Finance & Budget
Create a PTO Budget
An important part of the planning process is to create a budget. Here are the nuts and bolts of setting up a good parent group budget.
Free Electronic Payments Guide
Significantly Increase Your Group's Income With This
In our guide to online payment processing, we cover vendor options, benefits, risks, and more to help you get started.
Smart Money Tips
Money-Saving Tips for PTO and PTA Leaders
Smart tips from leaders on how they make their hard-earned cash stretch further.
PTO Today Article
The Parent Group Budgeting Process When Times Aren’t Normal
How to make a budget even when you have a lot of questions about what happens next.
PTO Today Article
Forms To Manage Your Group's Cash Flow
Bring more efficiency to cash management with our editable Excel forms.
HOW TOS
Holiday Sales Shopping Tips for PTOs and PTAs
Take these tips with you when you hit those Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and all the other after-holiday sales to get deals on items your group can use all year.
FINANCES
Annual Audit: How and Why
A yearly audit is a key safeguard for your money and a planning tool for the year ahead. Think of it as a "year in review" for your finances. Here's how to do one.
Finance & Budget
Could You Be Your PTO's Treasurer?
Would you make a good treasurer candidate? Ask yourself these 3 key questions to see if you have the basic skills.
Finance & Budget
How To Manage Your Budget
These basic bookkeeping procedures will help you keep your PTO budget in order.
Finance & Budget
10 Tips for Handling and Protecting Your Assets
Could your group use some more money smarts? Our 10 tips can help with your budget, record-keeping, and more.
Finance & Budget
14 Tips for Preventing PTO and PTA Embezzlement
How to prevent theft—and what to do if it happens to you.
PTO Today Article
Figuring Finances for Events
How to build a simple cost model and estimate the start-to-finish finances for your group's new events.
PTO Today Article
Get Your Financial House in Order
Implementing financial controls is a key organizational step. These practices will help your group track income and expenses and keep your assets safe.
PTO Today Article
5 Smart Financial Controls
Avoid unnecessary headaches with these practices to keep your assets safe and your records clean and up to date.
PTO Today Article
When To Change Banks
If the fees are piling up or there's a limit to the number of transactions you can make each month, it might be time to look for a better checking account at a new banking center. Keep a few basics in mind when you do.
Leadership
What Every Treasurer Should Know
Being a good treasurer takes planning and organization. Follow these pointers and you'll be ready for success.
PTO Today Article
Preventing Theft: Why It's Crucial
Theft from PTOs and PTAs doesn't happen because there's a criminal in your midst. It happens because need meets opportunity—opportunity you can and should prevent.
PTO Today Article
What Should PTOs Pay For?
Tighter school budgets mean parent groups are asked to fund more and more items that used to be paid for by the administration.
Finance & Budget
Budget Basics for PTOs
Budgeting makes all of your financial decisions easier. Follow these steps to create a budget for your PTO, even if you’ve never had one before.