One of my concerns is our non-profit status, and the fact that once we start donating to this type of fund, SOMEONE will then be making a profit. Not sure if I am overthinking this or not.
We have decided to NOT donate any PTO funds from this. This program is set up by our school counselor, and we would NEVER know a single name, or make any decisions about where the funds would go. We are going to do a gift tree, and sign it from a parent, nothing related to PTO. I will probably head it up, but won't put my name on there, because as PTO president, folks would automatically assume it was PTO backed/organized.
While I would be more than happy to donate personally, I do have an uneasy feeling about using PTO $ for a program such as you describe. Money raised by us is not allowed to benefit any one, specific person or family. I believe that is an IRS thing- I know our CPA insisted it be in our bylaws. Does this compromise that? It is not that I would be unwilling to do this kind of thing, I'm concerned about the fiscal reporting/legal side of it. I actually think it is a great idea & it may be something I would LIKE to contribute to in our own community-if only we are allowed. Does anyone know the answer to this?
We also do a "make a difference" campaign in the holiday months that isn't a PTO program but an assistant prinicipal program. We do not directly donate PTO funds for specifically the reason you mention.
We work with our school councelor each Christmas to help a needy family from our school. She tells us the items needed, such as a gift certificate to Kroger, etc, and we decide on an amount and donate it to the family. We typically make a few purchases on our own and include it. This year when asking for donations for our carnival, we had a christmas tree farm offer a gift certificate, but they didn't offer it till a week after our carnival. We contacted them and told them the carnival was over, but would they mind if we donated it to a needy family in the school. Our school is very low income, yet we have a good bit of participation in most things we do. We feel it is only right to help out a family or two from our school. Yes, we are using money that is for the education of our children, but this act in itself is an eduction, even though we don't discuss it, other than adding it to our reports. We've never had a parent have a problem with this. because we go through the school councelor, we are assured that whatever we give goes to a family who really needs help. It is always completely confidential also. We don't even know who the families are.
We have a local charity that provides emergency financial aid for students in our district, exclusively. Each year, our PTO makes a decent donation to this charity. We do this in lieu of making gifts directly to teachers or school families in times of grief or crisis. The charity's money is administered by social workers in a confidential manner. The PTO does not need to get involved directly with the delicate decision of who gets aid and who doesn't. The PTO is for ensuring a good educational environment for the students and perhaps these kids aren't prepared because they are cold (need clothes) or can't see the chalkboard (need glasses). But it does get tricky when the PTO takes on the role of social worker.
In your case, I would ask if the money is being adminstered by a separate charity vs. some well-meaning parent. Is this exclusive for those 15 families? What is there's a 16th needy family? And I would make a flat donation, not a percent of a fundraiser.
I have had a parent present to us the "opportunity" to donate 10% of PTO proceeds from an ongoing fundraiser to disperse financial supplements/gifts/food to 15 needy families within our school. I have about 1/3 of our meeting attendants not happy about raising money for the "educational needs" of our children to give away to those less fortunate. Not that there isn't a need, but it isn't the PTO's place to raise those funds
