Viral Photo Of Elementary Fundraiser Prizes Sparks Outrage Over 'Predatory' Incentives

Krista Torres|BuzzFeed

Jan 16•2 min read

Viral Photo Of Elementary Fundraiser Prizes Sparks Outrage Over 'Predatory' Incentives

Ajr_images / Getty Images

A photo of elementary-school fundraiser prizes went viral and drew strong criticism, with many calling the incentives manipulative and low-value. Commenters shared childhood memories of magazine drives, novelty toys, boom boxes and even trips tied to sales. The thread sparked a broader debate about school funding—particularly the reliance on student-led fundraising and property-tax–based budgets that can deepen inequality. Many readers urged schools and districts to find fairer ways to finance programs without putting the burden on children and families.

A photo showing the prizes offered for an elementary-school fundraiser went viral, provoking widespread criticism online. Many commenters called the incentives low-value, manipulative and out of touch with the realities faced by students and families.

Online Reaction

Reddit users and other social-media commenters responded with frustration and disbelief. Common responses described the prizes as tone-deaf and exploitative—especially given that students are often pressured to solicit sales from family and neighbors.

“Can we get this to stop? I felt weird and manipulative as a kid, and it feels weird and manipulative now.”

—u/peenurmobile

“This is so predatory and honestly baffling that it’s still prominent in schools today.”

—u/uhliviah

“I always swore that if I were to ever have a child, they would never ever ever and I do mean never be forced to fundraise anything. I hated this s**t as a kid and just, NO.”

—u/_Sovaz99_

Memories From Past Fundraisers

Commenters shared childhood memories of similar drives—magazine sales, novelty toys and larger-ticket items that often seemed mismatched to the effort required. Examples recalled include:

A boom box as a top prize
A trip to Washington, D.C. tied to chocolate-sales fundraising
A novelty "Weeble" toy—described as a puffball attached to felt feet that clipped to a pencil
Cheap bicycles and other low-value rewards

“TBH, at least from my experience, if you take off the rose-colored glasses, the prizes sucked then too... I threw all that s**t in the trash on the way out.”

—u/TaviTavi420

Broader Critique

Several commenters used the post to highlight a bigger issue: relying on student-led fundraisers and linking school budgets to local property values can deepen inequality. Critics argue that fundraising places undue pressure on children and families and masks systemic funding shortfalls that should be addressed at the district or state level.

Overall, the thread mixes personal anecdotes with growing anger about how extracurriculars and classroom needs are financed. Many readers called for alternatives to student-driven sales and for policymakers to address funding disparities so schools don’t rely on these contentious incentives.

Read the original discussion and image coverage on BuzzFeed.