In our PTO, the selection of the major fundraising company has been handled differently over the years. Many years, it's easy to repeat with the same company and no vote is taken. Basically, the Board decides to sign the contract; and the members have been supportive. There have been other times when we've decided to consider changing, and a committee of volunteers views the sales pitches from several vendors, the committee makes a recommendation for the members to approve. So, it varies in our PTO.
Regarding how we spend our money: We have a detailed budget which the board proposes and the members approve at our first meeting of the year. Because of the level of detail (about 20 expense categories), our members know--and have approved--how we will spend our money throughout the year. Thankfully, it takes the burden off the Board to decide the "best" projects to fund. We have some broad categories that give the school staff some flexibility of requests (Ex: "Building Extras"), but there's a cap on the total amount so they can plan how they best want to spend that portion of our money. Works for us.
Our VP serves as fundraising "chair". Under that there is a chairperson for spring fundraiser, fall fundraiser, book fair, cartridge recycling, etc. The board decides which fundraisers to do - but we have a very open format and little red tape - makes for friendlier meetings. If something doesn't work we'll ditch it and try something new. If a member suggests something, almost anything, we are willing to try as long as they are willing to chair. Our district has a rule about the # of fundraisers that any school can do - and technically anything that provides revenue is considered a fundraiser - Target, Box Tops, etc. So we have to become creative and have one chairperson in charge of a couple of things if they aren't as productice - call it the Target/Box Tops/Schoolcash.com committee.
Just curious - from the tone sounds like there is a little "issue" surrounding this issue.
First of all, the fundraiser is decided usually by the survey that goes home at the end of the shcool year and see what parents want to do. Then the Exec Board decides on which one to do. Which fundraiser will benefit the most. Once, that's decided ask for ideas from the parents what do they want to spend the money on. Then Exec Board decides which are the most important. If the expenditure is over a certain amount then it must be voted on by the PTO members. This must be done early in the year so the purchase can be done early as well. This is how our PTO handles it.
Hi All! My question is this- For most PTO's, Does the membership get to vote on what fundraisers to do during the year and on where the money raised gets spent. OR, do the executive boards make all these decisions since they were voted in by the membership to "handle things", and just inform the membership at the general meetings, "This is what we're going to do."
I would really appreciate any and all opinions on this. Thanks! :confused:
