Why Some School Districts Police PTO Fundraisers

Why some school districts are limiting PTO sales.

Outside parent groups like PTOs and PTAs can significantly benefit their respective schools. In the past, they’ve improved the educational experience by helping to pay for such things as field trips or new equipment for computer labs. It used to be that as long as an outside entity like a PTO group conducted the fundraising, the school districts didn’t get involved.

This is no longer the norm. One driving force for increased regulation is to attempt to control the high volume of fundraisers that appear to be exhausting the support of many communities.

The second reason that school districts are policing PTO fundraisers is to deal with the issue of fairness. While many schools can raise the money they need, others are not. Some claim that this has caused a growing disparity in the quality of education.

The Effects of Limiting Fundraisers

This can end up being a blessing in disguise. The old adage “Quality is better than quantity” definitely applies. Groups that end up having several sales often end up experiencing fundraising fatigue as both sellers and buyers grow tired of being inundated with endless sales campaigns. Limiting the number of fundraisers will require better planning, cooperation, and coordination between schools and their communities.

Organizations must also focus on making their existing fundraisers more profitable so they don’t have to rely on other campaigns. There are many ways to enhance their sale, including bolstering their promotional efforts and offering additional incentives that don’t necessarily have to cost any additional money.

Limits have additionally been placed on what the money generated from PTO fundraisers can be used for. For example, many districts don’t allow the money to be used to fund teacher positions or pay for extra equipment.

A distinction has also been made based on the type of fundraiser selected. For instance, passive fundraisers like boxtops may not be as regulated as active outside sales, requiring groups to go into the community for support.

What about School Fairness and Equality?

Should some schools be asked to level the financial playing field? While many schools in affluent communities have succeeded in raising lots of money, many working-class communities have not. The fear that some school districts have is an ever-widening gap between the rich and the poor schools. As a result, some schools can add extra-curricular programs for their students, like music and staff development opportunities.

Consequently, some districts require their schools to contribute some of the money raised to a centralized money pool. The money is then redistributed on a per capita basis.

Regardless of where you stand on these issues, you must check with your school district or local council to determine the specific rules and requirements for PTO fundraisers.

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Author Bio

Clay Boggess has been designing fundraising programs for schools and various nonprofit organizations throughout the US since 1999. He’s helped administrators, teachers, and outside support entities such as PTAs and PTOs raise millions of dollars. Clay is an owner and partner at Big Fundraising Ideas.