Thanks for the great input. I checked under guidestar and found 39 that are 501s and I'm working on Michelle's tip now. In response to Delores, We are hoping its just that they don't know enough about PTOs. If the school district charges us to us the school which is what they are saying if we are PTO not PTA, we will maybe try to find another place to hold our General Meetings.

hi Robin, perhaps this is helpful. You have 201 elementary, middle and high schools in your county, 198 are chartered as PTA. I suppose it is safe to assume that the other three are either PTO or have no Parent group at all. You can get a list of all the PTA schools in your district from the state office (or it could be in your unit mailing) and do a process of elimination to locate the three that aren't.

Are you familiar with Guidestar? ( www.guidestar.org/ )It's a national database of non-profit orgs (i.e. 501's).

Not all PTO's are 501(c)(3)'s. In fact, I would wager the majority operate "off radar". But you may be able to find several listed on their site.

From the main page, select "More Search Options" in the upper left corner. In the search screen, put "PTO" in the keyword field and choose your state. I think it got 41 hits when I tried it.

You can also go to the IRS website and search on charities ( www.irs.gov/charities/page/0,,id=15053,00.html ). Again, you'll only get the the 501's.

On either of these, you may want to try some broader key words. Like maybe just "parent". Remember, "PTO" is just one generic acronym. Some orgs use others.

If you REALLY want to research this, you can approach your state agency that handles sales tax. A lot of organizations either pay sales tax or request an exemption even when they aren't 501s (if the state permits it). You can request an open records search for any organizations with "PTO" in their name (you might have to spell out versions). There's probably no charge. If there is, they'll have to tell you in advance.

[ 07-23-2004, 11:29 PM: Message edited by: JHB ]

We are a Florida PTO. As far as I know, our district has no preference. I think the district is about 50-50. Has your district given you a reason for not supporting PTO? Maybe they have a valid reason, but I can't imagine one. :confused:

We are a Florida PTO in Navarre....thats near Pensacola. Have been a PTO for 3 years. We don't get any flack that we are a PTO but we do not get a great deal of PTO participation.

We need to find some PTO's in Florida. Our newly formed PTO is getting flak from the district saying they only support PTA and they may charge us to use the building. Has anyone had any issues like this?