[DeeDee]

My 5.5 year old is finally starting public school kindergarten (late birthday), which means I’ll finally not be paying $1,600/month for preschool! Yay!

However, we attended an intro session with school staff and members of the Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) and the list of fundraisers and events is long and overwhelming.

I do plan to volunteer my time where I can, and have my son participate in fundraising events, however, it looks like there’s a request for donations from parents as well.

With that being said, I anticipated allocating that $1600 I was previously using to pay for preschool into a 529 account instead.

Clearly I’m not trying to donate 1600/m to the PTO, but what would be a decent amount to donate, and how often should I donate?

And this is just for kindergarten…I’ve got the next 13 years to get through

[Melissa]

I wouldn’t donate monthly, I would set a budget amount aside for the year and not exceed it.

Just because you have the money doesn’t mean you have to give it to them.

You’d be better off spending your time petitioning the elected officials in your state to fully find education versus making the parents pay for it and have so much inequality across schools.

[Cierra]

I donated $5 to the PTO this year LOL. Don’t worry……. There will be the $20 fundraiser here and there but as a public school parent you won’t be expected to do more than that

[Pamela]

The pressure comes when the whole class “wins” a pizza party, ice cream party, etc.

if everyone participates or if the class is the best in the school. To me, that is a parent competition, not a student competition.

I’m not sure you can budget a monthly amount, but it is worth a try.

I wish the PTO would say “our goal is to raise X per student this year.

Then I would have just written a check for X and been done.

Good luck!

[Lisah]

You are going to be nickeled and dimed to death for 13 more years. Help with fundraisers (you’ll be buying lots of stuff), donate class supplies to the teachers who only get $250 a year for supplies.

If there is a bigger need, you’ll know what you want to donate.

This coming from a former elementary teacher.

[Erica]

$1k per kid per year is generally recommended/expected. Sadly, Americans choose not to fully fund their public schools and private donations are necessary to give kids the best (or just adequate 😭) school experience.

We are losing good teachers at an alarming rate so it is a necessary cost.

Consider it just as important as the 529 money.

And don’t forget teacher annual gifts.

Dont give money to those crap fundraisers where a company takes a chunk of the profit.

Write a check directly to the school’s PTA.

[Vanessa]

I would maybe do a one time donation of $100. Honestly there are going to be so many events and teacher gifts you will probably do as well so I wouldn’t stress about donating a ton to the PTA.

Just a side note, I know you didn’t ask, but if your not maxing out your retirement every year I would highly suggest putting a larger potion of that $1,600 towards your retirement and a smaller amount towards 529.

Only because there are lots of ways to fund college (scholarships, grants, loans), but there is no other way to fund retirement.

Just something to think about.

Good Luck!

[Bridget]

We usually donate a flat Amt to the school fundraisers. I don’t let me kids ask everyone.

If preschool was also daycare, allocate some of that $ to before : after care.

We definitely didn’t get the “big raise” we were hoping for after the kids went to school

[Katherine]

Are there fundraisers? Pay the $10 to join pta so they get their membership percentage then put your money in a 529.

Don’t get sucked into the hype

[Ella]

I don’t have experience with this so I probably shouldn’t respond but…

I have two children and, generally speaking, I get asked about donations and fundraising all the time, right and left! Treat donations with intentionality.

Don’t get manipulated/guilted into giving and over-volunteering.

Sit down with SO and decide together a % that you are both comfortable giving and volunteering for the year, then allocate that to organizations you both feel strongly about.

Revisit each year.

Lately, I have decided to give a fix amount to some organizations and respond with a one-time donation if something come up that really speaks to our heart.

We agreed on a fix number for those too.

(I do not leave my contact information for those so I don’t get suck it monthly envelopes).

[Fatima]

My youngest son blessed me with his request to go to public instead of private.

I would give gift cards to his teachers.

(Target/staples) Or I would sponsor a child for a field trip.

[Mary]

I’ve never donated to the PTO and have never thought twice of it… What are your priorities?

I do donate to the foster closet and help make sure a couple past foster kiddos are prepped for the new year with clothes and supplies…

Give where your heart and passion are.

Not because you feel pressure but because it makes you feel good.

[Tom]

Is this a public school? If so, you “donate” when you pay taxes.

[Diane]

Is this a private school? My kids go to public school and I teach at public school and the suggested PTA donation is small.

My son’s school asks for $10 for the year and they have a few small fundraisers.

The school where I work asks for a donation and suggests $20 I believe and has several fundraisers where the kids buy things.

The schools also ask for parents to volunteer for things like working the book fair or on picture day.

Donate what you feel is appropriate to join the PTA and then donate your time if you have time.

There are also committees at my son’s school so plenty of opportunities to volunteer.

[Liz]

You can join the PTO and don’t necessarily have to participate in the fundraisers if you don’t want to.

One thing you can do is ask the office if there are any lunch accounts that are overdue and help in that way …

and volunteering is always helpful

[Diane]

We live in an awesome public school district but I don’t think I ever donated to the PTA.

I did the fundraiser stuff and bought things from students when asked.

I think my kids were more involved in raising money for their brownies and Girl Scout troops which I supported.

large portion of our tax dollars go towards our schools as we all know!

but just do what you’re comfortable with! Congrats on getting through the daycare years, they are rough!

[Erica]

There’s a million fundraisers we don’t participate in the ones that take a huge amount out in fees.

We pick a few to participate in but not all of them.

I donate supplies to the teachers during the school year.

We have a huge fall festival and I donate a $1-2k package for the silent auction from my personal business that just costs me my time but is always a huge hit and generates money for the school directly.

[Helene]

PTOs are a bit like stray cats. Once you feed them, they’ll ALWAYS look to you for more.

Set a firm boundary.

Sidebar: I trap-neuter-release cats and regularly, willing feed about 8 regulars from the colony.

[Lori]

Whatever you donate, know there will be more. So find a max budget for the year that you’re comfortable with.

Our public elementary has the pta, teacher gifts, holiday parties, and a foundation, not to mention fundraising for families when things go bad (and they will for someone sadly).

Some parents give a lot.

Imho there’s a fair amount of showmanship that goes with that in some cases.

If that’s not your priority, don’t feel pressured into it.

[Luke]

Historically, Small Cap Growth is the worst performing section of the market.

[Author]

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