PTA / Foundation

Operating Model Options

​

Carolyn Duran Beth Cavanaugh

Today’s Goal

• Review definitions (Oregon/Portland specific) (2 min)
• Align on Objectives (3 min)
• Clarity – community knows what funds raised pay for
• Choice – Parents can decide on donating time/money to support programs, staff, or both
• Compliance – we are following the rules
• Outline the Current Model and alternative scenarios (5min per scenario)
• Identify Pros/Cons of each
• Questions or any additional clarity needed

​

• That’s it!

​

• Please provide any additional feedback to Abernethyptapresident@gmail.com and bethanycavanaugh@gmail.com before winter break – feedback tonight and offline will be utilized to develop a proposal for a January vote.

Definitions / Background

• The mission of Abernethy’s Parent Teacher Association (PTA) is to enrich our children’s educational experience through PTA programs, events and classroom support.
• A foundation is an organization that administers funds to school districts to finance the hiring of teachers and staff or to fund projects benefiting educational purposes. (From OR PTA officers manual 2017)

​

• Several years ago, Abernethy combined these two efforts, with a separate budget line item for funds supporting All Hands Raised (Foundation donations)
• All Hands Raised is the non-profit organization PPS uses as a steward for local school foundations, which enables a means by which private funding can be used for additional staff. For all amounts donated through All Hands Raised over $10,000, 1/3 goes into an equity fund.
• Key drivers for combining the two functions were for efficiency (we had 3 boards with three sets of systems/records), flexibility and preventing competing efforts.

Current Model: Combined PTA/Foundation

• Budget includes line items for each program as well as a targeted donation to a Foundation through All Hands Raised
• Budget is available to the community
• PTA programs are funded first.
• Fundraising events are not targeted for one part of the budget or another – all events work towards raising funds to meet the approved budget goals

​

Current Model: Combined PTA/Foundation

Pros

• Simplicity: One board, One budget (with distinct line items for funding staff vs. other programs)
• Funding flexibility – excess funds raised via programs can be allocated to *either* programs or Foundation
• One group coordinating activities and volunteers

Cons

• Personal donations go into a single bucket
• PTA manual language suggests PTA and foundations should be kept as separate orgs
• PTA manual states fundraising should not be the priority
• Large single budget
• Added: Large board with broad scope

Option A: Modified Combination

• Keep combined officers/meetings/budget
• Enable parents to choose with their money and/or time
• PTA only
• Foundation only
• Both

​

Option A: Modified Combination

Pros

• Allows parental choice
• Keeps the “pros” of the current model
• Could be test model for future options (baby steps) way to test community preferences explicitly

Cons

• May be difficult to execute cleanly (i.e. bookkeeping, matching)
• Keeps the cons of current model: PTA manual language and large budget.

​

Option B: Separate but Operating Together

• Allocate certain fundraisers to PTA, others to Foundation
• Separate accounting aligned with those events/activities
• Board/officers can be the same, but procedurally we open/close one meeting, then open/close the other

Option B: Separate but Operating Together

Pros

• Keeps board / volunteer simplicity
• Meets PTA fundraising guidelines
• Increased clarity on which events funds either PTA or Foundation.
• Smaller budget for treasurer

​

Cons

• separate bookkeeping (could be pro depending – more data needed)
• Less flexible funds – no ability to move excess funds from Foundation to PTA (other direction ok to self-defined limits)
• Foundation funds not part of PTA operating budget. Cannot use funds from one to pre-fund others (i.e. cannot use Appeal funds to fund Carnival in advance of the event – will need to carry higher operating income in PTA)
• Will need start up funds
• Added: Can add complexity and/or confusion
• People changing their mind
• People accidentally giving to the wrong “bucket”

​

​

​

​

Option C: Totally separate

• We form a PTA board and an Abernethy Foundation Board – distinctly different.
• Events are entirely separate, money flow, systems and tools are all separate.

Option C: Totally separate

Pros

• Meets PTA officer manual guidelines
• Donors have clarity with each event to where that specific money is going (PTA or Foundation) and choice as to whether they want to fund it.
• Separates emphasis between primarily community events and fundraising events
• Smaller budget for treasurer

​

Cons

• Same as Option B PLUS
• Need separate board, meetings, budget, accounting, operating procedures
• Increased challenges in coordinating events between the two orgs
• Added: Could end up with disparate agendas (could start competing for funds/resources again)

​

backup

Reference: PTA Local Unit Bylaws

• Here’s the link: https://www.oregonpta.org/assets/pages/files/Local_Unit_Bylaws_20171.pdf

​

SECTION 1. The Purposes of the local PTA/PTSA unit, in common with the Purposes of National PTA, are: 

• To promote the welfare of children and youth in home, school, places of worship, and throughout the 
• community;
• To raise the standards of home life; 
• To advocate for laws that further the education, physical and mental health, welfare, and safety of children and youth; 
• To promote the collaboration and engagement of families and educators in the education of children and youth; 
• To engage the public in united efforts to secure the physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, and social well- being of all children and youth; and 
• To advocate for fiscal responsibility regarding public tax dollars in public education funding. 

​

Reference language from PTA officers manual

• “The PTA treasury is for PTA funds only. Funds of other organizations should not be funneled through a PTA treasury” (PTA officers manual, 2017)

​

• “Fundraising should not be a focus of your PTA but a means to support programs, projects, and activities” (PTA officers manual, 2017)