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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask the PTA mums

156 replies

user1495362060 · 15/05/2018 20:15

Do you really believe that PTA organized events are an effective way to raise funds for school needs?

(I have absolutely nothing against those events - i think they are great for socializing for those who want it! Perhaps it would be better if there was less sugar and plastic and more male participation. I just can’t wrap my mind around the fact that you try to coax money out of parents by offering them cookies and lottery tickets Hmm)

OP posts:
Hoppinggreen · 15/05/2018 20:23

Well we’ve raised £8000 this year mostly via events and funded a new library, football kit and leavers tshirts
Apart from the Easter event there was no sugar, not sure about the plastic thing and the 5 aside tournament was 100% Dads
Never sold lottery tickets but we did have a Xmas raffle with prizes donated by local businesses

siwel123 · 15/05/2018 20:24

I don't do PTA, so hope i cn respond.
These events are 'old fashioned' however they raise money for the school and are effective so yes in a sense they're effective.

What i would like to see if no PTA! But this would mean proper funding for schools from the government so everything a school needs for the children and staff is paid for. It would also mean having some members of staff having the time to organise some events like an end of year disco.

But at the moment, these are unrealitic, so guess we have to support the PTA as granted they do great job!

RedSkyAtNight · 15/05/2018 20:25

Well if you consider them as purely a fundraising exercise, then no, they are not the greatest money spinner.

however most events (discos, fairs, cake sales etc.) are also about the children getting involved and getting parents involved with their child's school. Lots of male participation at my DC's school - perhaps you could consider why this is not the case at yours!

it would definitely be more efficient just to cancel all cake sales and ask everyone to donate a fiver instead - however that is slightly missing the point ...

Dozer · 15/05/2018 20:25

I am not on the PTA, but how would YOU suggest they / schools fundraise?

Some schools have directly asked parents for money, which the tabloids have a problem with, apparently.

whyismykid · 15/05/2018 20:26

Nope - for us they make ‘maintenance’ money - pay for the things we are committed to annually (clubs, School trips, garden repairs etc). If we / the school need something substantial then we apply for grants or corporate sponsorship.

But the events are fun, and they allow people to socialise in a different way, raise the profile of the school so they are still worth doing - even if it feels like a lot of effort for not much cash. We general only organise events that we actually want to go too - an insure there is something to suit a variety of people (sports events, cake sales, film nights, Ceilidh)

NormHonal · 15/05/2018 20:27

As an ex-PTA person:

Some events are, some aren’t, but you need a mix of stuff to appeal to different people and pockets and keep awareness out there of what you’re trying to achieve. The smallest events can be a real pain in the arse to do but generate most goodwill. Sometimes the big stuff is easier.

And it’s also as much about the community spirit it generates having events and then people care more and help more and participate more and spend more in the future.

MummyItsallaboutyou · 15/05/2018 20:30

We raise around £14k per year through PTA events. The money pays for £5 per child for every school trip, subject enrichment days for each child in year 1 and 2, playground equipment and music lessons. In recent years £3k has been spent on new reading books.

multivac · 15/05/2018 20:31

We raised £26K the last year I was involved. School found the funds pretty useful, I'd say. We're talking about a primary school with just over 300 pupils; mixed intake; and a small bunch of volunteers, most of whom worked full time as well as the PTA stuff. We ran it like a small business, and maximised our income by seeking out matched funding schemes and grants wherever possible. We also provided the community with a summer fete, a Christmas fair, an arts festival, a fireworks display, and countless 'pop up' stalls.

And a reasonable proportion of the volunteers involved had penises.

Original poster
user1495362060 · 15/05/2018 20:31

When you say there is no sugar involved do you mean you have no cake sales?
There seems to be a cake sale every week in our school. I am wondering if it is normal.

My point is however whether you think you would have raised the same amount if you just straight away asked parents to donate to the PTAs bank account.

Our PTA eventually did just that. They raised 5000 that week.

I’d rather that thank my children being confronted with a pound a piece cake every Wednesday.

OP posts:
Scrumymum · 15/05/2018 20:33

Does your PTA explain how the raised funds are used in school, and there you will have your answer?

I know in our school if it wasn't for the THANKLESS HARD WORK of the PTA our children wouldn't enjoy the ICT suite and all the educational apps. They wouldn't have the school trips (PTA heavily subsidise costs), or the educational workshops that come into school. Our PTA also pay for things like the Leavers t-shirts/hoodies as a lot of our parents couldn't afford them.

The PTA are careful to choose fundraising events that the parents and children will enjoy and spend money on. Cake sales are easy and can easily make £100-£200 for half an hours volunteering time for example. Other events like the Christmas or Summer fairs take hours and hours of planning, months in advance that the average parent hasn't a clue (or care) has happened for the benefit of their own child.

Our PTA don't do it for the glory, Christ I couldn't really name any of them. They do it to help provide resources and curriculum enrichment that the school budget simply can't stretch to.

If our PTA didn't do what they do, the parents would soon notice and start complaining that Little Jonny doesn't have ICT time anymore or the school trips have suddenly shot up in price.

I find it very sad that you use the word "coax" like the PTA are trying to screw you out of money for their own benefit?! You really think they like giving up their evenings and weekends to plan these events?

How is "male participation" going to raise funds for the school?

multivac · 15/05/2018 20:34

Also, OP, could you be more patronising, do you think? That would be cool.

Namechange128 · 15/05/2018 20:37

It would be nice at our school if there was more honesty about the social side and less pressure. I work full time, DH part time and isn't well, have no family around to help, and would rather give £10 than spend time and money baking a cake which will then be sold for pennies a slice (and agree on the sugar too - regular cake sales, ice cream van in summer, etc etc etc). Other parents are single mums who work shifts with small DCs. But here there's always a bit of whispering about those who don't get involved, your children can get left out of parties and playdates, and it just doesn't feel like a true choice.

We live in an area where quite a few parents talk about how it was school X or they were going private, so there is not a shortage of potential donors - I always think that some targeted fundraising to people who would like to help the school financially but don't have time (or desire) for volunteering would be more effective than all the cake sales put together! But as others say, this is not seen as in the right spirit...

dingdongdigeridoo · 15/05/2018 20:38

PTA isn’t just about cash though. We try to do stuff that the kids will love, whether it’s the Xmas shop so they can buy presents for their parents, or the Easter parade where they get to show off their hats. Local parents do enjoy stuff such as the quiz nights, although that might be because there’s not a huge amount to do in our village!

Namechange128 · 15/05/2018 20:38

Feel like the grinch posting the above! But I'm a bit fed up with all the events and the expections.

MonumentVal · 15/05/2018 20:39

£5000 in a week! Our primary manages less than that in a year (500 kids)...
Thing is, you can't get blood out of a stone, so our motto is to screw the amount of money we can with as little effort as possible - so winter and summer fairs, cake sale each term, couple quiz nights, but give up on other stuff.
We do invite people to just donate. So far that's made under 50 quid in 3 years...

Original poster
user1495362060 · 15/05/2018 20:39

My point is just that straight out asking the parents for donations would achieve the same objective.

How can you on one hand have a campaign against child obesity (we just had everyone weighted here in the reception) and on the other sell cakes in the school yard every week? How does it make any sense?

OP posts:
Namechange128 · 15/05/2018 20:41

And yes, cake sale every week at the DDs' school, AND ice cream van in summer, where you have to walk by to get into school. Don't feel that the PTA is helping the healthy eating message!

Littleredboat · 15/05/2018 20:41

Actually this thread has done more to persuade me of the value of the PTA than 7 years of school has.
I don’t think anyone has ever told me how much our PTA has raised in a year or what it’s bought.

Up until now all I’ve seen is that I’ve spent a fiver on ingredients to make cupcakes that get sold for 50p each. It’s hard not to wonder why I can’t just donate the fiver but maybe that’s cos no one has ever shown me the proof of the pudding.

Hmm.

multivac · 15/05/2018 20:42

My point is just that straight out asking the parents for donations would achieve the same objective

Maybe with your demographic it might.

multivac · 15/05/2018 20:43

Although, y'know, five grand is nice - but could you do that five times in a year and not piss parents off?

Glitterkitten24 · 15/05/2018 20:44

Kinda yes, kinda no is my answer.
I’m a PTA mum, but on the outskirts. I’m not pals with the PTA head and don’t have specific jobs like the inner circle have.

The events we do - year in, year out- do raise money.
However we could do so much more, different events, different people involved, different ideas.
I have suggested changes, but am looked at like I have 5 heads. So we continue doing the same events. This year. And next year. And the year after that....

MollyDaydream · 15/05/2018 20:44

They raise thousands and the children enjoy the events.

MollyDaydream · 15/05/2018 20:46

I doubt the PTA is campaigning about childhood obesity - you could always join the PTA and organise some alternative events though?

Original poster
user1495362060 · 15/05/2018 20:46

Oh yes, and I am not really patronizing-but you have to provide some edge to get noticed on AIBU Wink
I am genuinely curious. I don’t believe parents who want to donate need insensitives in the form of cakes or raffles in our day and age. They are presumably responsible grownups who mostly want best for their kids.
Just say - to have forest school this year we need to raise X amount of money. Write how much you expect everyone to donate. Run a campaign at the school gate! I will come to hold the banner.

OP posts:
multivac · 15/05/2018 20:47

Sorry, OP - did you just say you don't want to be patronising?