How do you say "No" to all of the never ending fund raisers... ie raffle tickets @ $10 each, fund raiser dinner @ $35 each, kids' fund raisers -- ie QSP, etc.!

I am part of a non-profit organization that was sold out to a housing developer and so we are now in the midst of searching for a new place to relocate to and have VERY little money and there are currently 4 fund raisers going on! I can't handle it.

I need to come up with a new list of excuses or learn how to just say "NO" without constantly telling people that "Money is tight right now!" (which isn't really true) but I don't feel the need to foot the bill for this situation!

Any tips so as to not offend people?! or do you just say "No, thank you."?

I just say "no thank you" or "no thanks" or "sorry sweetie, no thanks"

I usually just say, "No thanks, but good luck to you." That usually throws them off a bit (that I said something nice after the no.), and they leave me alone. It adds up really quick!

I, too, hate fundraisers.

My suggestion would be, if you are influential in the process at all, to encourage them to find donors or seek grant money, and not to nickel and dime the world to death.

If you're like me at all, you'd rather give the organization $10 than buy a $20 plastic item you didn't want or need so that the organization could "earn" $8!

That might be what you could do... just give a flat donation, and when approached say, "I decided to just donate some money straight up so our organization would get all of it, rather than buy something I really didn't need and see a chunk of my money go towards the product cost."

If I don't want it and it's an adult, I just say, "no, thanks, I'm not interested."

If it's a child, I say, "sorry, but my daughter is selling them, too." Or something like that.

I figure I didn't request them to come to me and I don't want to hurt their feelings, but I am not obligated to tell them the truth. They don't know the difference -it's all in the delivery.

Lisa

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I've got kids in 2 schools, there's been the book sale, the magazine sale, the pictures, the games book <Only $10 and $5 a month afterwards> the school dance not to mention $4 a day in lunches between the 2 kids ugh

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I know how you feel, LOL. My DD has a school fundraiser going on and so does my grandaughter's school, so I did buy from them, but I turned down the Boy Scouts popcorn, a school dinner fundraiser and a church shower hostess (costs $10) I will still go to the shower and bring a gift. I just try to mention some bit of truth, last month it was, no "we had to pay for DH's books", this month it's "no we have to pay for tuition" he's taking 2 classes to get another liscense), next month will be "no we're still trying to catch up on bills after paying tuition last month". Not to mention I have to go to 2 wedding showers, a baby shower and the two weddings next month, plus DD is going to be in a pageant.

I always tell them I have my own specific organizations to which I donate (which is true, I donate to the Crusade for Children, they helped when my grandson died in 2003.) I end with "but I'll keep good thoughts you do well!

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Catt
~ Mirror Mirror on the wall, I am my mother - after all! ~

Sometimes, I may have as many as twenty children all wanting me to buy the same thing. Then, my policy is to only buy from the first one. I then just tell the others that I already bought from someone else. If money is tight or it is something we do not want, I'll just say. "No thanks - not this time." The kids fundraisers do not bother me that much, but sometimes, the endless home parties do - make-up, jewerly, candles, kitchen stuff, etc. This list and invitations just goes on and on. I find it very hard not to feel bad if I do not buy something from the person throwing the party.

OP, did I understand correctly that your frustration isn't too many kids coming to hit you up, but rather an organization to which you belong having way too many fundraisers, and expecting you to "buy into" them?

UGH they sent home the volunteer sheet today for the year... 29 event/fundraisers from candygrams, to pretzel sales, to boxtops and soup labels not counting the magazine stuff a week ago

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Books just wanna be FREE! See what I mean at:
http://bookcrossing.com

My other favorites
www.paperbackswap.com
www.wheresgeorge.com
www.geocaching.com

"Thanks for asking, but no thanks" works pretty well for me.

For DS#1's school, I always join the PTA at an accelerated level (costs more than the standard $5, but you get coupons for $10 off the yearbook, $10 off a t-shirt, Chick-fil-A couons, etc.) because you don't have to participate in fundraisers if you join at the higher level.

For DS#s's preschool, I usually just give a donation to the school and return the fundraiser stuff blank. In the past it has been cookie dough that wasn't very yummy and we ended up tossing it out anyway.

We are selling Cub Scout popcorn. My DS is a Cub Scout and the popcorn is very yummy. We feel that it goes to a good cause (quite a bit stays within our Pack), so we are supporting it. I will buy Girl Scout cookies from the first girl in my neighborhood who asks. After that, I pass.

I will participate if it is something resonably priced that I will use. Tthe high school band is selling pinestraw for a decent price which includes delivery, so I am more than happy to participate in that. My friends daughter was doing QSP and I had a magazine I needed to renew anyway so that worked out well. It was a little more than I would pay from the on-line discount services, but it went to her school so I didn't mind. What I really hate are those awful booklets with overpriced plastic junk, a tiny roll of wrapping paper for $8 or 3oz. of generic chocolates for $10 -- c'mon, what a rip off!

I would rather give $10 than buy some junk for $10 that the school only gets $5 (or less) of.

Sarah......mom to Jason & Devin

I had to learn to say no, too. Once you get used to doing it, it comes easier. When it's something I don't want to do or can't do, I just say "no, sorry, can't do it right now."

Both the organization (for which I donate a LOT of my time and buy things for but do not turn in receipts... etc.) and for my kids and for my relatives' kids and so on... it all adds up and lately, it has just been overwhelming.

Thanks for the replies -- very helpful!

You just have to politely say, "I'm sorry, we've already made our donation choices for the year." That should suffice.

I understand about the school fundraisers. DH and I agreed to write each teacher a check in lieu of the fundraiser with the understanding it could be donated to the general fund or the teacher could buy supplies for their classrooom. How ironic that it was returned because it violated the teacher's code of ethics. We had to void those & write another check, payable directly to the school. We found it incredibly funny the teachers beg for donated supplies during the year. Now, we can bribe them with extra crayons, glue, paper towels, hand sanitizer, construction paper, etc., but we CAN'T give them cash.

Hmmm....let's see. How much stuff could I buy with that donation? Well, I'm guessing a lot more than the amount we donated which has now supposedly been credit to the teacher's name on the school supply order account.

Go figure.