Idaho PTA in Hot Water over Candidate Endorsement
May 13th, 2009 by tsullivanYup, in the world of what PTOs and PTAs can and can’t do in the political realm, this one is definitely a no-no. Neither schools nor any 501c3 non-profit is allowed to specifically endorse candidates for public office. This Idaho group did and is now on the hot seat.
As an FYI, it *is* OK for a non-profit to be involved with politics, but only in approved ways. Example: it is OK for a non-profit to try to help educate voters on an issue. Additionally, OK for a non-profit to hold, say, a “meet the candidates” night. Big difference, too, between supporting a particular candidate and supporting a cause. OK, for example, for the cancer society, to advocate for more cancer research funding. Wouldn’t be OK for cancer society to promote a particular candidate by name, even if that candidate was loudly for increased research funding. Subtle but key difference.
Trouble (legal trouble or just ill will within a group) often starts when school staff or district officials push the parent groups to endorse a bond levy or tax override vote. Has your group been in this position?
June 1st, 2009 at 1:42 pm
I’ve been PTO president off and on, and I’ve never felt comfortable with the PTO endorsing any sort of position, including a recent bond issue in our district. PTO officers don’t run on a platform. We are not vetted through public debate and we don’t expouse particular leanings. So I don’t think it’s appropriate to use the PTO name as though I, as president, am speaking on behalf of “my constituants”. Set aside for a minute how the IRS thinks about lobbying (since many PTOs aren’t yet registered with the IRS) – it’s just not your place as an officer of the PTO to presume that your position is consistent with the majority of our parents. What proof do you have?