Thanks for offering more detail on the other side. I applaud your intentions.
But I agree with most posters that this is less than a great idea.
First, I think there's the very real possibility of IRS red flags with an arrangement like you've described. Even if it doesn't run afoul of nonprofit regulations (it likely does), I'd think the camp dollars would have to be considered pay and declared on income taxes of individuals.
More importantly, I think pals really nailed it with this feedback:
" ... have found in the past all those little gimmicks to get people involved tend to only work for a meeting/event for a VERY VERY short time. Our group has grown because we are very open and truly welcoming."
I just see way too many downsides to your proposal: Tax/nonprofit issues. Effectiveness issues (I don't think it will work, long-term and I think it could do real harm to the reputation of your group and its leaders).
The original poster asked for feedback and didn't provide all the context. No one here was trying to be mean-spirited, but -- as you can tell -- the feelings on this have been pretty strong. i think that's a strength of this forum. I hope you'll stay with us and keep offering your opinions and insight on this and other topics. For example: what changes did you make that allowed this year's group to overa-chieve fundraising-wise?
When I read this yesterday I didn't take the time to chime in because I felt my opinion had been already stated...the PTO is to benefit all the children across the board. If you are registered with the IRS then you cannot do what you have proposed as it is against the law. I don't believe that anyone who posted against your idea was being "tunnel visioned", just honest in the way they see the role of the PTO. You talk about poverty, I live in a third world country, so I see and live with hard-core poverty daily. Our school has activities that benefit those children and communities quite often. My board members and I don't need a financial incentive to volunteer, we do it because we care. That's the same incentive I have had for volunteering with Girl Scouts, church groups, community theatre, REEF Organization, and so on.
Maybe you could look at other ways of getting all the parents involved. Remember that there will always be ones who just won't commit to anything regardless of their social status. Some of our most affluent parents are the least involved. Good luck! :cool:
I still see a lot of negatives with this that far outweigh the benefits. Some of the questions I would want to get good answers together for before I would propose this are as follows.
1) What will the group do if a Board member gets into office, then fails to perform their duties? Is this going to attract new, qualified, enthusiastic, hard-working volunteers?
2) How will the scholarship recipients be selected to ensure there is no discrimination?
3) If a tax-exempt group, does this program qualify as one having earnings inure to the benefit of officers/members, according to the IRS?
4) Where do you draw the line? If there's a non-Board member who puts in hundreds of hours running the major fall fundraiser, does that person qualify? If you have a non-Board member out there who does put in a lot of time like that, how will that person feel if they are excluded?
5) Will scholarships be able to be used at religious camps? Is that a problem? What kind of camps do qualify, and how will it be administered to ensure the money does go to camps?
6) How will the scholarship availability be advertised to ensure that all parents have an equal opportunity to be eligible?
7) Are Board elections/nominations held in such a way so that every person interested in running for the Board and having the scholarship opportunity can run?
8) Are there other parent groups that offer similar incentives in terms of magnitude (i.e. $250)?
9) What percentage of the group's total budget would this represent? What kinds of items take up more money, and less money? How will this be perceived in relation to the items that cost less money?
10) Are there funding requests to the group that have been denied that cost less money than this proposal? In terms of meeting the needs of the most number of kids at the school, how does this proposal stack up to those requests?
11) What will the impact be on all of your other volunteers? If someone can only put in 10 hours a year volunteering for a couple of field trips in their child's class, does this diminish the value of their volunteering?
You really can't "know" the answers to all of these, but I think they should be discussed before moving forward.
Brenda--sorry if we offended, but someone asked for an opinion and it was given.... No one was impugning you personally or questioning your motives. That said, I could see your point better if any extra money would be to benefit a child(ren) based on merit, and not how their parents contribute to the school. I'm uncomfortable with the way "poverty" is being used; it makes it seem as though "poor" people are either too lazy or unintelligent to realize the benefits of being involved, or it's as though the only motivater "they" understand is money.Our school doesn't have a huge poverty level, and parent involvement still leaves a LOT to be desired! Mostly because of that "clique" mentality which works both ways: the board rules with an iron fist and is hardly welcoming, and the "outsiders" have too little self esteem to work their way in (not that that's your situation, but someone before you mentioned it). My friends and I decided to band together and overcome our own negative self-images, and now we're looking to change things for the better. It's a long row to hoe, but when you've got support it helps. Anyway--dialog in situations like these is beneficial--everyone participating (and just looking), is given food for thought, and it gives you more to draw on in future situations. I'd hate to think you'd stay away--you have valuable opinions to share as well!
