6 Qualities of Successful Parent Groups

At PTO Today, we talk to school parent groups every single day. We hear about the common struggles as well as the creative solutions, plus we get an up-close look at the most productive, positive groups across the country. So we put our heads together to figure out what successful groups have in common and identified these key six traits.

If your own group is struggling, don’t be discouraged; just pick one area to focus on, start with small steps, and over time your successes will start building on themselves!

Successful groups are outgoing, approachable, and fun

It shows when involved parents are enjoying themselves; they are high-energy, with a positive outlook and a focus on being inclusive. Leaders are willing to answer questions and jump in to connect with anyone who might feel a little lost. Most of all, they ask for input and new ideas and respond positively when they get it! “The best groups have multiple ways to communicate, make sign-up and volunteering easy, and have a range of volunteer opportunities that fit different schedules and commitment levels,” says operations manager Brian Donovan.

Make it work for you: At events, talk to parents who are not board members or power volunteers (without asking them to volunteer). Wear name tags, and always speak positively about other parents and volunteers.

Successful groups are well-organized

Strong bylaws, a board that works well together, and a detailed transition plan all make it possible for a parent group to operate as an entity independent from the school. With a clear organizational structure, leaders can work to support the group’s mission in a way that’s respectful of everyone involved—and helps prevent volunteer burnout. “The groups that are on top of things tend to have checklists that they run down at the end of the year so that the new board members don’t have to reinvent the wheel,” observes Nina Lovinger from the leader support team. “The new board can hit the ground running with confidence.”

Make it work for you: Spend time on your mission statement and share it widely with the parent community. Review bylaws and standing rules each year so that they help in getting PTO work done as efficiently as possible.

Successful groups have good communication

Openly talking about the many ways a PTO supports the school and the wider community builds a group’s reputation and elevates its status among families. Success breeds good feeling, so talking widely about accomplishments—at meetings, on social media, and around town—will make it easier to increase involvement. “The more you communicate about why things are being done, the more there is a feeling of being a part of the group,” says Holly Wheeler of the operations department.

Make it work for you: Plan out your group’s communications on a calendar. Start by filling in meeting dates and planned events so you can post reminders, agendas, and parent forms in advance. On slow weeks, post fundraising updates and volunteer appreciation shout-outs.

Successful groups have activities that support the community

When a group has a varied calendar of events that’s been put together thoughtfully, it shows in the high levels of participation across the board. Fundraisers bring in money while also generating awareness of the group, community service efforts support families in need, and enough just plain fun events are planned to build spirit schoolwide. “Really special groups take a step back and think about what they can do above and beyond the normal group events to help solve a specific problem at the school or in the community,” notes digital media manager Shannon Soares.