When our group supported a referendum in town we purchased signs. However, we were informed by the school board that we could only tell people to vote and not tell them how to vote. By the same token, the evening before a school budget vote the phone chain is also activated to remind people to vote. Again...they cannot say go vote yes, they can simply remind them to vote.
I am not sure what the legal reason is behind this and maybe someone can weigh in with what that is...I can only tell you we are never allowed to tell people how to vote.
Here's the whole story. The PTO is unanimous in their decision to support the budget. We would like signs to say VOTE YES April whatever. In the past, a private organization was organized to do such work. The teachers made this donation to the district PTO after we did an enormous amount of work to get a referndum passed in our district for facility upgrades. We do have a loud minority group in town who are generally senior citizens who have organized themselves strictly to defeat the budget. Becasue they are such sticklers, we are afriad to jeopardize our 501(c)3 status because they will be looking for a way to shoot us down. So again, if the group has unanimously voted to support the budget and allow the administration to attend our local meetings to present the tentative budget, can the group then purchase and post signs throughout the town on private property with proper approvals that say VOTE YES without jepardizing our non-profit status? Thanks so much for your help!!!!
As Critter noted, you can just not support or donate money to a political pary or candidate.
You should just vote on whether or not your group wants to donate and endorst the budget. The last thing is what will your signs say? You have to watch what wording you put on them. You cannot tell people to vote yes or no, you can only tell them to vote on the school budget.
A 501c3 can donate to another 501c3. The restriction on political activity of a 501c3 says you can't endorse a specific candidate. (I think there's one more provision, too----any helpers out there??). Whether or not you use PTO money to support the budget election is more a philosophical question for your group than a legal one. Does this sort of activity have broad (majority? unanimous?) support amongst your PTO's members. I know some groups have done what you're describing with no negative ramifications. Others stay away from taking a stance in order to avoid controversy. Your officers need to consider the possible implications if the PTO comes out publically on one side of a polictical issue.
Why did the teacher's union donate money to the PTO? Aren't they allowed to buy the signs? If that's the case, I'd be very leary of this request. It sounds fishy, but I may be interpretting it incorrectly.
We are a newly established PTO district (used to be PTA) and were wondering, since we are a 501(c)3, can we donate money to a group that would support the school budget election? Could we purchase signs and then distribute them to people within the community or does this type of activity go against or non-profit status. The money was originally donated to our organization from the teacher group that represents our teachers.Please advise!!!!!
