In my view it is somewhat a matter of semantics.

The previous Treasuer split the books into Fundraisers and Expenses and it has been kept that way ever since. The "Big Ticket Items" are standard and well known - Giftwrap (fundraiser) and Programs (expense) being two examples. But for the smaller events, sometimes a "fundraiser" loses money and sometimes an "expense" nets money (not much off in either case). We do a Holiday Shop that used to be considered an expense - we came out within $100 up or down every year. A few years ago we started selling food and we have been up a few hundered every year since even though it is still on our books as an expense.

Regardless of whether it is listed as a fundraiser or an expense it all comes out in our year end reporting anyway.

Yes, I think there has to be a mix or fun and not so fun for all.
I posted in another post about bang for your buck (and eluded to ask former Rockies pitcher Denny Neagle)
Everyone wants to donate (at leat I hope they do) but need the social non pressure, non hand out event, too.

[ 01-28-2006, 07:31 PM: Message edited by: Shawn ]

The state and federal govt has been doing a great job of that for over 200 yrs.)

Shawn, I have missed your sense of humor.

This subject is something I'm dealing with. I'm tired of doing "fundraisers" and want to have some fun time. I really think that if we can have something (movie night, crafts night, etc.)and not charge anything, but spending just a little, we'll have a much larger volunteer/participation committment.

Originally posted by Rockne:
[QB}otherwise, it's just semantics. Us PTO leaders can debate all we want. What really matters in this debate is what your parents are feeling/experiencing. Whether your group makes $1000 or spends/loses/invests $1,000 on that event matters not a lick.

How much you make (most of the parents will never see your budget report) is nearly irrelevant. It's the context of the particular event and the environment put out by your whole group across the year that matters most.

Tim [/QB]

Hehehe, Tim hasnt been to my school- Big powwows' over school and PTA fundraising budget- story for another time.


I agree, though. It's all in how the Event(Non-stipulated fundraiser) or Fundraisers'(Marketed as Fundriaser) is presented and marketed to the school.

All of our Events are fundraisers at Calahan even if it nets a buck or too. That's just the way we've officially unofficially set them up. I dislike losing money (even if for a good cause). We only market 3 fundraisers during the year though Back2 School, Winter and Spring fundraisers (and the ongoing Boxtops, Grocery reciepts). All of our events: Holiday programs, Bookfair, Auction, SockHop, Bake Sale are setup to at least break even- though not usually marketed as a fundraiser (its billed as an event)

We've figured we're in this to run as many fun, educational programs and support our school finacially but not at the cost of wasting money. (The state and federal govt has been doing a great job of that for over 200 yrs.)


Like the phrase goes Location, Location, Location for us it Perception, Perception, Perception... How do the parent perceive it.

For us, how we label something depends on the intent of the program. Some are certainly hybrids. I agree - it's mostly semantics.

To me, the labeling is only a concern in the image/marketing sense. Yes - a lot of events also raise funds to break even or even provide a surplus. But as someone else said, you don't want to be perceived as a fundraising machine. That's a secondary benefit of events like a Carnival or Spring Fling. You want to market the fun, not just "come help the PTO make money". (Although reminding people it's for a good cause can be beneficial, too.)

As far as Texas - some of our elementary schools have policies limiting the campus to two sales-type fundraisers where the kids are the sales force. That's unique to a district (or school) and the PTO needs to work out what the administration means.

As far as Texas state law, calling something a fundraiser or not has no impact. A non-profit can only have two tax-exempt sales fundraisers per year. (You can have more, but you pay tax.) It doesn't matter whether or not you CALL it a fundraiser. What matters is whether the activity is one that would normally require the collection of sales tax. Not all of a PTO's fundraising events/activities are taxable.

[ 01-27-2006, 10:39 AM: Message edited by: JHB ]

kmamom, my husband calls that funniness part of my Type A personality. I came up with that classification for events because no one could figure what to do about fundraising and charging for events, so we have a goal of a number of each of them we would like to do and what needs to be made/spent. I wish you could just come to my school. We just try to keep enough money going to keep everyone happy and glue in the classrooms.