Policy Statement – Gifts

From time to time, The Newton Council of Parent-Teacher Organizations is requested to make, or learns of an occasion, for which it might make a donation or gift to an individual or another organization.  The purpose of this policy is to provide guidance to the officers who will be considering such issues. 

Backgound

  1. Newton Council of PTO’s was organized, generally, to facilitate communication and foster cooperation related to Newton Public Schools, among and between the 21 separate parent teacher organizations who support 21 public schools in Newton’s system, the school administration and the greater Newton community.
  1. Newton Council of PTO’s has registered with the IRS for federal tax-exempt status (approval pending at this writing).  Pursuant to this registration, gifting policy must consider applicable IRS regulations.

Newton Council of PTOs Mission

In the spirit of fulfilling its mission, it is appropriate for Newton Council of PTOs from time to time to make gifts to individuals or organizations.  All decisions will ultimately be the responsibility of the Officers and Executive Board at the time.    All gifts will have the vote of a majority of either the Executive Board or the full Newton Council of PTO’s, depending on the size of the gift.  

These guiding principals will apply:

  1. No gifts or donations will be made for political purposes or to political organizations, as defined in the Federal tax regulations.
  2. No gifts will be made for personal reasons of any officer of this organization.
  3. Gifts or donations will not be made that violate any principal of Federal tax law that would otherwise jeopardize the organization’s tax-exempt status.  Every effort will be made to ensure that gifts or donations to other organizations will be made only to organizations that are tax-exempt under Federal tax regulations. 
  4. Generally, gifts or donations will be considered in light of this organization’s mission, and will be made in recognition of, or to support the work of, individuals or organizations who also work to support the Newton Public Schools.
  5. All donations larger than $100 but smaller than $300 must be presented to and approved by a majority of the Executive Board.  All donations larger than $300 must be presented to the Newton Council of PTOs for majority approval.  All gifts made that are smaller than $100 must be reported to the Executive Board by email and at the next Executive Board meeting.

Fund Raising Activities and Fund Allocations

From time to time, in accordance with carrying out its business purpose, Newton Council of PTO’s may conduct fund raising specifically designed to provide financial support to one or more organizations.  A current example is the annual Holiday Crafts Festival that raises funds for the Newton Schools Foundation, an organization that supports the Newton Public Schools and its teachers. 

Proceeds of fund raising activities or events when given to another organization are also gifts or donations pursuant to all tax and other laws and regulations and will be made in accordance with the above guidelines.

For gifts and donations outside of fund-raising specific events, Newton Council of PTO’s annual budgetary constraints, and precedent with prior similar gifts, will be considered in determining the gift amount.  Nothing in the Council by-laws precludes Newton Council of PTO’s from taking up a collection on behalf of all the Newton PTO’s for the purpose of contributing a single gift.