• Home
    • Who Am I?
    • Our Story
    • Contact
  • Life
    • Tom’s Corner
    • Travels & Day Trips
  • Cottage Life
  • Policies
    • Affiliate Disclosure
    • Privacy Policy
    • Testimonials
  • Home & Garden Ideas
    • Your Garden
  • Giveaways
    • Giveaway Rules
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter

Raise Your Garden

Musings on the Seedier Side

  • Composting
  • Easy Garden DIY
  • Garden Tips
  • Lawn & Landscaping
  • Must have plants
  • Pest Control

February 4, 2015 in Tom's Corner

Not a fan of fundraisers…How about you?

This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of my links, I'll make a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support!

PictureGo ahead and say no

I have never been a fan of fundraisers. Now I’m a high school teacher. It seems like every week, if not every day someone is asking me to buy or donate to something. 


I’m also the high school varsity volleyball coach and I work with our boosters to come up with fundraising ideas. On one hand I see that fundraisers are sometimes a necessity; on the other hand I can’t stand them. 

One the reasons I strongly dislike them is that 99% of the time I am asked to either buy something that I’d never purchase in the first place and just don’t want. Or, I’m asked to buy something that is grossly inflated so I get frustrated at having to pay a higher price through this fundraiser. I’m sure you can think of something you purchased that you simply bought because you felt cornered, guilty, or obligated. 

But I will say there are some things I’m more willing to buy than others. How about you?

Things I probably won’t buy….
Wrapping Paper 
Yankee Candles 
Popcorn 
Cookie Dough 
Girl Scout Cookies
Raffle Tickets 
Soaps 
All you can eat pancake breakfasts and/or spaghetti dinners 

Things I may buy….
Candy bars (at least they’re only a $1)
Hanging Pots
Mums
A good bowl of soup or chili
Pizza
A mattress 
Fruit, especially oranges from Florida  

My rules of fundraising etiquette

1.) If you know someone isn’t interested in what you’re selling, don’t try to sell to them. Hitting up the same neighbor year after year on the same fundraiser when they’ve already said, “no thank you” is a bad idea.

2.) Don’t try to sell to someone who you know probably can’t or won’t use your product. If you know someone is a diabetic, then don’t try selling them a chocolate bar they can’t eat. Or sell a candle to someone who has severe allergies.

3.) Don’t sell for your kids. For me the one positive when it comes to fundraising are the life lesson that your kid’s can learn. For instance, many people will say no and it’s important to still be gracious. They also can feel the satisfaction of EARNING the $ themselves. 

4.) Don’t try selling to someone under stress, in the middle of something at work, or really busy. Please don’t ring the bell during the dinner hour. If you wouldn’t appreciate it then your customers feel the same way.

5.) Don’t ask someone to buy something or donate to a cause that you are fully aware they don’t support. 

6.) No bullying, peer pressuring, or intimidating. Go ahead and ask but if you are told no, simply accept it and move on. Make the conversation a positive one even when they say no.

When I give the girls on my volleyball team the green light on a fundraiser, I try and consider these rules. This upcoming Fall we will be having a fundraiser selling mattresses to a company that brings in every type of mattress you could find in a store. They have zero overhead so that means the person purchasing the mattresses actually pays less than they would in the store and our volleyball team gets a percentage of the sale. When it’s not a hard sale, it’s a win, win. 

Try to remember: We all have hundreds, if not thousands of causes and people we would love to give too, but unfortunately have to pay the bills too. It’s all about balance. We may not give to your cause, but might be extremely generous in other areas. Try not to judge. 

So this is where you can chime in. What do you think? If someone asks you to buy something do you buy out of obligation or because you want to buy the item? 

~ Tom


This post is linked with running with spoons.

Leave a Comment

Previous Post: « How to Buy Cukes, Zukes and Beans
Next Post: Buying Seeds »

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

about laura sproull

about laura sproull

Hi! I'm Laura and hail from Western New York. I consider myself a lifelong learner who loves gardening with a 360 degree view. Thanks for stopping by!

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

top diy posts!

top diy posts!

Categories

Archives

  • Garden Supplies
  • Handmade
  • Indoor plants
  • Raised Beds
  • Seeds
  • Succulents & Cacti

Footer

Looking for something?

Let’s Connect

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Archives

“And he who waters will be watered himself.”
• Proverbs 11:25 •
Follow Me on Instagram!

Copyright © 2023 · RaiseYourGarden.com · All Rights Reserved.