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Givebacks

TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES

Givebacks Training Option 1: Welcome to Givebacks.

“Did your organization just join? Are you a brand new officer? This session is for you. We will cover how to log in and get started, plus provide a brief overview of all of our amazing features. Get registered here:  Registration (gotowebinar.com) 

Givebacks Training Option 2: Fundraising

“Your Givebacks account includes a full suite of best-in-class online fundraisers with the lowest fees on the market. We’ll show you how to make sure your organization is set up to use these amazing tools. Plus, you’ll get an overview of each campaign type — crowdfunding, auctions, a-thons, events, and more. You’ll be on your way to earning more while working less!”  Get registered here!

Givebacks Training Option 3: Online Store and Website.

“Learn how to add anything to your online store — spirit wear, donations, whatever you want! We will also show you the Givebacks website feature and how you can build a customized PTA website anyone can reach, without a login.” Get registered here!

Givebacks Training Option 4: Communications

“Ready to engage with your supporters? Join this workshop to learn the difference between contacts and members, how to add contacts, contact management tips, and all of the ways Givebacks helps you communicate.” Get registered here!

Givebacks Training Option 5: Treasurer’s Guide.

“Newly elected treasurers, this workshop is for you! Topics include making state dues payments, reconciliation, and all things Stripe (fees, payouts, etc).” Get registered here!  

Givebacks Training Option 6: Membership and Compliance.

“Join us for a 30-minute session where we will dive into entering cash/check members, setting up memberships in your store, paying your membership dues to your state PTA, and the basics of uploading your compliance documents.” Get registered here! 

Givebacks Training Option 7: Shop to Give

Join this live workshop to learn all about Shop to Give, the cashback app that allows over 25,000 businesses to donate to your PTA.” Get registered here:  Registration (gotowebinar.com) 

West Virginia PTA has teamed up with Givebacks!

West Virginia PTA has teamed up with Givebacks to provide their valuable online tool to all PTAs in the state…free of charge! Givebacks easy-to-use technology makes it easier to run your PTA — engage families, raise funds, stay in good standing, and more. You’ll save hours on admin tasks, so you can focus on connecting with your children and engaging your school community.

It is STRONGLY recommended that all PTAs use Givebacks to manage members, make state dues payments, report officers, and record good standing requirements. We hope you also take advantage of the many additional features available through your free Givebacks site!

Unsure how Givebacks works? Register for one of the numerous free trainings listed below. Have general questions? Chat with the support team or check out the commonly asked questions on the Help Center page:

Givebacks Help Center 

The one-stop solution for PTAs…

  • Run your own online store
  • Create amazing fundraisers for your school
  • Keep member details fresh and stay compliant
  • Keep families in the loop
  • Shop to Give works with the way you already shop
  • Engage families with beautiful websites, emails, newsletters and more!

National PTA Resources

National PTA offers a wide variety of resources to help PTA leaders, families and school communities stay informed, connected and engaged. From helpful newsletters and timely updates to tools and guidance focused on strengthening family-school partnerships, these resources provide valuable information you can use throughout the year. Explore National PTA’s resources to find new ideas, best practices and practical tools to support your PTA and build stronger connections between families, schools and communities.

National StandardsSuccessful Family-School Partnerships

PTA’s process for building successful partnerships starts with the National Standards for Family-School Partnerships and consists of three steps:

  • Raising awareness about the power of family and community involvement.
  • Taking action to cultivate involvement through specific programs and practices.
  • Celebrating success as your school sees increased involvement and its impact. 

PTA’s National Standards for Family-School Partnerships

Standard 1: Welcoming All Families into the School Community 
Families are active participants in the life of the school, and feel welcomed, valued, and connected to each other, to school staff, and to what students are learning and doing in class.

Standard 2: Communicating Effectively
Families and school staff engage in regular, two-way, meaningful communication about student learning.

Standard 3: Supporting Student Success 
Families and school staff engage in regular, two-way, meaningful communication about student learning.

Standard 4: Speaking Up for Every Child
Families are empowered to be advocates for their own and other children, to ensure that students are treated fairly and have access to learning opportunities that will support their success.

Standard 5: Sharing Power
Families and school staff are equal partners in decisions that affect children and families and together inform, influence, and create policies, practices, and programs.

Standard 6: Collaborating with Community 
Families and school staff collaborate with community members to connect students, families, and staff to expanded learning opportunities, community services, and civic participation.​​​​​​​  

For more information about the National Standards and PTA programs that promote family-school partnerships, visit National PTA

Be the first to hear about National PTA’s advocacy efforts, grant opportunities and parenting advice.

Weekend Update
Get weekly updates with announcements, offers, deadlines and grant opportunities!

Leadership Briefing
Receive monthly updates with the latest PTA programs, resources and leadership training!

Advocacy Insider
Receive monthly news about legislative issues affecting education, National PTA’s policy priorities and activities!

Our Children Magazine
Get the latest parenting, wellness and family fun articles from National PTA’s magazine!

Our ChildrenThe Unique Voice for Parents

Our Children Magazine is the unique voice for parents, published by National PTA, created for the parent who’s always on the go and looking for the best info to help their child excel at school and in life. Topics in Our Children Magazine include:
  • Parenting
  • Education
  • Wellness
  • ​​​​​​​Family Fun
  • PTA In Action

PTA has established guidelines for the proper use of the PTA name, logos, and tagline (everychild.onevoice). When used properly, PTA’s logo and tagline create a consistent message, help to unify all PTAs, and set PTA apart from the competition.

The success of our PTA brand identity system depends on all PTAs’ adherence to the established guidelines. The following guidelines are provided to establish a uniform, effective system for PTAs to use in order to maintain a consistent, visual style and brand identity for all PTA-produced materials.

CLICK HERE for more information.

Finances

Finance GraphicDid You Know?

  • All monies deposited into a PTA account will be considered PTA funds by the IRS.
  • A PTA should never deposit school or school-related money into its account.
  • PTA’s do not share their EIN number with their school or sales tax exemption, they are completely separate.

Budgets:

  • A budget shows a plan for how your PTA will raise money and spend money to implement the PTA mission.
  • A budget does not dictate what your PTA must do. It simply represents what your PTA intends to do.
  • A finance or budget committee usually has the responsibility of developing a budget for the PTA.
    • This committee may be elected or appointed according to the PTA bylaws and usually consists of three or five members, one of whom is the treasurer, who may act as chair.
    • This is important because it doesn’t allow the officers to dictate the budget.

Banking:

  • Have bank statements sent to the school.
  • Have a non-signer go over the bank statements and initial (now a requirement for most insurance).
    • Principal is a smart choice.
  • Two signatures on all checks.
  • Always present a Treasurers Report at every monthly PTA meeting.  
  • Bring bank statements to monthly meetings so PTA members can review if necessary.
  • Reconcile bank statements every month to make sure all financial transactions are documented.
  • Maintain all financial records in a binder with electronic back-up.

Fundraiser GraphicFundraising:

As PTAs work to move their mission forward and serve the children in our schools, they often find that dues are not sufficient to achieve their mission to make every child’s potential a reality.

Fundraising is a necessary component to provide the means, yet it can be challenging.

Key points to remember:

  • All PTA fundraising should support PTA’s mission, in both how the funds are raised and how they are spent.
  • Adults should raise PTA funds. PTAs are strongly encouraged to avoid activities that require children to sell to strangers.
  • Transparency is key. The ways in which funds are raised and spent should be communicated clearly to members and the school community as a whole.
  • All funds generated by a PTA, including the local portion of dues, should be budgeted for purposes that advance PTA work, such as enhancing student success or improving the school.
  • Fundraising activities themselves should be conducted in alignment with the PTA mission.

Begin each year with specific, mission-driven goals in mind.
Identify strategies for reaching those goals before determining the dollar amount needed from fundraising events. They should raise only the funds necessary to meet the needs of the year’s activities and projects, as outlined in the PTA’s budget. In keeping with our mission, National PTA encourages local PTAs to utilize fundraisers in which only adults, not children, are active as fundraisers.

Know the laws.
Your PTA must follow federal and state laws to maintain your tax-exempt status with the IRS. Review the legal implications of fundraising. For example, your PTA should not provide financial assistance to an individual or family in the case of a catastrophic event, such as a fire or other disaster. While these efforts are well-intentioned, it could result in losing your PTA’s tax-exempt status.

Transparency is key.
The ways in which funds are raised and spent should be communicated clearly to members and the school community as a whole regularly and in multiple ways.

OTHER HELPFUL FORMS:

Local PTA Toolkit

CLICK HERE to find the National PTA Local Leaders Toolkit with just about everything you need as a local PTA leader, including guidance to help you:

  • select and work with your board
  • formulate your PTA calendar of programs and events
  • navigate unique financial challenges of a 501(c)(3)
  • grow your PTA membership
  • choose and organize a PTA fundraiser
  • communicate with your school community
  • and more!

These tools and templates, online resources and training courses will inform your work as you establish your PTA and volunteer roles and throughout the year, ensuring that your PTA stays on track to achieve the PTA mission: to make every child’s potential potential a reality by engaging and empowering families and communities to advocate for all children.

Idea Hub