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Private & Independent Schools
Auctions and Anuual Funds
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Anonymous
| Newbie here, if you are receiving some form of financial aid are you expected to attend these events? |
Anonymous
| Oops, meant to say Auction and Annual Fund. |
Anonymous
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You are still "expected" to give some money to the annual fund. It doesn't have to be a lot, but participation is important and they would really appreciate something. Even $20 helps the participation number. If the school bus drivers and janitors can donate to the school (and at our private school, they do!), I would think you could give something too.
The auction is fun, but it can be expensive to go. If you don't want to go or don't feel you can afford the tickets, you shouldn't feel obligated to attend. |
Anonymous
| We buy tickets to the auction but don't usually attend. |
Anonymous
| At our school, I believe families receiving tuition assistance don't have to pay for their auction tickets. |
Anonymous
| Honestly I don't know the expectations aof the auction or Gala - but the Annual Fund should have 100% parent participation at any $$ level. Organizations should show 100% support from its core before they apply for private foundation/corporate and/or govt funding. The basic idea is "if their own constituents don't support the organization, why should we?" So, yes, you should support the Annual Fund at whatever level you are comfortable. |
Anonymous
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Why? Private schools aren't going to the government for funding. Many people (including us) are struggling to meet tuition. I feel no pressure to donate money. I donate my time in helping out in the library, events, organizing nook fairs etc.
Many of the big donors don't feel they have to donate their time to anything because their check is all they have to do. If I don't donate my time, many of these things would not get done. |
Anonymous
What is a nook fair? |
Anonymous
| meant book fair! Sorry. Have not had enough coffee yet. |
Anonymous
| Sorry -- but that is the wrong attitude. Even if its $25 -- the point is "100% parent participation". And private schools do apply for and receive gov't funding. |
Anonymous
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Thank you for your opinion of my attitude. I do my best to make up for the inability to donate. I think the attitude of the big donors sticks.
They give money in place of any time to any events or volunteer requests for their presence at the school. It shows in their kids attitudes also. Their kids don't feel they have to do anything either and treat the parent volunteers with a lack of respect as well. |
Anonymous
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PP your statement is false.
Many big donors give anonymously. Many big donors also donate time. I think all parents should donate something to the annual fund, even $5, for the community sense of 100 percent participation. Isn't that sense what you want to? |
jhuber
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|
To the original poster:
While I don't think there's an expectation of 100% attendance at the annual gala / auction / big fundraiser event, schools do strongly encourage 100% participation in fundraising efforts, with people contributing within their means. My own experience is that families receiving financial aid often do contribute to annual fund. Through a strong participation rate, a school is able to reach out to other donors / institutions to show a wider base of support, which can lead to even greater giving. So for a family considering its $25 donation as insignificant, this gift, coupled with higher participation rate, can make a great difference. Two true school stories to share - early last year, a parent at our school who had contributed greatly to our fundraising efforts was found after one event spending hours helping to clean the most grimy, greasy equipment. To see this parent's full contribution and dedication to the school was heartwarming. Then later in the year at our auction, a family which had received financial aid did their best to give back in a special fundraising drive for financial aid. They were so grateful for the opportunity for their child, they wanted to help as they could. Take care, John |
Anonymous
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I help with fundraising at our school. I never am told who is on financial aid. I am given a list and call those people. Certainly the school expects some to give more than others. But we never leave people off the list becuase they are on financial aid.
Many, or at least some, don't go to the spring auction. I assume they are out of town, but perhaps cost is a factor. And some of the biggest donors at my school run some of the biggest time-suck events of the year. They aren't sitting around letting others do the work while they write a check. |
Anonymous
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"early last year, a parent at our school who had contributed greatly to our fundraising efforts was found after one event spending hours helping to clean the most grimy, greasy equipment."
That parent was hiding from an unpleasant home situation. How stupid do you think we are? |