If you're just looking for general "is this common?" feedback, then: No, that's a very unusual set-up. I've rarely if ever heard of a principal getting an automatic cut, especially in a public school setting.

Thank you for reply. As this is a starting PTO, we haven't set anything down as far as guidelines or anything yet. We are officially kicking off in January. In my school, there has never been a successful PTO, so the pressure is pretty heavy. The idea behind getting PTO going is to help the school help our children; especially during such tough economic times. I am not in any way against helping out where the school needs it, I just want to make sure we make the right decisions. Because we are just starting, we do not have a budget set yet because we don't have any funds to start. Our beginning fundraisers have to be something that doesn't cost to kick off. We are looking to do a 50/50 raffle in January to help a family who was struck down by a car. Then we want to run a bake sale to get a base fund going for the PTO. I will be speaking to the principal, but I just wanted to get opinions and feedback from people who have experience with running PTO's. Thank you again.

Unless your activity is held off campus, doesn't rely on the assistance of teachers/staff/stundents, and doesn't use the school name - it is to some degree a school-affiliated event. This is true of any fundraiser of a school related group.

That being the case, you have a partnership of sorts. So what are the expectations on both sides? Often, it's that the PTO will own/run these fundraisers, teachers and/or students will assist, and later the funds earned will be spent towards the benefit of the school.

But other terms are certainly possible. That school gets a percentage is one. That you refuse or negotiate otherwise is also possible.

These days, both parent groups AND the schools are forced to hold fundraisers. So look at the big picture. There is only so much money to go around. If the school holds a separate fundraiser that they fully own, is that better for you? If they are guaranteed a percentage, will the principal push harder that those few teachers who really don't help - will this time? If the PTO is now working with less funds than planned because of the shared percentage, are the expectations of what they are funding/furnishing decreasing?

I doubt seriously that the principal intends this as a shakedown. He may see it as a strategy that might work for everyone's benefit rather than him adding more fundraisers into the mix.

If your PTO is independent you can always say "no". But then what are the consequences?

Talk to your principal. Find out what is driving this idea, how it would work, what the PTO gets out of it. Then make your decision accordingly.

Fundraisers of almost any campus-affiliated group involve a partnership.

Hello,
We are starting a new PTO in our school and I am in charge of starting it up.
It has been brought to my attention that the principal gets 20% of all raised monies from fundraisers. Can he take this from the PTO's? please let me know. Thank you