Hi I Have a Question About Fundraising ?

I would just pay my part myself. The part of the sales is usually fairly small. My kid, my responsibility. I would never ask family, start a Go fund me or kickstarter....ugh, just the thought of it makes me cringe.

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I would just pay my part myself. The part of the sales is usually fairly small. My kid, my responsibility. I would never ask family, start a Go fund me or kickstarter....ugh, just the thought of it makes me cringe.

I am totally against fundraising for activities. Over the years I have spent $100s on things I do not want or need --even lottery tickets- for other people's kids. This year when I was asked to buy girlscout cookies, and I was told all the fun things the girls get to do with the profit (only donating a small percent), I decided I had enough. From now on, I am not buying or supporting anyone eles kids. No one gives me money to pay for their activities, so I"m no longer going to support other people's kids.

My kids did lemonade stands and sold cookies at community yard sales, etc. but that was for fun money - not to go towards activities. Here, their group (whatever activity they are in, such as hockey, etc.) have to sell things like chocolate bars, cookies, etc. to raise money. They usually do it both as a group and also go door to door. Mostly though, I think parents end up selling the stuff to coworkers etc.

I can't imagine going around and asking for donations to help pay for my kids' costs. I've not seen that happen before.

ETA: Ok now I get what people mean - the GoFundMe thing. People post things on some of the large groups I belong to on Facebook (such as for our local area) where a kid is going on a trip to another country, and needs money. Personally - I skip on by those.

We participated in team/class fundraisers as they happened but I never did anything on my own.

I have my own kids and my own charities I like to support. I don't like it when friends ask me to support their kids activities or charities by simply making a donation. I don't mind buying a box of Girl Scout cookies or a candy bar in support of something but I don't want to be asked to buy cookie dough or over priced wrapping paper. I will support kids doing a car car wash or pancake breakfast.

I always buy lemonade from kids that have a stand. Not sure that is a real money maker though.

I'm glad you posted in your SWH, because I really hadn't seen this senario before. I mean, I've seen kids with lemonade stands, but that's usually been at garage sales, and I don't think they made much money. I think it was just for fun.

I'm not certain what the organization meant by "individual fund raising." Like so many others, the only fund raising my kids have ever done involved selling something - popcorn for Cub Scouts or pizzas for school.

Do you think they meant that the kids would be on their own to actually sell whatever it is? Or do you really think they expect the kids to be self-starters and come up with their own fund raising ideas? Definitely something to ask about. Also, some organizations will ask you to earn a certain amount of money to cover your costs. Our Cub Scout Pack requires us to sell $400 worth of popcorn or chip in (It's actually not as hard to reach $400 as you might think, but that dollar amount scared me the first year!). I'd probably ask how much they need each child to raise. Then you can decide whether or not it would be easier to just pay it yourself.

I would just pay for the activity. I dislike fundraising.

If the kids are doing something to work for it, I think it's a great idea - lemonade stand, washing cars, mowing the neighbors lawns, garage sale, etc. - are all great ways to fundraise for the things they want to do. I would happily support my friends/neighbors whose kids were doing things like that. I would not simply give money to a Go Fund Me site or something like that in order to pay for another child to go to camp or do a similar, optional experience.

Nope! You/your kids want to do sports/activities, then you foot the bill. If you want to pay them for chores, that's fine. Or, if they're old enough to babysit, dog sit, mow grass, etc, that's fine. If you know you have extra camps and such in the summer, you can ask grandparents and such to give $$ at Christmas, in lieu of gifts, that would be used for the summer camp.

All of our fundraising was through the school boosters, cheerleading, etc that had a 501c3 set up.

When we asked for sponsorships fur program sales, etc, we had to provide that form for tax purposes.

I never asked for sponsorships, funding or anything like gofundme for something my child was involved with at the time. I personally feel like her activities and how involved she was in them was my personal financial obligation.

I don't get into kids just asking for money in order to do something. I'll support someone if they show an effort and work for it but no handouts from me are given or requested.

I think there is a BIG difference between self-driven fundraising and parent-driven fundraising.

If you say to your child firmly and clearly: "I understand that you want to go to soccer camp - you will need to figure out a way to earn the money for that", your child might ask for extra chores, talk to friends about after-school jobs, etc. That is healthy and creates an individual problem-solving spirit!

If you exploit ("p*mp out") your children by parking them behind a lemonade stand of your creation and telling them "SELL! Sell more! Momma needs a discount on soccer camp!" - that is not healthy and does not ultimately benefit your children.

Personally, if I couldn't pay, they don't play. Very simple.

A kids lemonade stand is a cute, fun experience. But I would not tie the proceeds to an activity. My kids can participate in organized fundraisers for the schools or activities they join if they would like to do so, but I would not force them. We decide as parents if the cost of an experience is something we can afford, if it is reasonable, or not.

I guess I would consider "individual fundraising" as "the onus is on you to pay this" and consider it more of a euphemism and less of "you should have a fundraiser".

Fundraising could be:
selling toys and items at a garage sale
doing chores around the house for money (if they don't have an allowance)
Odd jobs for neighbor, depending on their ages.
collecting cans and bottles (if your state has a deposit system)

The lemonade stand idea is fine, but remember there is an overhead to that. But yeah, that does run some risks-- it really depends on who is miffed about it, I guess.

Hm. To me that means they want you to pay for it yourself. I personally would never go around asking for money for my kids for their camp or sports...I only give to gofundme type webpages when it is someone in need such as their child has cancer or their house burned down. I personally have never heard of families doing their own fundraisers to try to raise money for camps and sports. Try asking your kids' grandparents if they can help out if needed. By the way, our kids have had many lemonade stands...they do not make much money! It's more a fun things for kids to do and they make a little bit. I think my kids were thrilled when they made a total of $10 ($5 each) with their stand.

As far as lemonade stands go - they can get you into legal trouble.

http://blogs.findlaw.com/law_and_life/2013/08/5-legal-iss...

Perhaps they can offer to walk neighbors dogs and do yard chores for neighbors for some extra cash.

If I don't want to contribute, I don't. I think "individual" fundraising is not lemonade stands anymore. Today I think it means more like crowd funding. Posting something on FB and asking friends and family to chip in. Or a GoFundMe account. That sort of thing. I do know people who make their kids work to earn the money to do whatever--paying them to mow the lawn, clean out the garage, etc. Or posting asking people to hire out their kid for such jobs (wherein people tend to just donate the money).

I don't think it means planning a fundraising event like a single kid carwash or running a lemonade stand or selling baked goods.

As for what I think about them? Again, meh... if it is an opportunity that I think is worthy and the kid is in dire need and the parents can't make it happen, then I might contribute. Otherwise, I scroll on by. Mainly, b/c I think a lot of the trips and things kids do are not worthy or the best use of the monies it would cost. Often they are thinly veiled vacations disguised as some sort of sacrifice on their part.

I did a kickstarter for my kids because they where interested in a business. It took off and they made a good portion of money.

They also do a lemonade stand at a local market almost every weekend. Again, because they are eager to sock away some extra money.

Some of their friends help occasionally on the weekend and that helps to motivate sometimes to get out and do it.

They also donate some of the money to a family they are raising money for kids born with disabilities.

Well I know that on certain swim teams my daughter has been on we had to do "individual fundraising" too. BUT they had a swim-a-thon thing where people could donate certain monies per lap, etc. Do your kids have anything like that with this sport? If so then I think it's reasonable to ask friends and family to support the cause. I personally help as many kids as I can that ask for help in sports or scouts.

I think a lemonade stand would be a fine idea actually. They aren't going to make a ton of money from it, but you know what that's ok. It will still give them the experience of putting something together and trying to make money to put towards something. It sounds like you're willing and able to fund the rest of the amount, so I don't see anything wrong with it.