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Post by fiddlesticks on Mar 1, 2019 18:30:04 GMT
Hi all...I am hoping for some suggestions/advice.
My daughter is a part of a performing company at her dance studio. They perform locally at fairs and holiday event and every few years audition to dance in Disneyland. They got to dance last summer in Disneyland and take a class behind the scenes and it was an incredible experience. It also costs a lot of money to be a part of this group. Choreography fees, costumes, traveling, dance convention fees, etc. When we got the invitation, my DH and I had a conversation with DD about how much of a commitment this was for all of us. Money, time, energy for everyone. We also agreed that while there is a lot of fundraising we do, it is ultimately our responsibility to pay for things that the fundraising doesn't cover. And personally, I would rather just give them $12 instead of buying a dozen donuts where they get $5 of it.
Because there is a lot to pay for, a group of parents established a nonprofit so that we could do fundraisers. So far this school year, we have done 4 bigger fundraisers, several restaurant nights and several stand on the side of the road and sell donuts days. It isn't hard work but it takes time and effort. The problem, there are like 10 people that do all of the work. Probably not a surprise to anyone because that seems to be how things like this go. But, I thought maybe other people out there have been part of a nonprofit booster club like this and have found a way to require something of everyone. They used to track individual fundraising and then if you didn't have enough to cover xyz, then you had to pay the difference out of pocket. Last year, a new member was added that said it was illegal, that all the fundraising had to be shared equally regardless of what people put in. All of the sudden, participation in the fundraisers dropped.
At this point, I don't want to sell another pie or flower basket to help someone else's kid when they aren't at least trying. I get that not everyone has a network to sell to, but at least try and show up to meetings and volunteer to do things you could do. Sitting at the booster table to sell raffle tickets or offer to set up some dining out fundraisers. Do something! It isn't like this is a basic education kind of thing. It would actually cost me less money to just pay for my kid to do these things AND I would get so much time back.
Any advice?
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Post by Darcy Collins on Mar 1, 2019 18:59:38 GMT
In all honesty if it would cost you less money to pay for your kid than clearly the booster is not effective and should be dissolved. I would have zero interest in supporting a non-profit that is just creating extra work and hassle but not actually accomplishing anything. And I'll also say, that I feel like 90% of the time that is EXACTLY what happens with these. The parents are now just funding the fundraisers and someone is getting a cut and everyone would be better off just paying for it themselves. Both of my kids main organizations have done away with general fundraisers and have specific programs for scholarships for those who need assistance for paying for them.
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Post by Peace Sign on Mar 1, 2019 19:14:15 GMT
Last year, a new member was added that said it was illegal, that all the fundraising had to be shared equally regardless of what people put in. All of the sudden, participation in the fundraisers dropped. last year we got word of this too. our (school) boosters were able to legally get around this by cutting checks back to the athletes' parents. so, i paid $200 fees, but got a $100 check back. this is instead of me just giving them $100. it was easy, and all talk of this being illegal ceased immediately. i think this was a legit way to solve that problem. as far as how to get others to participate...maybe a side contest that the kids would want to win? like beats or something? maybe you require a $50 payment to the boosters which is waived if you sell (a small amount)? call it membership dues or something and make the money go to the end of year party or team awards. our summer (rec league) swim team makes us pay an extra $50 that we get back ONLY IF we work four shifts at the swim meets. we write a separate check which gets ripped up once the requirement is met. i've worked my four shifts every summer! but at least you're getting some $$ from those who don't do anything. i know as a single parent with two kids in sports, i needed that ability to offset fees. my son sold a lot of mulch! |
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snyder
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,493 
Location: Colorado
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Post by snyder on Mar 1, 2019 19:15:33 GMT
I was going to suggest the individual participation method. I don't know about it being illegal, but I would research that and make sure something is incorporated into the by-laws about participation and how funds will be distributed. I think I would very much threaten to end this no-profit and see if that puts a fire under their butts. If not, shut it down, time is to precious these days to put up with that crap.
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Post by mustlovecats on Mar 1, 2019 19:46:17 GMT
Our band boosters you get points for showing up and that corresponds to money raised for you individually. You get points for each fundraiser you work at and we divide up the money on points. Some money benefits the whole band and most is divided by points. You can do a lot of your trip fundraising just by showing up to a bake sale or making phone calls to scout restaurants for spirit night.
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RosieKat
Drama Llama
PeaJect #12
Posts: 5,690
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Post by RosieKat on Mar 1, 2019 19:56:51 GMT
Last year, a new member was added that said it was illegal, that all the fundraising had to be shared equally regardless of what people put in. I believe this is true - I see this issue in gymnastics a lot, and it's one of the reasons our gym doesn't do a formal booster club. There's a lot of legal requirements involved. As far as getting involvement, good luck. I think most people struggle with that. Is the studio willing to make membership in the booster club mandatory for all members of the performing company? I know a lot of gyms will have a mandatory participation requirement, where you have to join the booster club and then are required to work at least x hours or earn at least x dollars. If you aren't doing it, then enforcement and/or dismissal from the studio is possible. |
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Post by Darcy Collins on Mar 1, 2019 21:02:13 GMT
Last year, a new member was added that said it was illegal, that all the fundraising had to be shared equally regardless of what people put in. All of the sudden, participation in the fundraisers dropped. last year we got word of this too. our (school) boosters were able to legally get around this by cutting checks back to the athletes' parents. so, i paid $200 fees, but got a $100 check back. this is instead of me just giving them $100. it was easy, and all talk of this being illegal ceased immediately. i think this was a legit way to solve that problem. as far as how to get others to participate...maybe a side contest that the kids would want to win? like beats or something? maybe you require a $50 payment to the boosters which is waived if you sell (a small amount)? call it membership dues or something and make the money go to the end of year party or team awards. our summer (rec league) swim team makes us pay an extra $50 that we get back ONLY IF we work four shifts at the swim meets. we write a separate check which gets ripped up once the requirement is met. i've worked my four shifts every summer! but at least you're getting some $$ from those who don't do anything. i know as a single parent with two kids in sports, i needed that ability to offset fees. my son sold a lot of mulch! Our old summer swim league did the exact same thing - except it was more like $200. Those volunteer shifts were critical for the home meets to run and we did use people's checks to hire teens to time and sell at concessions when parents chose the check option instead of the volunteer option. I think it's a bit harder when it's a more generic fundraising to reduce costs. Although it may highlight the actual value the parents are receiving - if they are indeed getting one versus how much they're willing to spend to not fundraise- which is also helpful. |
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Post by fiddlesticks on Mar 2, 2019 2:13:09 GMT
We pay a $25 fee to be part of boosters but that’s supposed to cover the fee for paperwork for filing paperwork for the non-profit status. I suppose I could not join next uear, although right now, that’s how all information is shared.
Or maybe, I just need to shift what I buy with the fundraisers. Only buy what really makes sense instead of buying donuts to donate just so I feel like I’ve done my part. I don’t need 2 dozen Krispy Kreme.
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Post by smasonnc on Mar 2, 2019 22:51:24 GMT
I have been involved in many booster clubs befor and never heard the restrictions this person mentioned. I’m sure there is a way around that. We had a trip that cost $XYZ. A percentage of what a kid or his parents sold went into the kid’s trip account.
In another one, we wrote a check for $200 at the beginning of the season and we got a credit for each event we worked. One problem is these things take lots of accounting and you have to have a treasurer you can trust. Lax or even shady accounting is prevalent in volunteer organizations.
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Post by cadoodlebug on Mar 2, 2019 22:59:02 GMT
Why do you have to be a nonprofit to do fundraising? When we did fundraising for DS's 8th grade class we split the money up amongst the participants and the parents that worked it. I kept a spreadsheet of everyone's money and opened a checking account for the funds. We did this for a year and a half and pretty much paid everyone's way. But I'm pretty sure a nonprofit has to be for the benefit of everyone, not just the ones that do the work.
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Post by fiddlesticks on Mar 3, 2019 0:04:32 GMT
Why do you have to be a nonprofit to do fundraising? When we did fundraising for DS's 8th grade class we split the money up amongst the participants and the parents that worked it. I kept a spreadsheet of everyone's money and opened a checking account for the funds. We did this for a year and a half and pretty much paid everyone's way. But I'm pretty sure a nonprofit has to be for the benefit of everyone, not just the ones that do the work. There are quite a few things we do that require our nonprofit tax id. |
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julie5
Pearl Clutcher
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Post by julie5 on Mar 3, 2019 0:31:05 GMT
I didn’t realize how much our boosters do/pay for the kids until I volunteered once and saw all that they do. Now I’m a regular participant and volunteer as often as I can and buy the fundraising items. Maybe require every family to volunteer at least once per fundraiser? Because you’re definitely right about certain parents shouldering all of the work. Some parents just don’t get it. Our booster club for band will have an item, let’s say our fall mums. They sell for $10 each. Until the student sells more than 4, the first 4 go back to the boosters. So starting with number 5, my kid gets something like 3 or 4 dollars per mum sold. And it’s like this with every fundraiser. The boosters cover their expenses first. For our Disney trip this May, the boosters are paying for the motor coaches to get the kids to Florida. It’ll cost roughly $25,000. So to go, you certainly need to be selling something to pay for that expense. The extra that your student sold is credited into their individual accounts and applied towards their bill. My kid had $91 in her account. And we didn’t try very hard. That was still a good chunk of the bill, 1/10 of it. They go every 4 years (so once per kid in high school) and that gives you 4 years to bank some fundraising dollars for your child. Sometimes we only sold what the boosters needed and then saved what we would’ve on my kids items for the trip. I can put $10 back instead of buying the tub of popcorn we won’t eat. But I’ll sell for the boosters. I’m just kind talking to myself but this is how ours runs. I don’t know a whole lot about the legalities, our president is awesome and follows the laws/rules. I’m glad my kid graduates in a year.  |
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