The Smart Way To Manage PTO Money Collection And Fundraising | Pool

Do you want to make a difference in your child's education? Joining a parent-teacher organization (PTO) is an excellent way to do that. PTOs give parents a chance to network with families and teachers, share ideas and concerns, and make a positive impact. But, PTOs need money to turn their best ideas into a reality.

That's why one of the most frequently asked questions PTO members ask is, "What's the best way to collect and manage money?" If you're asking that question, the answer is Pool. Pool is a brand new tool for PTO money collection, PTO fundraising, and more.

It gives PTO members a dedicated place to manage money together. It also gives people a seamless donation experience. Keep reading to see how easy it is to use Pool and how it saves everyone time, money, and stress.

Contents:

• What is a Pool?
• How Pool makes it easy to manage PTO funds
• How Pool streamlines PTO money collection
• How can a PTA or PTO raise money for a school with Pool?
• How to use Pool for your nonprofit PTO
• Can a PTO have a Venmo?
• What does the PTO raise money for?

What is a Pool?

A Pool is a fresh new way to collect and manage all things PTO funds together with other parents and teachers.

Pool is fast: It only takes a few minutes to set up a Pool. From there, you can invite parents and teachers to become Pool members and participate in the PTO finances with you.

Pool is convenient: Members can contribute funds to your Pool after joining and signing up. Contributions are made directly from linked bank accounts, creating a more secure and transparent experience for everyone involved.

Pool is flexible: Use your Pool to collect donations and dues before transferring them to a bank account. Or, spend Pool funds directly from the Pool. Your Pool can pay for one-off expenses, like classroom computers, or ongoing expenses, like teacher payments, etc.

Pool is free: PTOs already operate on a tight budget. Fortunately, Pool doesn't cost you a thing, and we never take a percentage of the money you collect. It's free to use.

Keep reading to learn why Pool is ideal for PTO members and donors alike.

How Pool makes it easy to manage PTO funds

Pool simplifies money for everyone in your PTO: the board of directors, the treasurer, and members. For example, board members don't need checks and controls to ensure PTO finances are in good standing — they can view the Pool balance at any time on Poolmoney.com. They can also make important decisions on how to spend funds quickly since the PTO balance and transaction history are always available there.

Pool also makes the treasurer's job easier. By turning on instant notifications, treasurers can see contributions in real-time. Every Pool also generates a monthly statement detailing every transaction, which comes in handy when it comes time for bookkeeping.

Because Pool is designed for group use, it automatically cultivates a sense of trust and teamwork. Everyone gets to view Pool activities and participate in the PTO finances together.

How to manage PTO money collection and fundraising with Pool

Getting started with Pool is simple. Create a Pool for your PTO, invite board members or volunteers to join, and assign permissions as needed.

When it's time to collect money for dues, fundraising campaigns, teacher appreciation events, classroom supplies, or school projects, invite contributors to join the Pool. Once they've signed up and joined, members can contribute directly from their linked bank accounts.

Pool keeps contributions, balances, and spending activity organized in one place, making it easier for PTO leaders to stay on top of fundraising efforts throughout the school year.

How to use Pool for your nonprofit PTO

Many PTOs operate as 501(c)(3) organizations and may maintain separate bank accounts for tax and administrative purposes. But your PTO runs on donations, so you want to make sure people always have a seamless donation experience. Pool can help.

First, use your Pool as an easy place to collect contributions. Then, transfer Pool funds to another bank account whenever you need to by connecting your account and routing number. It's worth mentioning that you don't have to transfer Pool funds to a bank account to spend them — each Pool comes with free debit cards so you can spend directly from the Pool if need be.

The best part? There are no transaction fees, monthly fees, or overdraft fees. You can spend 100% of your Pool funds with the Pool card.

Is Pool different from Venmo, PayPal, or Zelle?

Pool is different from other peer-to-peer money transfer apps because it's designed for group use. Pool members can manage and spend Pool funds with you — they're not just onlookers.

Can a PTO have a Venmo?

Although Venmo is a popular peer-to-peer payment app, using personal payment accounts for PTO fundraising can create bookkeeping, compliance, and account-management challenges.

Some organizations choose to add Venmo as a payment option on their websites, but doing so often requires additional setup and third-party integrations. While this may work for some groups, it can add complexity for volunteers who are already managing busy fundraising efforts.

Pool offers a dedicated place for PTOs to organize contributions and manage shared funds. PTO leaders can create a Pool, invite board members or volunteers to join, and assign permissions as needed. Contributors can join the Pool and contribute funds directly from their linked bank accounts, while PTO leaders can track balances, manage spending, and coordinate fundraising activity in one place.

Whether you spend funds directly from the Pool or move them to another account is entirely up to you.

5 fun fundraising ideas for your PTO

Now that you know how to use Pool to collect donations, here are five fun fundraising ideas to bring everyone together for a good cause.

1. Spirit Wear Sale Start a Pool for t-shirts, spirit socks, and more. Customize your Pool so people know what they're contributing towards. For example, your Pool could be "Orchard Park Bobcats Hoodie" or "Walnut Creek Elementary T-shirts."

2. Auctions Include travel packages, sports items, health and beauty products, dining packages, student art, and more. Give people the option to "buy" tickets by paying into your Pool. The best part? They can participate in the auction whether they attend in person or from afar.

3. Yearbooks Encourage people to preorder a yearbook to help keep production costs down and only print as many as you need. Everyone can make their payment in your Pool.

4. Drive-through baked sales Whether you sell baked goods from families or local businesses, offering a drive-through sale is a fun way to raise money and connect with the community.

5. House-to-school walkathon or bikeathon Depending on your town and the weather, people can participate in a walk or bikeathon from their home to the school. Once they arrive, greet them with drinks and refreshments, and give them an opportunity to socialize with everyone who took part.

What does the PTO raise money for?

If you're already involved in a PTO, there's a good chance you know what you need to fundraise for, but these ideas are worth exploring.

Teacher gifts

• Teachers lunch
• Teacher Survival Kits & themed baskets
• Gift cards
• Donations for classroom supplies
• Baked goods
• Improvements or renovations for the teacher's lounge

School gifts

• School-wide Wi-Fi
• Sound systems for the gym, auditorium, etc.
• Classroom computers
• Classroom smart boards
• Renovations for the teacher's lounge, lobby, auditorium, etc.

Hospitality gifts

• Welcome breakfast for new staff
• Back-to-school dinner/reception for families
• Mid-year lunch for school staff
• Breakfast for school staff during final exams
• Graduation reception for students and families

District-wide needs and projects

• Improved school lunches
• Improved after-school programs
• Awareness programs around bullying, mental health, etc.

Pool is a smart way to collect and manage PTO money collection and fundraising.