mom2_3boyz;137157 wrote: Hi!
I am the president of our PTO and at Open House last week the Cub Master demanded our 501c3 number. When we asked why he had no other answer than "the bank told us that we needed it". I had a bunch of questions regarding the PTO's liability in this so I called this morning and spoke with the Executive Director of the Greater Western Reserve Council in Warren, Ohio and this is what I was told:
Each pack has a Chartered Rep. who is the liaison between the Boy/Cub Scouts and the PTO. They hold 1 vote in the Boy Scouts Organization. They are to report to the PTO regarding all matters.
 The Cub/Boy Scouts should have the PTO’s 501c3 number on all accounts. Each group, the Cuband Boy Scouts should have a separate account.
 The Treasurer of the Cub/Boy Scouts reports to the PTO Treasurer and hands over all financial books annually for review and taxes. The Cub/Boy Scouts accounts are to be included in the PTO annual tax report to the IRS. All bills/receipts/bank statements are to be included.
 All property owned by Cub/Boy Scouts belongs to the Charter Organization (PTO). This includes checking/savings accounts and equipment. If the Pack disbands for any reason any funds are held in escrow by the Cub/Boy Scout Main Office for a period of up to 1 year. If another Pack is not formed then the money is given to the Charter Organization (PTO).
 Cub/Boy Scouts cannot accept nor solicit cash donations. Their only means of raising money is through organized fundraisers. Any cash donations must go through the PTO per the Scouts Charter.
This answered a lot of my questions. The PTO is partly responsible for the scouts especially from the financial end. The PTO needs to report their financial records to the IRS annually and jointly with the PTO's. The Scouts should have their own Treasurer that provides the books to the PTO Treasurer annually.
I hope that helps. It cleared up a lot for me.
Amy
I just came from the Boy Scout website and it states nothing of the sort. It states that the charter group gives the scouts a place to meet and provides volunteer leaders for the pack. That's it. Which, is basically what this guy that is emailing me states. So, why can't they set up their own places to meet and ask for their own volunteers. Can't they send letters home like do?
WOW, I was just hit up for the second year in a row this afternoon.
This guy from the scouts is extremely vague and doesn't answer any questions. All he says is that he needs two parents to lead the group. Period. He wants the PTO to "support" the scouts, using the term "support" loosely. When I asked for details on how we were to help, he said that the scouts would help the PTO just as the PTO would support the scouts. (?????) Then he states in another email that the PTO can rally around the scouts and support (Yes, theres that word again) them. I keep asking HOW and can not get an answer. Why does it have to be a PTO member to lead the scouts? He states that he helped out at a few scout meetings last year. If the PTO didn't support, charter, whatever it is, then who did??? I just don't get this. I know this guy just kept hounding last year and have had three emails today.
I just emailed our principal from last year and asked her who supported them last year! I don't know who else to ask...
mom2 - the provisions that were listed for your by the BSA council shock me. Those are far, far more of a liability for the PTO than I ever envisioned. Maybe the situation in your community is unique, but if that's what being a chartering organization could really mean to a PTO, all the more reason I would never sign the agreement. Oh my gosh - you OWN all the troop's stuff! You're supposed to report all the troop's finances on your 990? That's not a troop, that's a subcommittee of your PTO. Our PTO had chartered the local troop for many years when a president finally said No to the charter. At the time, the school stepped in, but I'm not sure what they do now. As I wrote above, we suggested some concerened parents form their own new non-profit, and have that new group sign the charter. A fudged fix? Maybe. But at least the folks who are passionate about the troop are in charge of it. Good luck. I hope your PTO weathers this issue well.
Hi Tim,
Our PTO signed on to charter our Cub/Boy Scouts 13 years ago. I have been President for the past 2 years and never heard anything about this up until now. They have been using someone else's EIN on their accounts and have never reported to the IRS. I don't know what kind of trouble we are looking at if we put our EIN on this account.
I would suggest to anyone thinking of chartering a group...look into it very carefully. Look at it from every point of view. Ask LOTS of questions. Every PTO Board needs to be aware of the charter requirements and what liability they will hold as officers. I am into my second term and never knew a thing about it. Also know that you can pull their charter if requirements are not being met.
I have no idea what we are going to do. We are having an Executive Board meeting tonight to discuss it with the principal. There are too many possible ramifications.
Your answers make me ask even more clearly why this is in any way the responsibility of the PTO. Just doesn't make sense to me.
I would personally not have my PTO do this. Doesn't mean that i have any problem with Cub Scouts, but I also have no problem with the Kiwanis and the Cancer Society and the Lions Club and the Junior Achievement. Are we to charter all these things?
Hi!
I am the president of our PTO and at Open House last week the Cub Master demanded our 501c3 number. When we asked why he had no other answer than "the bank told us that we needed it". I had a bunch of questions regarding the PTO's liability in this so I called this morning and spoke with the Executive Director of the Greater Western Reserve Council in Warren, Ohio and this is what I was told:
Each pack has a Chartered Rep. who is the liaison between the Boy/Cub Scouts and the PTO. They hold 1 vote in the Boy Scouts Organization. They are to report to the PTO regarding all matters.
 The Cub/Boy Scouts should have the PTO’s 501c3 number on all accounts. Each group, the Cuband Boy Scouts should have a separate account.
 The Treasurer of the Cub/Boy Scouts reports to the PTO Treasurer and hands over all financial books annually for review and taxes. The Cub/Boy Scouts accounts are to be included in the PTO annual tax report to the IRS. All bills/receipts/bank statements are to be included.
 All property owned by Cub/Boy Scouts belongs to the Charter Organization (PTO). This includes checking/savings accounts and equipment. If the Pack disbands for any reason any funds are held in escrow by the Cub/Boy Scout Main Office for a period of up to 1 year. If another Pack is not formed then the money is given to the Charter Organization (PTO).
 Cub/Boy Scouts cannot accept nor solicit cash donations. Their only means of raising money is through organized fundraisers. Any cash donations must go through the PTO per the Scouts Charter.
This answered a lot of my questions. The PTO is partly responsible for the scouts especially from the financial end. The PTO needs to report their financial records to the IRS annually and jointly with the PTO's. The Scouts should have their own Treasurer that provides the books to the PTO Treasurer annually.
