I love you boo.:D:p:rolleyes::)

Why would you have a fundraiser to buy a pledge class gift? Let's face it - nonmembers of your organization are probably happy to participate in a fundraiser for cancer funding, a battered women's home, and things like that. Why would anyone think that outsiders are going to pay in money to a fundraiser to buy a pledge class gift? That's ridiculous. Unless you're selling something amazing, I can't imagine that EVER working.

We had to raise money for a pledge class gift, too. We sold hot dogs, nachos, etc. outside of the dorms late at night when kids were going out or coming back. They just wanted the food, they didn't care what the money was going to.

I agree. My * hopeful* idea for the upcoming year is that the MITs will still do the fund raiser but the "gift" that they give will be strongly recommended send will be to send the money raised to either SAI philanthropies or a philanthropy of their choice. That will give them experience running a fund raiser, dealing with the aftermath AND figuring out how to give a donation (which is more compicated for many organizations than I would have thought) I would like to set out guidelines for the gift, i agree that no one wants to participate in a fund raiser to buy sorority girls more stuff ;) In the future I think that a designation between the gift and the fund raiser would be good. We were told to fund raise for the gift, (which after all of the drama ended up being a measly clock and plaque) ad that is completely useless for training purposes. However, learning how to budget and chose a philanthropy for a fund raiser (if not a philanthropy, a concrete thing) might help teach them something.

Thoughts?

My Finance Advisor's 2 cents:

While I'm happy you were eventually reimbursed, this whole situation was handled badly from the getgo. A fundraising activity often has initial expenses. Those expenses should be reimbursed either by the organizers (in this case the new members) and/or by the proceeds from the event. Anything left over is the "profit" and can then be used for this gift. Any "loss" should be shared equally by the organizers.

Morals of this story:

1. Never spend money you can't afford, even with the promise of reimbursement later.
2. Never take the word of a non-officer about policy. Either check to see if it's in writing (we put our reimbursement policies in our Bylaws) or go to the officer directly in charge of that area, in this case the Treasurer. Even if that officer gives bad info, she can at least stand up to the rest of the Exec and say she gave the "OK".
3. Never expect the Treasurer to chase after you to give you a reimbursement. She might not even know you're entitled to one. It's up to you to turn in your request with receipts in a timely manner.
4. Never, ever lose your receipts! Make a copy for yourself because others can lose receipts. A credit card statement isn't proof of a legitimate reimbursable expense. How does anyone know what you actually bought at Hobby Lobby or Walmart?

I think that you have really thought this through and have a great idea. In the end, the learning experience and the satisfaction of helping others is the most important part of fundraising/philanthropy not cheesy gifts that no one will care about in a year or two. I think you've learned your lesson from the pledge fiasco...mistakes were made on all sides. But, everyone makes mistakes...the key is to learn from them!

I agree. The pledge class should have split the cost of the supplies - not the chapter, if it's a gift to the chapter. And if I had been her, there's no way on God's Green Earth that I would have fronted that money if my pledge sisters weren't going to pay me back...

That being said, I CAN understand if, perhaps, the chapter were going to reimburse her the money, and then charge the pledge class members the fair portion of the money (for example, if each new member was supposed to pitch in $20, then the chapter would take on the debt, but charge the new members $20 each to cover that debt...)