The PTOs at my kids' schools are both incorporated. I set them up that way based on advice from these message boards when we switched to PTO 2-3 years ago. We wrote new bylaws at that time as well to better reflect how our groups run. We gathered as many different sets of bylaws as we could find from other groups and tailored them to fit our group. We also have insurance (as well as a PTO Today Plus membership) and find that it gives current and prospective executive board members peace of mind.

We carry over anywhere from $2000 (middle school) to $5000 (elementary school) as start up funds for the new school year. We have lots of expenses in August and don't want to panic at that time! The carryover is part of our budget.

We have 2-3 fundraisers throughout the year. Gift wrap and pie/cookie dough or pizza in the fall and then a bingo in the spring. We also run a donation program for families that don't want or need the traditional fundraisers but still want to help the PTO meet its fundraising goals. This program has been VERY successful in our very ethnically diverse community.

Volunteers vary depending on the school. In the elementary level, we have a core goup of 10-15 parents that chair most committees. In the mddle school that number is 8-10 and we're trying to recruit constantly. Hope this helps!

Just curious on a couple of things. I have been on the board at my kids elementary scholl for 2 years, this fall will be my 3rd year and when we came on we were a completly new board of 6. Our financial books were literally handed to us in a brown paper bag. Everything is in order now but it took us 3 years to get there. How many of you are Incorporated? Do you have ByLaws? How many of you carry insurance? How much is your buget that you carry over from year to year? How many fundraisers do you have? How many volunteers do you get? Real Curious!!