You Know That Feeling…
You’re sitting in a crowded PAC meeting. Someone timidly raises their hand with a great idea, more outdoor recess equipment, new musical instruments, maybe just snacks for hungry kids.
And then it starts:
“How much will it cost?”
“Can we afford it?”
“Is this more important than the grade 6 field trip?”
Suddenly, this well-meaning parent is in full pitch mode, like they’re asking for venture capital.
And everyone in the room feels it. The tension. The guilt. The quiet burnout no one talks about.
The Problem Isn’t the Ideas, It’s the Funding Model
Let’s be brutally honest:
Most PACs aren’t short on creativity. They’re short on cash.
And when money is scarce, meetings turn into Shark Tank. Not because parents are cold-hearted, but because they’re trying to ration a broken system.
Here’s how it usually works:
- You run one or two fundraisers a year (usually exhausting and outdated)
- You hope it brings in enough to cover basic needs
- You pray nobody else has “one more great idea” that year
This is a scarcity mindset. And it’s killing the joy of volunteering.
Why It’s Burnout By Design
Think about it:
- Parents pitch because they feel they have to justify every dollar
- Others shoot it down, not because they disagree, but because there’s no predictable income
- The treasurer feels like the villain
- Everyone leaves drained
This isn’t just inefficient, it’s demoralizing.
The real issue?
You’re running your PAC like a bootstrapped startup, not a community-powered team.
What It Looks Like When You Flip the Script
Imagine this:
Every month, your school generates passive fundraising income.
The PAC knows there’s a reliable budget.
Parents still pitch ideas, but now the answer is “yes” more often than “we’ll see.”
That’s the reality for PACs using Brightraiser.
- Canadian-made products people actually want
- No inventory, no guilt, no begging
- Transparent, digital-first campaigns that run themselves
It’s not magic, it’s a modern system that finally understands parent life.
The Result?
No more Shark Tank.
Just collaboration, generosity, and actual progress.
If your PAC is exhausted, the fix isn’t “work harder.”
It’s engage in a better system