You don’t want to be the annoying mom who asks everyone in the office to buy chocolate for your child’s school fund-raiser, but you do want to help your kid. We asked Cindy Post Senning of the Emily Post Institute how to solicit donations without alienating co-workers.

Double-check. Ask a supervisor first to be sure that it’s acceptable to fund-raise in the office.

Be selective. You don’t have to present your colleagues with every single donation form your kids bring home. Take fund-raisers to work only once or twice a year.

Approach the group. Rather than putting pressure on each individual, leave a sign-up sheet or catalogue in the staff room, and send an email to your department letting them know it’s there.

Express gratitude. Be sure to thank anyone who donates. If possible, have your child send a thank-you note to each contributor. At the very least, a verbal thanks