PTO Today

Our school district is a growing district with new schools opening every year. Some of our schools have PTAs and a lot of the newer schools have formed PTOs. In the last few years, as new school open, it has become somewhat of a tradition for the existing school parent group to contribute money to the new school for the start up of a parent group. The PTA area representative has begun contacting local PTAs in our district telling them that they may NOT contribute to a new parent group unless it is a PTA. In my opinion, that is a just a bully tactic to try and get the new school to bend to the will of the Big Bad PTA. Ironically, the PTA rep. was once the President of a PTA in the district and ran it in to the ground. Bylaws were never updated, records not kept, property never turned over, little participation, etc. Her own PTA was rendered "invalid" because of all the violations. Now, acting as the PTA rep. she is strong-arming the other PTAs to conform to her way of thinking.

Personally, most people don't care if they go PTA or PTO. The bottom line is that schools want to support one another and the issue of the name of the parent group is being made to be the main focus. Can't one tax exempt organization contribute to another tax expemt organization? Should it not be up to the membership body to decide whether to support (donate) another parent group in the same district?

What's your opinion? We're all curious as to how other districts may have handled this.

Thanks

Yes, it's perfectly OK, especially where you say the PTO is a tax-exempt organization.

It is a bully tactic.

I can give you a similar example that made no sense. We (PTO Today) help administer the back-end of a grant program for Lowe's. (www.toolboxforeducation.com). We take in the grant apps., manage the grading and reporting, certify that recipients follow all grant requiremnts,a nd mail out the checls/winner packages.

PTOs and PTAs are equally eligible and literally hundreds of PTAs have won grants, grants averaging over $4,000 each.

So the PTA leadership in one (unnamed) state told its units that they couldn't accept the grants, because PTO Today was involved. Craziest thing I've ever heard. Of course, all the grant winners (correctly) told this state leadership to -- how shall I say? -- pound sand. And they're now making use of their $4000 grants very well, I'm sure.

Similar for you.

Tim

Thanks for the quick reply. It's basically what I've been telling the parents that have called and asked me. I have such a hard time understanding why the issue of supporting all the school in our district isn't the first and foremost goal of the parent groups. The PTA representative for this area is probably the worst person in the world to represent the PTA. As I've said, I have no problem with the PTA in general and I think they do good works by and large. The issue as I see it is that each school's participants (parents, teachers and staff) should decide what will work best for them. My biggest push for a PTO has always been that as a parent member, I would rather have my school supported by a self-governing group. I like being able to have a full say in where and how our dollars are spent. I like being able to know that what money we raise goes to fund our specific causes as we see fit. As members of our own PTO, we get to decide when, where and how many fundraisers are necessary to accomplish our goals. If we see a need to change something in our organization, we as a body can make those changes without having to anwer to a "national organization" who does not know our needs and circumstances.

I continue to be frustrated with the strong-arm bullying in our area by the PTA representative. It continues to be a struggle to get parents involved in building a better district when they hear of all the ******** that takes place.

Thanks for being a sounding board to those of us out here who sometimes wonder if we are alone in our struggles. It's good to have this forum to share and ask questions.

Thank you for recognizing that is it the 'individual,' not necessarily the PTA, thus holding the individuals tactics and way of handling things against the PTA. You are a smart leader!

Better check your state laws about 501-c-3 donations to other non-profits! Better have taken a vote of your membership also

501c3 exemption is a federal not a state exemption. The code is applied equally to all states! Tim stated that of course a PTA can donate to a PTO ESPECIALLY if they are both 501c3. I'd change that to ONLY if the PTO is a 501c3.

A new PTO can be considered tax-exempt in the eyes of the IRS, even if it hasn't formally filed for 501c3 status. I forget the exact grace period, but I think it's 27 months from formation of the organization. And even then, you only have to formally apply if your GROSS annual income exceed $5k. So, the donation from one formal 501c3 (PTA) to a new small organization acting like a 501c3 (new PTO) would pass the IRS's test. If you're unsure and want to get an expert's opinion, call the IRS at 1-877-829-5500.

HELP!! In wanting to switch from PTA to PTO, what are the steps that need to be taken? This is after it has been voted on. To get the tax exempt stauts we would need to contact the IRS? I know bylaws have to be established. What else needs to be done to change over to PTO?

My reason for switching is the same as SockHerMom. I have been involved with PTA at our school for over 10 years. I just feel like we need a group that can work at our school that fits the needs of our kids. We tried asking questions at PTA Summer Leadership one year about changing and the representative hosting the class got a very big chip on her shoulder and a bad attitude. She didn't want to talk about it. There were others in the room trying to ask the same questions. But, she did say that a PTA could donate its money to another non-profit organization.

It just seems that PTA as an organization has gotten so big that the schools have to spend more time meeting PTA bylaws, deadlines and raising dues to cover the upperlevels of PTA. We want to be able to keep the money here for our school and spend more time on doing things for the students in our community.

Any help or direction would be greatly APPRECIATED!

Hi just2 --

You'll find a ton of information (and a ton of folks who've already successfully made that switch) here on the site.

Some links:

1. Our PTO v PTA page: http://www.ptotoday.com/ptovpta.html

2. Our Start-Up Guide makes the "starting a PTO" process really easy. Start-Up Guide

And of course, these boards can be an invaluable tool.

Good luck,

Tim

Regarding starting a new PTO: I would highly recommend buying the Start-up guide from PTO Today. It's only around $40 and there is a wealth of information in there about registering with the IRS and with your own state. Also, PTO Today's insurance rates are very comparable to PTA’s. It’s a lot of work in the beginning, but it is so worth it to not be under the tight reins of the PTA.

Regarding funding a new PTO: The first thing I would do is to scour your local and state bylaws to ensure you are not violating their bylaws. My state PTA actually field a lawsuit and a grievance against me saying that I violated their bylaws, which I did not, and eventually won my lawsuit and the grievance was dropped, but regardless, they go to great lengths to keep tight reins on their PTA’s. I would not bother to ask a PTA rep, but would just check every word of the bylaws. By the way, I like how your PTAs/PTOs support each other throughout the district. If PTA does not allow it, it might be worth looking into changing to a PTO.

Good luck.