Perks that rob the PTO of profit or the intention overspending to get things is just wrong. shady at best, but wrong.

how is it justified to take things at cost if your mission for the project is to raise money. It's a blatent statement that the board is

a) only interested in raising other people's money

b) personally violating the intent of the sale to start with.

Come on! I know it may be considered 'small', but we don't do fund-raisers to get deals on stuff. If you want a deal on flowers shop the end of the season sale or the clearance rack at the local nursery.

Thats exactly right, dlf.

AND, if there are 'open perks' to certain board members or officers, it is only natural that the parent body wonders....hmmmmm...are there any hidden perks theyre not disclosing?

Its just human nature. I think sometimes PTO leaders/baord mbrs forget to put themselves in the place of a NON officer...and think what must their actions look like to an outside the school observer or a school parent/donator.....

I alwasy say, for max monies donated or fundraised in to parent groups, you must be viewed as above board (pun intended) and have unwavering ethical standards...your group needs to be trusted....cuz once the eyebrows are raised (as with small perks here and there to a select few members)......its a snowball effect with more questions!

ANd all that grief just to 'save' a few pennies or dollars on an at-cost item, it just aint worth it. But peoples actions sometimes are hard to understand, arent they.

You know after rereading these posts (this was one of the older conversations from a month or so ago) it occurs to me that I will stay the course of no perk PTO. The greatest reason for me at this point, is this is exactly the type of conversations that will take place in our PTOs if perks are given. There will be some that agree and some that see it as unethical. That is EXACTLY the type of conversation I don't want going on in my group...
As a boss of mine once said "Too much 'splainin'".

d

I agree totally. Great points. PARENT also mentioned the PRINCIPAL should get to buy the flowers at cost.....WOW. That principal better stay away from such unethicalities altogether, would be a case of a principal with no principles.
The 501c3 laws are black and white, and no personal gain allowed.
HOwever many PTOs are not run quite so 'organized' and when its not a registered non profit with clear rules and regs, depending on the leadership, I have seen that human nature takes over and people often feel they 'deserve' something for their 'volunteer' efforts (kind of oxymoronish thinking, but it ubiquitous).

Those folks feel entitled to perks should go get a paid job and stay away from shcool volunteer organziations that should have altruistic minds only and not the selfserving variety.

Is this school's PTO a 501(c)(3)? Registered as a Non-Profit in the state in which you are located? Do you have a license to solicit as a non-profit. If so, it's pretty much against the law to have such perks for Board Members and Trustees such as this.

Yes, you can disperse perishable food items, and take home left overs etc for yourself and family after having offered it to attendees. But cheating the non-profit organization out of profits due to them is another situation completely. Also, the fundraising company might take issue with this as well if it is an organized program. And what if the parents outside the Board get word of this?

PTO Board members should not be entitled to perks the rest of the parent population cannot take advantage of. And if you're in it for a pat on the back or job well done or a perk of any kind, resign now. You're not there for the right reasons and you make the rest of us who are working our tails off to bring advantages to and enhance learning environments throughout the country look bad.

Originally posted by <penny for your thoughts>:
And personally, I find the perishable food issues a big NON issue (expect if gourmet sushi were ordered in excess and belgian chocs and champagne so parents could take it home).

Its the non persishables, yrly audits, outright embesslement, and the like, that is more worthy of closer attention, IMHO!!

I totally agree, if it's legit leftovers, but ordering 20% extra to make sure you have leftovers is unethical, and letting everyone who comes in with a volunteer sels your fundraiser short.