Article Archives >> To the Point
I am currently President of our school's parents’ organization and recently learned that over the past 10 years "monetary gifts" were given to every employee at our school. This information was never passed on to parents, so in addition parents collect class funds toward a gift. Our purpose is to raise $25,000 for a school assessment, and to enrich the lives of our students. Is it wrong to utilize fundraising money to furnish Christmas gifts for teachers without telling the members?
You don’t say whether the organization is separately incorporated with voting members or merely a committee of the school. Assuming that it is separately incorporated with voting members, the members normally have a right to an annual financial report of the organization, and that report should show, at least in general terms, how the funds were raised and spent. If it is just a committee, the members may have no legal right to the information.
As to whether it is “wrong” to make the gifts, it is probably within the general purpose of a school parents’ organization (or committee), and therefore not illegal, to support staff with additional funding, even individual Christmas gifts. It could be an illegal solicitation if requests for support are based on an actual misrepresentation. But in this age of transparency and accountability, you could say it is “wrong,” though probably not illegal, if the parents who are supporting the organization do not know what is being done with their support. They should be able to make their own decisions on how they want to support the organization.
What our readers say about Nonprofit Issues
Once again you've tackled a tricky question and explained it so we all can understand the issue.--M.V.
Thank you for your informative and keen advice on nonprofit matters. I believe it's a unique and concise place to get answers to this often wispy area called nonprofit. --R.T.
Have a question?
If you can't find your answer, submit a question and Don will pick one question a week to answer online and to include in our weekly e-mail notice.
Other ways to
find answers:
Talk to the Editor
Next Conference Call:
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Participate
in this bi-monthly telephone seminar conference call and ask your questions directly to Editor
Don Kramer.
Access the entire site
($9.95/24 hours, $17.95/3 months).
Nonprofit Issues
Live
Full Day Program
A well-received full-day
program that covers the current hottest topics in nonprofit
law. Qualifies in Pennsylvania
for Continuing Education credits.
Speaking Engagements
Don is available for programs and speaking engagements ranging from
a one-hour presentation to a full-day primer on nonprofit law. Contact
us if you are interested in having him speak at your program.
