Over the past year or so, a growing number of dot-com companies have sprung up to offer schools an alternative to the traditional car wash, wrapping paper and candy sales fundraisers. In less than a year, about 15 percent of the nation's public and private schools have flocked to such companies to supplement their other fundraising. Plus, schools can raise money year-round through the Web sites. And parents and other school supporters can help schools by shopping for items they want or need, from retailers they would patronize anyway. It's more appealing than having a Girl Scout sell cookies.
Schools pay nothing to sign up, and there are no price markups for the customers.
Usually, the site will notify the user how much of a sale will end up in the school's coffers. Internet fundraisers declined to disclose how much money they have made or given to schools. School fundraisers or PTA members usually advertise the Web sites through newsletters or banners, which is still much less work than traditional fundraisers. They like that school supporters can access the sites from anywhere at any time. Some educators, however, wonder whether such tactics commercialize education.