Are you a Venmo Mom/Dad/Parent?

Did you know that 57% of parents now identify as “Venmo Parents,” choosing to contribute money for school or sports activities instead of actively volunteering at different school events? As a long-time (ex) PTO president turned volunteering parent (and oh yeah, a full-time business owner), I’ve had a front-row seat to the evolving landscape of school volunteering.

Today, I want to address why getting involved matters, how it impacts our kids, and the emerging new trend of the Venmo Parent.

The Volunteer Dilemma: To Be or Not to Be?

We all want to be there for our kids. But let's face it, sometimes it feels like we're being pulled in a bazillion directions. A recent study by Prodigy Education found that nearly 50% of parents feel overwhelmed by their involvement in their children’s schooling and sports. (Psst... moms, we’re slightly more likely to feel this way at 49% compared to 45% of dads… shocking)

You might be wondering, “Does my involvement really make a difference?” The answer is a resounding yes! Research by The Annie E. Casey Foundation, The University of North Carolina, and the American Psychological Association has shown that kids whose parents are engaged in their education tend to have:

• Better grades and test scores

• Improved social skills

• Higher self-esteem

• Lower rates of behavioral issues

• Stronger sense of community

Enter the Venmo Parent: A New Way to Show Up

@nealfamilychaos

Stop judging the venmo moms lol #roommoms #teammoms #fyp #foryoupage #nealfamilychaos #foryou #momsoftiktok #dad #fypシ゚viral #wivesoftiktok #mom

This video by Casey Neal, a Tennessee, Mom, took the Internet by storm as she vocalized the Venmo Mom. So who or what is The Venmo Mom/Dad/Parent? It is someone who chooses to contribute financially to school or sports activities instead of attending events in person.

According to the Prodigy Education study, a whopping 57% of parents identify as Venmo Parents. And guess what? It’s more common among:

Millennials (58%), Dads (61% compared to 54% of moms), Working parents (57%), Parents in the tech industry (55%)

So why are so many parents opting for the Venmo route? According to the Prodigy Education survey, the top reasons are:

• Desire to be actively involved in their child's life (53%)

• Limited time due to other commitments (28%)

• Preference for contributing financially rather than volunteering (11%)

As Reena Patel, a parenting expert and positive psychologist, puts it: “Parents are doing everything they can and oftentimes wearing so many hats and playing so many roles daily. So, they have to pick and choose what things they have the capacity for. We all know we can’t do it all.”

The downside of the “Venmo Parent” that no one talks about

As a former PTO President of my kids elementary school, I can tell you that more and more parents/guardians are choosing the Venmo route. Sure I can shout out “you do you” and “find your balance” but a huge problem is now rising… there are fewer and fewer people volunteering to execute! What do you do when there is no “room parent” or “fundraising chair” or just community builders? Fun events get dropped from the schedule, school staff sees less support, morale becomes lower. There have been multiple times at our kids school where parents want to donate for a class party but not a single parent is available to run it - so the kids class gets no party.

Everyone is busy. I hope you make a difference in your community in a way that best suits your schedule, but know that contributing financially only works if there is someone else there to take on the rest of the responsibilities (which is not always the case)

Finding Your Balance