a knot in my stomach every time the teacher mentioned a “fun” activity that required cash. Most of the time, I didn’t even bother asking my parents. Even though I had a choice to participate or not, I still felt awful being the only child left out.
So, I was dismayed when I spotted the envelope on the table, realizing it was due by nine o’clock, and knowing my son would miss out. After driving the money to school, I learned it was too late. He came home dejected, tears in his eyes, thinking he had been excluded from all the Fall Frenzy activities. Technically, he was only left out of the prize drawings, but at five years old, he couldn’t comprehend the rules.
Later that day, the school shared photos from the event in their digital newsletter. I caught a glimpse of Max in the background, biting his lip, trying not to cry. Picture after picture showed other kids enjoying themselves, while my son appeared blurred and distant, believing he was excluded because he hadn’t brought any money.
A Call for Change
This is simply unacceptable. The burden of fundraising should not fall on the shoulders of our children. I’m more than willing to be reminded daily and to take responsibility for the checkbook. I should be the one feeling disappointed if an envelope is left behind—not my child.
The PTO still received my contribution, and I continue to support them. However, I cannot endorse fundraising practices that fail to educate children about the value of money while simultaneously making those with lesser means feel ostracized. If you want to read more about fundraising practices and their impact on children, check out this post on Home Insemination Kit.
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In summary, while I support our school’s PTO, I believe it’s imperative to rethink the way we approach fundraising. Let’s shift the responsibility away from our children and ensure that all kids feel included and valued, regardless of their family’s financial situation.
Keyphrase: PTO fundraising practices
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