I'm confused. On the PTO today website, under FAQs, it is suggested that we start our PTO before disbanding our PTA, and "run fundraisers through the PTO account and fundspenders through the PTA account." How can you fundraise as a PTO before you have taken a vote of the general membership to disband PTA and start a PTO and so you are still actually a PTA? Also, I just learned that to become a 501(c)3 there is a user fee of $500. Yikes! I am preparing a presentation for my Executive Committee on why we should start a PTO and disband from PTA and thereby save us the $450 we send away in dues. How do I justify spending $500 to save $450?

Hi Hurst -

Let me try and answer your questions in order.

1. The advice to start the PTO while the PTA still exists mainly applies for groups who've discussed the change quite a bit and have a really strong indication that membership supports the change. If you're there, then starting the PTO before formally disbanding the PTA can make the transition much easier.

There's no rule/law that says you can't have two parent groups (two completely distinct nonprofits/organizations) operating at the same time. You're not changing your PTA into a PTO; you're closing down a PTA and opening a completely different entity, your PTO. If your PTO opens for business on August 1 and your PTA closes officially on Oct 12th, that's perfectly OK.

2. Are you sure your annual dues outlay is only $450? That's quite low. What state are you in? Are you including council, state and national dues?

Even given $450, your real savings occur over time, and they add up significantly. The $500 nonprofit application fee is a one-time fee. Your annual PTA dues recur every year and tend to go up over time. So in ten years, you'll have paid $500 to become a nonprofit or $4500++ to remain a PTA. That's where the math comes into best focus.

Hope this helps.

Tim

hey i have a question i am a new pta member and i want to find out the steps i need to take to turn my pta into a pto. please if you can give me some info please do