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MEDIA & BLOG

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The Complete 50-State Tour

Parent Booster USA

We visited all 50 states and the District of Columbia in just over nine months. We called it the 50-State Tour. Parent Booster USA traveled the country and extended its arms to schools, booster clubs, and conferences.

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Blog

The 50-State Tour

Parent Booster USA

Its the most ambitious outreach ever executed in PBUSA's history; visit all 50 states and Washington D.C…all within 12 months.

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Blog

How to Donate Donations — Rules for Allocating Funds of Tax-Exempt Organizations

Parent Booster USA

As unfortunate as it is, tax-exempt organizations, booster clubs included, are required by the IRS to focus on the mission they were organized to support.

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Blog

Crowdsourced Fundraising

Parent Booster USA

Crowdsourced fundraising platforms are popular these days. It’s easy to see why. Crowdsourcing offers high visibility and large userbases. With a little bit of know-how and luck, they can generate a lot of funding very quickly.

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Online payment collection
External content

How online payment collection can help you manage your booster club

If your child participates in extracurricular activities at school, you have probably heard of a booster club. Booster clubs are nonprofit membership groups that support specific school activities, departments, or causes, such as school sports teams or drama programs.
form templates
Blog

5 Free and Easy-to-use Form Templates for PTOs, PTAs, and Parent Booster Clubs

As a member of a Parent Teacher Organization (PTO), Parent Teacher Association (PTA), after-school club, or booster club, you know how much time and effort it takes to keep things running smoothly. Here are the 5 important form templates we have shortlisted for you.
Booster club road show
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Let’s Get This PBUSA Booster Club Road Show Going!

The PBUSA Road Show is a fun adventure with a mission of spreading information on how we make it easy to run a booster club.
Spring Forward Officer Transitions
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Spring Forward with Officer Transitions!

Upcoming officer transitions, new hats galore. That fundraiser you have always wanted to plan, a 990 you just cant wait to file. Our spring forward transition guide will get you off and running on all of your spring booster club plans!
Small Child Embracing his inner Booster Boss
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Welcome to Booster Boss!

Booster Boss is a series of three short, sassy, and FREE courses that teach everything you need to know to run your booster club like a Booster Boss.
PTA parents
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Why PTAs and PTOs are Critical for Schools and K-12 Education

The PTA and PTOs set the foundation for strong relationships between schools and families. Learn more about why they’re vital for schools.
group exemption
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Group Exemption Fact Sheet, Help for Tax-Exempt Subordinates

Under the United States federal tax law, organizations that meet specific requirements may claim exemption from paying federal income tax. This means that these tax-exempt organizations do not have to pay federal income tax on the earnings of the organization.
Helpful treasurer piggy bank
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What have I gotten myself into now? Help for the new booster club treasurer.

What have I gotten myself into now? Does this sound familiar? Have you stepped into a new treasurer role with little or no direction on how to proceed? Then this blog is for you!
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Changing Your Organization's Fiscal Year

For a variety of reasons, nonprofit organizations occasionally change their fiscal year. The timing of the change, and providing notice to the IRS of the change, is important. In this post, we will walk you through what a fiscal year is and how you can go about changing your fiscal year.
booster club insurance
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Booster Club Insurance: Should We Have It?

New members often ask whether they need to purchase booster club insurance. Is booster club insurance a requirement to incorporate or obtain IRS tax-exempt status? How often are nonprofit organizations and their boards sued?
freeloaders
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Fundraising and Freeloaders: How Your Booster Club Can Pick Up the Slack

We are often asked about how best to deal with the “freeloaders" – those who benefit from an organization’s fundraisers without helping out. Reviewing the basis for 501(c)(3) tax-exemption may help your organization and volunteers understand why freeloaders must benefit.
nonprofit banking
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C Corp, S Corp, or Nonprofit: When Opening a Bank Account, Which Box Should a Booster Check?

Parent Booster USA is back, answering even more of your questions. This time we had one worth sharing beyond our humble FAQ: when signing up for a bank account, what category should a booster group fall under--S Corp or C Corp—if “nonprofit” isn’t an option?
qualified sponsorship payments
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Qualified Sponsorship Payments: What is Advertising and What is Not?

Sometimes, it seems harmless enough to put the name of a local shop on your event, on a sign, or to announce it to an audience during your booster’s main events. Most of the time: it is harmless! The IRS calls these qualified sponsorship payments. If you do it right, it isn’t advertising and everybody wins.
volunteers
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Recruiting, Training, and Retaining Volunteers

Parents may be sitting on their hands and not volunteering for fear of disappearing in a volunteer black hole – a place of unending obligations. Parents who are already busy with work, kids, activities, etc., get sucked into this place with volunteer “asks” and fear that they won’t be able to escape. Clear communication right up front is key to getting – and keeping – your valuable volunteers.
accounting software
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Which Accounting Software Should I Use?

We know the last thing on many people’s minds is figuring out which accounting software to use. We recommend thinking of your mission, your overall goal, your size and needs during the year.
managing booster clubs digitally
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Managing Booster Clubs Digitally: A Showcase of Websites and Apps You can Use for Organization, Management, Fundraising, and Payment Processing to Better Your Booster

We receive many questions from our members dealing with everything from membership registration to the act of fundraising. Managing booster clubs digitally, especially for new officers, can be tricky. With COVID-19, even veteran members and officers of booster clubs have had to transition to digital alternatives.
professional fundraisers
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Professional Fundraisers: Understanding Who They Are and How to Utilize Them

If you’re not sure of the definition of the term “professional fundraisers,” you’re not alone. Several members of PBUSA have asked us this question. A Google search may make things more confusing, so let us help out.
school business officials toolkit
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School Business Officials' Toolkit: Balancing SBOs and Booster Groups

School business officials have to make sure booster clubs are doing their job without creating liability or distractions that can impede the school’s normal functions. In the proper balance, school business officers and booster clubs are a perfect match. Read more about the school business officials' toolkit.
Fundraising
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Fundraising Do's and Don'ts

Chapter 8 of School Fundraising by Sandra Pfau Englund outlines the best practices for fundraisers. We start at the beginning with reasons to make sure your group is incorporated, move onto the different types of fundraisers, and go all the way to writing receipts after donations have been made.
green fundraising
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Green Fundraising

What are some steps school fundraising groups can take to support a healthier environment for your children, maintain social distancing standards in our COVID-19 world, and still meet the goals of your mission? At Parent Booster USA, we’ve got some ideas for green fundraising this year.
Executive Board
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Gathering Your Team: Selecting Your Organization's Executive Board

The first step in starting a booster club is gathering your team. Your first team is likely your first board of directors (also known as your executive board). Together, you will guide the actions of the organization. Your board members are elected in accordance with your bylaws.
Celebrate together with GuideStar
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GuideStar: Let's Celebrate Together

Recently, Parent Booster USA teamed up with GuideStar. Let's celebrate together! In this post, you’ll learn how PBUSA members benefit from working closely with them.
booster club bylaws
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Booster Club Bylaws: Creating a Road Map for Success

When you’re starting a booster club, you need a way to get from your ideas to the successful completion of your mission. There can be roadblocks, detours, and unexpected snags along the way. Your booster club bylaws will act as your road map, to help you see what’s ahead.
COVID-19
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FAQ: Handling Cancelled Events, Donations and Other Matters During COVID-19 Restrictions

School booster clubs are being hit with the need to cancel events, return donations, and otherwise deal with the impact of school closures and social distancing restrictions during the COVID-19 health emergency. Parent Booster USA is here to help answer your questions.
return donations
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When Can, and Should, You Return Donations for Cancelled Events?

Booster leaders are wondering when they can and should return donations due to COVID-19. We've got answers.
start your booster club
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Jump Start Your Booster Club During Downtime

Despite the issues with COVID-19, right now may be the best time to start your booster club!
virtual fundraising
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Can Virtual Fundraising Save Your Spring Fundraiser?

Did your booster club have a spring fundraiser cancelled due to a school closure? Virtual fundraising may be the solution.
homeschooling
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Diving into Homeschooling

With many schools looking toward closing for the remainder of the academic year, homeschooling can provide a viable alternative for those looking to continue their children's education sooner, rather than later.
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Running an Effective Meeting

Booster club bylaws often reference Robert’s Rules of Order as the “rules” for managing a meeting. Have you ever read Robert’s Rules? It’s a good way to get a good night’s sleep!
Increasing parent engagement at meeting with enthusiastic participants
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Increasing Parent Engagement in Your Booster Club

The last thing many parents want to add to their overly busy schedules is volunteering for the school booster club; accepting the title of President, VP, Treasurer, or Secretary is the last thing on their minds! So how do you recruit enough volunteers to keep a booster club running?
Row of colorful binders with filings from previous years
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Filing Form 990

Time for a quiz. True or false – 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizations do not have to file a tax return? False! ...the IRS still wants to keep its eye on these groups, including how much money they are raising and what they are spending it on.
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Four rules for keeping your gymnastics booster club running clean…

A clean routine is the goal of every gymnast. It’s also a good goal for gymnastics booster clubs. Yet, many gymnastics boosters are running far afield from IRS rules for 501(c)(3) organizations. Make sure your gymnastics booster club performs a clean routine every time by following these 4 guidelines.
Swimmers side by side in their lanes during a race
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Athletic Booster Clubs Face Intense Scrutiny: 5 Tips to Keep Out of the Penalty Box

Follow the money. It’s the rule investigators use to sniff out corruption. It’s also why athletic booster clubs face intense scrutiny by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the Department of Education (DOE), and amateur athletic regulating bodies.
Donation jars filled with cash and coins
Press release

Fundraising and Finance: Understanding the School-Volunteer Relationship

Volunteer organizations raise money for their schools. That sounds like a simple and praiseworthy relationship . . . but maybe not. Even if a school has a good relationship with its fundraisers, the split of roles and responsibilities between the school and its fundraising organizations is usually less than ideal.
Surprised Santa Claus
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Bah humbug on end-of-the-year gift giving…

Each year at Christmas and again at the end of the school year my tuba-playing son brought home a note asking for a donation to provide the band directors a gift. Money was collected and a gift card or a check was given to the director and assistant director. Most often we contributed, except for those years when the note got lost in my son’s backpack and didn’t surface until sometime around July.
Large stadium with blurred seats in background
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Is Bigger Always Better?

There are at least 20 high school stadiums in America with a seating capacity between 10,000 – 21,000. Thirteen are in Texas, four in Ohio. You could even say there’s a football stadium competition going on in Texas. The McKinney School District is building a new $70 million football stadium that will seat 12,000 and the next school district over has a $60 million stadium that seats 18,000.
Jeff Rossen on the set of Rossen Reports
External content

Parents Steal Thousands of Dollars from School Booster Clubs

An NBC News investigation found dozens of cases nationwide where parents involved in booster clubs were stealing tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars from the students.
Football helmet laid carelessly in the grass
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Who Buys the Helmets?

Friday night football is in full swing, with the crashing football helmets, cheerleaders leading the crowd, and the high school marching bands entertaining at half time. Parent-volunteers also are busy, selling tickets to games, and raffle tickets and concessions to raise much-needed funds to pay for the “extras” that the schools can’t afford.
Lots of hands stacked in a circle showing a team mentality
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#parentboostersmatter

While out walking our dogs, Tott and Stella, I was thinking about how much speech matters. Tott and Stella instinctively know the difference between the frustrated bark of Sam, who spends too much time fenced in his back yard, and the happy bark of Scrappy, a large and friendly puppy.
Aerial dancer hanging from ribbons while doing the splits
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The Cost of Raising a Gymnast

Many of us watched in awe as Simone Biles tumbled across the floor during the Olympics. I had to watch parts of her floor routine twice to believe what I was seeing. What many watching don’t know is how much it costs to raise an Olympic gymnast.
Lady looking at something on her phone
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Can you hear me now?

The Orange County Public Schools, located in the Orlando, Florida area, just announced a new cellphone rule. The announcement said cellphones may no longer be used by high school students in the classroom. I’m puzzled. Were students ever allowed to blithely text away while the teacher taught chemistry or calculus? Don’t the usual classroom discipline rules apply – listen and participate in class or head to the principal’s office? Is there really any difference between texting your buddy on your cell phone or passing handwritten notes in class?
Funny picture of lady punching a guy with a boxing glove
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Can’t we all just get along?

One of the biggest challenges volunteer leaders of school fundraising groups face is getting along with the school principal, teacher, coach or other staff that advises the group. While schools talk about parent and community involvement, with so many stakeholders pulling at them – the Board of Education, teachers, students, parents – sometimes it feels like volunteer leaders are more annoyance than help. That said, a big part of your job as a school support organization is helping to improve the communication between school, parents and students.
Dramatic photo of the Lincoln Memorial
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Will the presidential election impact the need for school fundraising?

It’s difficult to measure how much money volunteer-led school fundraising groups – you know those parent teacher organizations, athletic, arts and other booster clubs – raise to cover education costs where government dollars fall short. The best estimate I’ve seen is $4.5 billion plus. Probably plus, plus, plus. This parent-led fundraising for “free” public education is unique to the U.S. which got me wondering whether the presidential election will have any impact on the funding of “free” public education. I took a look at what the leading candidates, Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump, and Gary Johnson, had to say about public education.
Large question mark on a chalkboard
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Why isn’t free public education free?

Have you heard the Staples advertisement set to the holiday tune of The Most Wonderful Time of the Year with parents leaping for joy that the kids are going back to school? I’m guessing fewer parents are leaping for joy and more are feeling a holiday-like pinch with the cost of school fees for sports, music, field trips, labs, etc. rivaling or exceeding with most parents spend per child at the holidays. In many high schools, parents pay hundreds of dollars a year so their children can play sports or march in the high school band.
Miniature male and female figurines standing on equal piles of coins
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Title IX Complaints on the Rise

Recently the parents of three high school softball players in Fayetteville, Alabama filed a Title IX lawsuit claiming that the Fayetteville school district favored boys’ sports over girls\'. The Chicago Public Schools settled a Title IX complaint by adding more athletic opportunities for girls in 12 high schools. In the Oregon school district of Beaverton, five Title IX complaints were filed alleging unequal opportunities for high school girls to play sports.
Rolls of US currency
Blog

Don't Leave Cash Lying Around this School Year

Most of us have learned to be careful with our social security card and driver’s license. We’ve been taught to beware the identity thief. We instill in our children the need to keep safe our valuables – don’t leave an iPhone, iPad or other device laying around for someone to steal. But how many school fundraising groups – the parent teacher organizations (PTO), high school sports, music, academic and other booster clubs – leave cash laying around to be stolen?
Lock sitting on credit cards illustrating security
Press release

The Embezzler Next Door: Preventing Theft in School Support Organizations

Sandra recently had dinner with Amy to learn more about the theft at her daughter’s high school. Press reports indicated that at least $14,000 was stolen from the school spirit store over more than a year. The school’s support organizations had weak internal controls; discovery of the theft, Sandra learned, was almost happenstance.
Lady counting cash and doing bookkeeping
External content

School booster groups seek ways to stop thefts

By the time the PTSA leadership at David C. Hinson Middle School realized it, tens of thousands of dollars had disappeared from the group's bank accounts. The Daytona Beach association had raised the money through walkathons, doughnut sales, after-school socials and banner sponsorships and intended to spend them on iPads, an athletic track and classroom projects. The treasurer, Diane Holland, admitted "borrowing" money, saying she intended to pay it back when she received her income-tax return, court records show.
Suprised woman with pink painted fingernails and hands to her face
Press release

PBUSA Plans Surprise Visit to Fair Lawn, NJ PTO

To celebrate ten years of continuous membership, Parent Booster USA has a surprise planned for its very first member, the Lyncrest Parent Teacher Organization. PBUSA began with a handful of members who needed help with managing the required government paperwork. Now the company has 2,300 members in 48 states and a 95% renewal rate.
An elegant courtroom setting
External content

Booster Clubs Attract Scrutiny

A U.S. Tax Court ruling last month could snarl the tax-exempt status of thousands of booster clubs and similar groups across the country, experts say.
An extremely pink piggy bank looking toward the viewer
External content

Parent Booster Clubs - Raising Money For Your Own Kid Is Not Charity

501(c)(3) organizations that compensate those who assist with fundraising activities by reducing fees or other payments may risk losing their tax exempt status. Schools that provide tuition relief for parents who assist with fundraising may be particularly vulnerable. Additionally, those who work as fundraisers in exchange for reduced tuition or fees will be required to report taxable income.
Large US flag and helicopter flying by in background
Press release

PBUSA Launches "Get Legal, Stay Legal" Campaign

Parent Booster USA's new video, Get Legal Stay Legal, emphasizes PBUSA's mission to help school support organizations come into and remain in compliance with federal and state laws for tax exempt organizations.
A beautifully spherical ball of money held in a woman's hands
Press release

White Paper Details School Booster Club Fundraising Rules

The IRS has stated that the common school booster club practice of "crediting" students with some of the earnings from fundraisers violates IRS private benefit rules. A new white paper released by Parent Booster USA details the IRS rules, and how school booster clubs may determine if their fundraising practices are legal.
Man pointing toward the word audit in a virtual interface
Press release

Schools Should Audit Their Booster Clubs

Parent Booster USA is offering school administrators a new, free service, BoosterCheck, to ensure that their school booster clubs and other school support organizations are using their own federal tax ID number and state sales tax exemption certificates. In addition,through BoosterCheck, school admnistrators may determine if their school booster clubs have complied with a new federal aw that requires all nonprofit organizations, regardless of the amount of funds raised, to file an IRS tax return each year.
Man writing workshop on a piece of paper in black marker
Press release

Parent Booster USA Announces Free School Booster Group Workshops

Parent Booster USA is conducting free workshops to assist school administrators navigate the increasingly complex rules and regulations for school booster clubs. Schools are relying more on booster clubs to fill gaps created by cuts in federal and state education funding. However, there are significant knowledge gaps in how to legally operate school booster clubs.

PRESS KIT

About Parent Booster USA

Parent Booster USA (PBUSA) is the leader in keeping America's school support organizations compliant with IRS, state and local nonprofit fundraising rules. PBUSA helps schools ensure that their parent teacher organizations (PTOs), booster clubs and other school support organizations have 501(c)(3) federal tax-exempt status, and manage and control the funds raised to better serve the needs of the students and schools they support. PBUSA currently has members in 50 states and DC with a 95% renewal rate.

PBUSA provides the tools schools and their support organizations need to stay registered with the IRS and state authorities, and make sure the groups are operating with accountability for the funds raised and transparency regarding their activities.

PBUSA provides the ongoing continuity, guidance, and support and supervision school fundraising groups need.

Statistics
  • PBUSA members:
  • K-12 schools (USA): 132,853 1
  • Nonprofits devoted to education: 19,000+ 2
  • Total spent in support of public education (2007): $4.3 billion 3
  • Total number of school support organizations (PTOs, booster clubs): 50,000+ 4
  • 1 Digest of Education Statistics, 2010
  • 2 Who Helps Public Schools? Public Education Support Organizations in 2010, Urban Institute
  • 3 Ibid., Urban Institute 2010
  • 4 Parent Booster USA estimate that at least 25% of K-8 schools have a PTO, and at least 50% of secondary schools have 2 or more booster clubs. Actual number of school support organizations is likely much higher. A comprehensive study to update and improve the 2010 Urban Institute study is recommended.
Quick Facts
Resources
Current topics

Financial accountability – Schools, school districts and state governments are increasingly raising concern over the financial practices of school support groups, including concern with incidences of theft of funds by volunteers.

Cooperative fundraising – An August 2013 Tax Court decision confirmed earlier IRS findings that the common practice of school support groups fundraising and then crediting only those that raised the funds or volunteered time with the amounts raised (individual fundraising accounts) provides a personal benefit and is not a tax- exempt activity.

Free public education – The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is bringing actions against schools and school districts across the country claiming that certain school fees violate free public education laws. Claims include that schools inappropriately use booster clubs and support organizations to collect fees on behalf of the schools.

YOU SUPPORT THEM, WE SUPPORT YOU

With PBUSA membership, we file all the IRS and state paperwork. We keep your booster club up and running year after year.

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