AIBU to expect other parents to support a preschool fundraising events?

[Pregnantabroad]

I'm organising a fundraiser for our small preschool. They're struggling to meet the funding needs so I've organised a ticketed evening event and I'm really surprised at how little support there is from other parents (availability and suitability aside - it's on a Friday night and aimed at women). I know I can sell the tickets to other friends and contacts in the village but I'm disappointed by the reaction of fellow parents.
I'm curious to know why people would and wouldn't support events and if there's anything I could do next time to influence parents better? Should I take the guilt-trip route (preschool struggling financially)? Or does that put people off? Any advice appreciated!

I think there is a bit of a difference between PTA fundraising and pre school fundraising. The amount that pre schools get for the 15/30 hours is not actually enough to cover the staff/accomodation etc costs. Nurserys manage by charging higher fees for hours over the 30 and for babies and toddlers, but a charity preschool doesn't tend to have this option.

In a nut shell, PTA fundraising often is for the extras/ nice stuff/ photocopier, preschool is necessary to pay the staff and rent!

(Ex preschool chair ...)

It's a style workshop when you learn how to tie a scarf in ten different ways. Admittedly it's not for everyone and I have no expectations that it's everyone's cup of tea.The woman who leads it has run it as a private event for hundreds of women in the past. It is her most popular workshop. The ticket is £9 and includes prosecco and canapes. I'm not part of the day-to-day committee but organise the odd event to try and help and usually attend other events that are organised if I can. I do work - 4 days - and have 4 young kids too and am under no illusions that other people don't always have spare money/time to take part. I'm just curious to know how best to fund-raise as I don't want the preschool to struggle and sponsored bunny hops/cake sales only raise a certain amount as we only have around 25 children. It's also interesting to hear that some people have quite strong feelings about being made to feel obliged to do stuff. I think the recommendation to tell people from the outset how much we rely on fundraising is a good one.
Thanks for your comments so far- keep them coming!

I wouldn't pay £9 to learn how to tie a scarf lots of different ways. Even if it was raising money. That kind of thing wouldn't be my scene at all.

It's a state preschool that has charity status and really relies on fundraising.

I'm happy to donate where I can.
I wouldn't go to a women's ticketed event because it sounds crap even if it isn't
I definitely wouldn't give up my Friday night.
I'm a single parent and wouldn't want to pay for child care to go.

Other than that, would be happy to support in other ways.

Wow. You couldn't pay me to go to that.

Friday night practicing scarf knots? With, I am assuming, a measly glass of 'fizz' and 2.5 cream cheese twists per person?

£9 is expensive in my book for a fundraising event.
Even if I had any interest in the actual event (which I don't).
If it had been a couple of quid I might have paid it and then not turned up.

I guess I'm not asking about people's thoughts on the specific event - I know that this event doesn't appeal to lots of people, and is more aimed at 50+ women (this is not a generalisation - this is because the event has done for over 1000 women over the last 5 years and most of the audience are 50+) but more a general:

What do you think about how fundraising is approached?
How could it be done better?
What kind of things are you most likely to donate to?
What kinds of things annoy you about fundraising events?

I appreciate all comments but would prefer if people aren't mean about the event itself - I'm just trying to raise some money in the most effective way possible! And maybe do it better next time!

Sorry OP but that sounds utterly dull. Have you ever held a disco, they're fairly well attended at our Pre school.

Why are events only ever about women’s fashion?

I don't think we need to be mean

No it wouldn't be my cup of tea (although shock horror to the vapid and girly poster....i am highly educated and successful and guess what love makeup and hair stuff....im far from vapid but good to know my like of these things negates my ability to read ancient Greek!!)

I do also get these things must be very hard to plan ...i can only speak for myself but id happily buy raffle tickets or cakes on a regular basis .. it may be little and often but at least it's an income

It's no good asking us OP, you need to ask the parents at your pre-school what sort of event they would support.

Things that come up on MN as great school fundraisers have been absolute flops at my DC's schools.

IME parents are generally happy to spend money on things

• created by their DC (if not stupidly expensive as per £12 tea towel above)

and

• things that will be enjoyed by their DC, so discos, summer fairs, cake sales

Ask for the money instead?

maybe it would work better if you asked the parents what kind of events they would be willing to attend/contribute towards. you might get a better response.

It’s the Friday evening thing, obviously anyone with preschool children would need childcare to go out then. Not everyone has 2 parents at home, and your theme of the evening is very niche! I’m sure you’d do better with something like a cake sale or a normal school fair?

Movie and munch time straight after the preschool session? You could charge a reasonable amount for that, it's something I always go for at school as it extends the school (and my working) day.

I would rather boil my own arse in a bucket than go to a "ladies" or mum's thing. My interest in schools and the parents within is minimal. Just ask me for a hundred quid and I will give you the cash. But not everyone needs mumsy friends things organised for them.

Is there a way to do a survey of the parents who use the preschool?

You could say, the preschool is struggling financially, would you prefer that we as parents (select all that apply):

a) pay higher fees
b) do nothing and accept that there may be some things which the preschool can no longer fund
c) each donate the amount we feel we can afford
d) raise money through events

If d, which of the following would interest you most:

a) a cheese and wine evening
b) a coffee morning
c) a summer fete for the children
d) other - we would welcome volunteers to run events, please contact x

etc

It still might not work but it seems fairly low risk and not too time intensive so might be worth a try? If people go with the "donation" option you could give out envelopes and collect them the following week?

For what it's worth if someone went to the trouble of organising an event for my daughter's pre school I'd try and make the effort to go, and I think your event sounds fun. It's not something I've ever done before and I'd quite like the opportunity to meet other parents over drinks.

Ok, so this is aimed at parents of pre-schoolers.

And yet you've chosen an activity targeted at women aged 50+ - how many of the parents are women who are 50+?!?!

Thing is these all add up and cost a fortune. Class photos, non uniform days, leaving presents, teatowels with 30 kids names on you've never met, quiz nights, drinks nights, raffle tickets the list goes on. I for one can't afford it all, have no childcare in place for evening events - work so can't attend daytime events and quite honestly the organisers of these events are always the cliquey bitches who don't acknowledge or talk to me unless they are asking for or taking my money. You then get guilt tripped for not going because you're not in the same easy position they are.

Coffee morning would be a good start. Straight after they've dropped kids off too. It's a cheap event to run and will give you an idea of the amount and type of people free at that time. Asking people to return to the preschool on a Friday night just won't happen. I'd maybe attend an outdoor picnic screening on a Sunday with the family

"Type of people" meaning what else they might be willing to attend - just realised that could be read wrong

I work in a school, and I think the problem is that you are asking for time as well as money. A cake sale will bring in money and not require people to give up a whole evening, or do a Just Giving page.

I would pay to avoid a workshop on how to tie a scarf tbh.

Outdoor picnic and movie screening*

Outdoor picnic and movie screening*