We're fairly new to all this, so we're sort of flying by the seat of our pants. We had a couple of executive board meetings and got some ideas together, then had our first couple of general meetings and got more ideas. Ultimately our executive board has the final say, but we're pretty liberal. Basically if someone has a great idea AND proves to us they can carry it out and make us money we'll give it the green light.
We're separate from our school, so we don't really need "approval," BUT we do have to run things by our BOE to make sure nothing we want to do is in conflict with BOE policies. This kills our principal, because she basically has no say in it. She's proven to be less than supportive, so we try to keep our activities to after school (BOE property so they approve usage) or off the school property all together.
There are certain fundraisers that we have every year. Then sometimes we find a new one to try or someone comes to a meeting a presents a fundraising idea. We discuss it and decide whether or not to do it.
For a new fundraiser we then just go and show it to the principal who then gives us his blessing.
We get so many different offers from so many companies that the Officers and committee chair go over them, narrow them down to three companies per fundraiser (we only do two per year). The committee chair takes them to her fundraising committee and they decide which company or fundraiser they want to do for each of our fundraisers. From there it is voted on at our last PTA dinner/meeting.
At the elementary school the fundraising committe that is chaired by the 2nd VP decides. Principal may look it over and taste the chocolate but doesn't usually care.
At the middle school, the student council decides on fundraisers, input my parents is solicited and it's okayed by the Principal. I think Principal also coordinates fundraising schedules since chorus, band and some groups also have them.
At the High School, every group has an advisor and they have to agree to it but it's a free for all regarding products and timing.
Our exective Board decides what fundraisers to do. We then go to the principal to coordinate dates and such for pick up etc. Always a good idea just in case another department (music) etc is planning a fundraiser - we wouldn't want anything else scheduled while we are holding ours
