If you're currently a PTA, you don't have your own 501(c)(3) status. Rather, you're part of the PTA's umbrella status. So yes -- if you make a switch from PTA to independent and you want the 501(c)(3) status -- you'd need to apply for own.

Tim

[ 05-27-2005, 05:30 PM: Message edited by: Rockne ]

As far as our 501 c status, would we need to re-apply and pay more fees, or can you just change the name? Anyone know?

Originally posted by Nikki Owen:


We tried to switch last year, but the prez said the insurance was too much

FYI, Nikki -- if you priced out parent group insurance with a local insurance agent, I'm not surprised that insurance for you guys as independents seemed high. It can be exhorbitant that way.

We've got a program that brings those costs -- even for an independent group -- way down.

Check out www.ptotoday.com/insurance for details on the best PTO Insurance option available.

Good luck,

Tim

We decided for a myriad of reasons that we want to switch. We want to dissassociate with the previous way of doing things, revamp, revitalize, bring in "new blood", stop sending money to a National chapter, rewrite bylaws, standing rules, ect. We were told by many, many parents and staff alike that the "PTA" wasn't for them. They wanted to have a bigger voice in how things are done, what the available funds are spent on, more inclusive, questionable accounting, ect. While I am sure I will hear from some that will say, "You can make changes and still stay PTA", we are all brand new board members and we want to start over. In fact, the school administrators had approached us last year to ask us to start a different parent/teacher group (a PTO). We decided to bide our time, ask around and find out why the PTA had such low membership and go from there. Based upon our findings, it was determined to start completely over. We have obtained an EIN number and have opened a checking account and are in the process of applying for 501(c)3 status. Once we start the year going and pull in some money, we will get insured. We have several insurance agents who are parents at the school looking into this for us. We already have more parents on board for the PTO that hasn't "officially" formed yet than the PTA did for the last two years. Seems like everyone wants to see a whole new face on the Parent/Teacher group at the school. I think the key was making people feel welcome, and to have them know their ideas and opinions mean something. We have set up a "Fund Allocation" process that will used for any funds left in the general account at the end of the year. This will be money not already specifically allocated to a particular need. Each and every member of the PTO will be able to put items on the ballot that they would like to have purchsed with the funds. The school administrators will approve the items as "appropriate", then ballots will be sent to EACH and EVERY member and they get to number the items in the order of preference. We will spend down the account in the order of votes. This seems to be a fair and equitable way of making sure all interests are acknowledged. This, is why we decided to switch.

Interesting Lanette --

That's a new one. I've never heard anyone making the claim that PTA affiliation means that fundraisers make more money. Odd.

In fact, one of the PTA's favorite (and off-target) claims against PTOs is (paraphrasing) that "PTOs are just about fundraising, while PTAs are about the children".

If the goal is for your carnival or your next gift wrap sale to make more money, your acronym will make zero difference on that one.

I do hope that you can work with your principal to make growing involvement more of a focus. Need be, you can use the fact that schools with more involvement also often raise more $$.

You (and especially your principal) should do some reading. Print off some of the stuff you find here and elsewhere and share with the principal.

It's definitely a doable transition in both directions; you just don't want to go through the rigmarole for the wrong reasons.

Tim

Tim,

She seems to think that we'll have more support w/our events and they will help us to make more money. That it will boost parent involvement. (I'm hoping to do that just w/ideas I have gotten from your website, thank you) We are one of 2 PTO's in our district as far as elementary. She claims that the schools that have PTA's vs PTO's make thousands of dollars more than we do on our carnival. It's really about the money w/her, I think. She is the reason I was also asking for help w/a PTO vs PTA meeting. Personally, I would like to stay PTO, b/c I like doing things the way we want not the way someone else tells us we have to (I'm just assuming on that one) and I sure don't want to have to give any of our money away just to say we are a part of a Nat'l Assoc and can use their insurance. You can shop around for liability insurance not assoc. dues. I say all of this but I really don't know enough about it though to make an educated opinion. So anyone fill me in.