A+ Advice For Parents

February 2, 2009

Keep your PTO alive during a recession

Our PTO is running out of gas. Fundraising is down. Parent volunteering has dropped. Everyone is stressed, but as PTO president, I feel that in tough times, our PTO needs to be stronger than ever. Would changing our fund-raiser help?

This is a nationwide crisis, and changing your fundraiser probably won't help.

Your PTO is not the only one suffering. In a recent survey by PTO Today, more than 50 percent of PTOs report that their fundraising efforts are down significantly from last year.

But you're right: Your PTO is more important than ever. Research shows that when parents are involved in school, students have more positive attitudes, and better attendance, grades and test scores. They take advantage of more extracurricular activities and complete assignments and graduate at higher rates than students at schools where parents are scarce.

In tough times, how can you energize your PTO?

Tim Sullivan, a former school administrator, is president of PTO Today. He advises PTOs to adjust to the times.

-- Make the school a resource. "Partner with local experts or community agencies to host workshops on How to Polish Your Resume, or Saving for College or Family Budgeting in Tough Times? Open the doors for Saturday Soccer or for early-morning exercisers," says Sullivan.

-- Involve kids in PTO activities. "Have more informal family gatherings. When you host Friday Movie Nights or Family Health Fairs, you give parents time to be with their kids while being part of a PTO event," notes Sullivan.

- Offer a menu of volunteering opportunities. "It's unrealistic to seek everyone's involvement at any one event, but you might get nearly every parent to connect with the school if you create a rich buffet to choose from over the course of a year," says Sullivan. "One school I know gets their best turnout at Monster Truck Night."

-- Deliver a special invitation to Dads. "More Dads will come if you have hands-on projects," Sullivan believes. "Host Dads Clubs on Saturday mornings, when fathers cook breakfast. One PTO asked several fathers to repaint a media center damaged by a water pipe break. Some of the dads were out of work. The project not only brought them into the school, it was a source of pride for families."

-- Rethink why you're raising funds. You might have to fund more basics. "A PTO in a Florida school has redirected its fundraising from field trips to cover the salary of the school nurse. That PTO wasn't saying 'field trips aren't important.' It was saying 'the school nurse is essential.' Parents were more eager to fundraise, and it highlighted the impact of the budget crisis," says Sullivan.

-- Follow all leads to find funds. "Check with local stores for loyalty programs that benefit schools and encourage parents to patronize them. Get creative about finding grants. Lowe's, for example, gives awards of up to $5,000 to more than 1,000 public schools each year. Encourage teachers to go to donorschoose.org for specific needs. Some municipal budgets can be tapped for grant money, too," says Sullivan.

Sullivan doesn't advise changing a fundraising company that has served you well without asking it to work with you to meet realistic goals for this environment. "If you've found a representative that treats you like gold, consider yourself lucky. You can cause a lot of damage if your product is of poor quality or if its delivery day is royally messed."

Be honest with parents about the economic challenges your school is facing, says Sullivan. "Work with administrators to communicate the impact of the cuts. Tough times can bring everyone together to discuss what must stay and what can go." For more ideas on how to energize your PTO in tough times, go to PTOtoday.com.

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