"Fundraiser" is the thirteenth episode of the second season of Abbott Elementary.
Barbara is in charge of Abbott's fundraising project but she has to put up with Ava's predatory business practices if she wants to raise enough money for her dream field trip. Meanwhile, Janine gets closer with Maurice that inspires conflicting feelings in Gregory. Also, Mr. Johnson finds a stray cat and butts heads with Jacob on how to raise the stray.
Tropes in this episode include:
- Actually Pretty Funny: Despite her string of bad impressions, Barbara finds Melissa's "No donut for you!" to be pretty good.
- Both Sides Have a Point: Barbara and Ava have valid points in regards to the Abbott kids overselling their candy bars. Barbara detests the practice as it only encourages the kids to cheat and lie in order to make a living. Ava argues that her methods are meant to teach kids how to be self-sufficient so they can work hard and get something nice for themselves. Especially since many of them come from struggling families of their own.
- Cerebus Retcon: A lot of Ava's past antics and scams come off as rather bleak after she mentions that she grew up having to make hard choices in order to survive.
- Cold Open: The episode starts with Melissa offering free donuts to her coworkers on the condition that they put up with her bad impressions.
- Collective Groan: Mr. Hill's class does this after their teacher makes a forced reference to Biggie Smalls during the fundraiser explanation.
- Continuity Nod:
- Janine has become closer with Maurice since the hookah party.
- Ava uses “future cult leader” Courtney to help with her chocolate sales.
- Gregory and Janine shoot the breeze over their podcast club and step class respectively.
- Delicia Sloss, the board member Barbara blackmailed, returns and pokes a hole in Ava's scam.
- Cutting the Knot: Melissa suggests breaking in to the Franklin Institute when she and her friends realize that they don't have the money for the field trip.
- Dark and Troubled Past: Ava mentions that she had it rough growing up and had to learn how to scam in order to get by in life.
- "Eureka!" Moment: While chatting his head off to Greg about his recent behavior, Jacob discovers that he's jealous over Janine's new relationship with Maurice.
- In-Series Nickname: The Abbott staff refer to Maurice as Mo'.
- Jerk with a Heart of Gold: After lightly teasing a boy for his short pants, Ava gives him a new pair of pants that will fit him better. It's also established that her deceptive methods of salesmanship are meant to help the kids get by in life and so they won't have to struggle with money like she did growing up.
- Must Make Amends: Realizing that she put her own morals over the well being of her students, Barbara apologizes to Henry for humiliating him in front of Delicia and offers him a job at her church's upcoming bake sale.
- Necessarily Evil: Barbara calls the Abbott fundraiser this as she intends to use the funds for a fieldtrip to the Franklin Institute. Jacob thinks of it as "hustle culture".
- The Needs of the Many: Barbara begrudgingly joins forces with Ava if only to use her methods to raise enough money for the children's field trip.
- Parents for a Day: Mr. Johnson adopts a cat that was found in his office and Jacob volunteers himself to be the cat's second father.
- Playing Sick: Ava advises her students to think of a fake illness so potentially angry customers will leave them alone. She uses polio.
- Right-Hand Cat: Milton the Cinnamon Cupcake serves as this for Mr. Johnson after he overhears Greggo denying his feelings for Janine to Jacob.Mr. Johnson (while stroking Milton): The plot thickens...
- Shout-Out: Ava calls Henry "Bruce Banner who's in the middle of a growth spurt". She also calls Jacob Conan O'Crien'.
- Stealth Pun: During her first lesson, Ava mentions how some customers aren't Sam Cooke so "Change is Not Gonna Come".
- The Stinger: At their dinner date, Maurice shares an emotional story relating to his family to Janine who's engorging herself on some delicious ribs.
- Take That!: After all the black children turn to Jacob after their principal tells them to look out for "liberal" white people, Jacob clarifies that he thinks of himself as "progressive". Courtney questions if there is a difference.
- Third-Party Peacekeeper: Melissa steps up to settle the custody battle between Jacob and Mr. Johnson over their new cat.
- You Keep Using That Word: Barbara has to remind Ava that a principal doesn't own a school but runs it.
- You Watch Too Much X: Mr. Johnson insists on feeding Milton milk since that's what he learned from every cat cartoon.
