The McFarland Student Union Building (SUB) is one of the busiest places at KU for on-campus fundraisers. On a number of days, three or four tables are set up where organizations sit, seeking donations from passersby. Some students are experiencing what might be considered as fundraiser-fatigue.

A survey of 35 students was taken on how they were affected by fundraisers this semester. 29 percent said they were unaffected by the number of fundraisers on campus either because they have the money to donate or were never or rarely in a situation where fundraisers were soliciting money from them. Several are commuter students who said they don’t spend much time in the SUB where fundraisers often operate.

Forty percent cited a lack of disposable income as an issue for why they rarely or never donate. “I’m just a poor college student,” one participant said. Two noted the tuition increase as a reason; whereas others said they had a hard time covering just their basic needs.

A total of 31 percent fell under another category, one that was split between either one of two things: there are those who ignored the number of fundraisers on campus this semester and those who were overwhelmed by the number of them and indecisive about which to donate their money.

“They seem bad, so I ignore them, no matter what they are for,” a student stated.

“I almost always pass on donating,” another said. “I feel bad donating to one charity but not to the others, so I skip it altogether.”

Student organizations not only have the right to arrange fundraisers on campus, but are encouraged. It is an easy-to-operate way to raise money for a cause that starts in a logical place, where student most frequently cycle in and out.

One professor, who preferred to be anonymous, referenced KU’s honor societies and other student groups that “need money to host simple events.” The professor added, however, “sometimes it seems like students might do more with their time than by raising a few dollars, but often their fundraisers are essential for the operation of their organizations…It seems like you can’t walk 10 feet in the SUB without running into a bake sale.”

Student clubs and organizations are funded by the Student Government Board (SGB). Each submits a proposed budget for the year.

“When budget cuts came through, the clubs that got hit the hardest were multicultural organizations,” former president of Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance (FMLA) Caitlin Smith said.

“Everyone faces cuts,” SGB Executive Treasurer Chardonnay Rutherford said, “and barely anyone got increases during this budget process.”

This means that any events or activities not covered by the budget from SGB have to be funded in other ways, so any additional money comes from fundraisers like bake sales.

Representatives from groups and organizations affiliated with the Multicultural Center meet bimonthly as a part of All Org., where they exchange ideas and support. Fifteen groups are a part of this. Kristy Birchard, president of the FMLA, a group that’s in All Org., said each one holds a bake sale. She also said that when there are a number of the same types of fundraisers going on at once, it reduces prospective donations for each one.

“I think there are better ways to raise money than a bake sale,” Birchard added. “I think it’s good that people are raising money for charities—I think it’s awesome—but I think we should find better ways to do it.”

All organizations—each benefiting someone or some cause in some way—need funding to stay active, but targeting college students is not a particularly profitable place to look for it. On the advice of the professor and Birchard, they might be better off creating new ways to raise money and awareness.