School Fundraisers in the workplace

LoCarb · October 2013

Just about every week there is co-worker selling fundraising items for their children (wrapping paper, popcorn, candles, discount cards) in the break room. Usually, it's a catalog and sign up sheet taped to the counter. Sometimes, the co-workers send emails or walk cube to cube. Several times, I have been personally asked to help out with church fundraisers (buying raffle tickets) which I'm going to lump in with school. Most of the time, I decline the over - priced items but I still find it annoying. Especially, since it is becoming more frequent in my work place.

Note to self - when my children are older and asked to participate in fundraisers I will not solicit co-workers. I had to walk door-to-door to sell girl scout cookies. I understand this may not be safe now or when my kids are of age. So to answer a popular question- "what will you do with tuition money when your LO is no longer in DC?" Answer: a portion will go to school fundraising.

No question, more of a vent or discussion. Feel free to discuss or flame me.

jetgrrrl · October 2013

We have a small office and there are three of us with kids too young to be soliciting for school fundraisers yet, so I haven't run into this. But we're a non-profit so there's plenty of our own fundraising that goes on.
I would say I'm ok with someone taping a sign-up sheet to the counter (as long as it's clear that it's entirely optional) but I'm not ok with someone going cubicle to cubicle or sending out an email, particularly on the company email. I would think most companies wouldn't be ok with that use of email, either. If you're friends with someone outside of work and they choose to send you a personal email, that's up to you/them.
I can pretty much guarantee we will not be champion fundraisers for any school- or activity-related stuff our kids get into. I'd rather fork over the minimum myself than hit up coworkers.

jetgrrrl · October 2013

PS - can I just say I love your Cinderella siggy? The first time I saw it I almost wet my pants I was laughing so hard!

financialdiva · October 2013

Unless you are selling me chocolate that you can hand me right after I give you money, I hate fundraisers.

I had to fundraise hard since my parents couldn't afford to help. When the boys are old enough to fundraise for activities they are involved in, I do worry that DH and I are going to say F it and just give them money to pay for it instead of wasting our precious free time standing outside a grocery store selling whatever for only a small % of the proceeds to go their activity anyway.

I hate fundraising.

Karla CS · October 2013

I actually prefer the signup sheet taped up to the fridge at work vs kids going door to door. I don't mind kids I know coming to my door, parents in tow. I do get concerned when I see kids who aren't from our neighborhood going door to door by themselves, it's just not safe. And I also won't buy anything from kids I don't know unless it's something I want (no pity buy from me) AND they can give it to me the minute cash exchanges hands.

And in writing this, I realized I don't consider girl scout cookies fundraisers. That is the universe keeping me stocked with delicious Tagalongs.

bumpuser511563 · October 2013

I hate fundraisers, too!

I rather collect coke caps and box tops then sell anything. DS's school participates in school portraits and book fairs as well.

Pips09 · October 2013

I agree that it's really annoying. Fundraisers should not be in the workplace, and at the most, should be placed in a common area for anyone who is interested, but do not walk around and solicit your co-workers.

I make an exception for Girl Scout Cookies. I'm going to buy those anyway, so it might as well be from someone's kid.

ss+el · October 2013

I'm ok with order forms in the break room. I rarely get approached by kids to buy anything, and my end of the block has 2-3 kids in most houses that attend in five different school systems (public, private, open enroll out).

If I've got something to sell, I'll mention it to a couple of my closest coworkers or someone I think might actually want it, but that's about it. (I can't count the number of conversations I have each spring with people wondering where to get their GS Cookie fix, though I'll never be able to help with that one)

jlaOK · October 2013

I'm fine with the form being in the break room, I'm just never going to buy anything from you. If you come to my door or if you are selling GS cookies outside of a store I'll probably buy something from you for the effort.

financialdiva · October 2013

Let it go @privacywanted , let it go.....

Carnation77 · October 2013

I'm OK with a sign up sheet in the break room as long as a supervisor isn't the one posting it (so no pressure to buy). Sometimes you actually want what they're selling - like Girl Scout Cookies! However, I think personally asking coworkers is rude. I really wish tax money just paid what needed to be paid for schools. I think all the fundraising is ridiculous.

I do always buy from kids going door to door because I feel bad for them.

jnealet · October 2013

We're only allowed to put fundraisers in a common area, we're not allowed to send emails or ask people specifically. And I'm good with that - D1's school does two fundraisers, neither I'm a huge fan of but I have had some luck putting the packets out and people at work buying them.

But then there's the hassle of getting it to them and all that fun stuff.

lollipoppoop · October 2013

I stopped answering my door when the door bell rings because of all the kids going door to door. I can't afford what they are selling and I feel bad. The look on their faces when I tell them no makes me sad.

RibbitGrl930 · October 2013

I'm okay with it if I have a close enough relationship with the parent. My cubicle neighbor this past winter was a good friend of mine, so when she asked if I wanted to buy Girl Scout Cookies to help out her daughter, I didn't hesitate. That, and I love Girl Scout Cookies. If I don't know the asker very well, it would put me off to be approached at work.

Nita14701 · October 2013

I find it annoying. But I also find organized workplace charity drives annoying ( united way). I have my own charities that I regularly donate to on my own.

Mrs.AllyH · October 2013

At my first job out of college, a VP would individually come around to sell GS cookies. Talk about pressure! I always got one box, but did better than most who felt they had to buy more because we have an aunt who runs the sales for her county so I had a good excuse.

*sparky* · October 2013

I have a school-aged child and agree that school fundraisers are annoying. So far this year, DS's school has asked us to sell Yankee Candles, Joe Corbi's, raffle tickets, and coupon books. And it's only October. I generally just buy something myself and my dad may buy something if he is over and we have one of the catalogs out. But I don't hit up friends and neighbors and I don't bring the catalogs to work.

The rule in my office is there is one table in the break room on which people can put fundraising solicitations. There is no going office to office or sending emails. It would really bug me if people were doing that.

AmberDerek · October 2013

I think it is ok to set the form out at your desk and if someone wants something they can buy it. I think it is rude to ask. Usually I will buy something, Grandparents and maybe one or two coworkers who are really interested in the product will purchase something.

pantsarella · October 2013

I would be fine with a sign up sheet in a common area, but we don't have any common areas in our building. So people go cube to cube. One woman gave me a 5 minute story about how much her daughters' dance costumes cost and omg she already paaaaiiiidddd the outrageous tuition. That sucks- don't have your daughters go to dance if you can't afford all the costs associated with it.

Unfortunately, I work in Education and everyone else is fine with it. We actually got an email from the Superintendent of schools asking for us to donate money to help buy kids uniforms.

UnexpectedlyExpected · October 2013

I'm OK with the sign up sheet in the common area; we usually have one in our department kitchen. Our company also has an email address called "all junk" and that's where you send emails regarding fundraisers, selling personal items, or asking questions such as doctor recommendations. Everyone has the right to be excluded/removed from the email address/group.

court115 · October 2013

I would buy Girl Scout cookies or Joe Corbi's from anyone, anywhere, at any time.

Other than that, I'm fine with the sheet in a common area. Probably because it gives me something to read during lunch but I'm not buying anything.

SoMoNY · October 2013

I work for a big compnay so not only do we get mom/dad asking us to donate/buy something but some Aunt/Uncles, Grandparents/Siblings as well!

Netty_3 · October 2013

We have rules not allowing that...I'm new so not sure if that is true though.
At my last place I swear one of the councilmen only ran for it to get everyone to buy his kids stuff.

Nechie122 · October 2013

True story: when we were younger my mom never let us ask anyone for money, even relatives or neighbors. So she would just write us a check.

For that reason, I'm probably more uncomfortable than most in asking for money. I kind of feel like, as the parent, funding school-related stuff should fall on my shoulders ... and my kid shouldn't have to peddle crap.

rubber_chicken · October 2013

Off-topic, but the United Way is such a freaking racket. Donating to the UW is basically paying their ridiculous administrator salaries, and it's downright unethical how people get pressured to donate at work. What I do with my paycheck is my business.

SoMoNY · October 2013

I stopped giving to UW after seeing what a debacle they made of the Sandy Hook donations.

cedenton · October 2013

I don't mind if they are in the break room and low pressure. I don't mind ONE email about it. That's what I did with our daycare's playground fundraiser.

The United Way is OUT OF CONTROL where I work. We have another fund (lobby) we can give to and then the lobby will match it with a charitable donation to the organization of our choice. My daycare is on the list so I just do that.

Sunidaze · October 2013

I pretty much ignore any school fundraising requests, home party invitations, etc. I think it is kept to a minimum in my work place (the company itself participates or gives to a lot of local charities so adding anything else on top is overkill). However, I have a very vivid memory of tracking down anyone I knew at work that had girl scout aged kids a couple of years ago because I was in desparate need of a cookie fix. No one really wanted to be in your face at work, preferring instead to have their kids work for it...but darnit...I needed my cookies!

ream02 · October 2013

Fundraisers drive me crazy too. I only participate in one for DD's school and that's because she has to work for it. Otherwise I hate them. DH really hates them. He complains about all the extra taxes we pay for education yet they are always cramming all these fundraisers down our throats because the schools and Govt can't manage money. It's a rather sticky topic at our house. Luckily DD will be in jr high next year so I'll get a 3-4 year reprieve from our own kids fundraisers.

KKCARLS · October 2013

I don't have school age kids yet so maybe I'll change my mind, but I don't think it's the parents' responsibility to be doing the work for their children and taking the fundraisers to work. When I have a child who needs to fund raise I thought the correct thing to do would have her come to my work one afternoon and go around and talk to a few of my work friends so she is personally doing the soliciting as I think should be her responsibility. But after seeing some people's responses on here, having her directly come to your office would make you uncomfortable so I may have to rethink my plan.

kristennd · October 2013

Yes, making me say no to your kid directly would be very obnoxious.

And no, it is not actually your child's responsibility to pay for her education.

Karla CS · October 2013

KKCARLS said:

I don't have school age kids yet so maybe I'll change my mind, but I don't think it's the parents' responsibility to be doing the work for their children and taking the fundraisers to work. When I have a child who needs to fund raise I thought the correct thing to do would have her come to my work one afternoon and go around and talk to a few of my work friends so she is personally doing the soliciting as I think should be her responsibility. But after seeing some people's responses on here, having her directly come to your office would make you uncomfortable so I may have to rethink my plan.

I would be really annoyed by this actually. One co-worker who passes around a list has her daughter write thank you notes to everyone who purchases anything and I think that's overkill even. Nice, but overkill.

daisy662 · October 2013

We have a non solicitation policy at work so thankfully, this is not allowed. It is very awkward to say no... At a company I used to work for, they would do their annual united way drive and give you a form with how much they felt you could afford based on your salary. I thought this was out of control over the top non of their business.

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