This is an important step for any
PTA. It provides formal recognition of the PTA and its
charitable objects. It gives your association a legal status
which is publicly acknowledged.
Whether you are trying to raise
funds, get raffle prizes donated or convince a local company to
sponsor an event you will find that it is very beneficial to be
able to state that your association is a registered charity with a
charity number. Charity registration opens doors. It
gives your association a status that potential donors will
immediately understand plus the confidence that your association is
one that is worthy of their support.
In addition to exemption from the
payment of income and corporation tax and being eligible to apply
for Gift Aid, one
of the key benefits of charitable status is the ability to seek
funds from grant making
trusts, national and local companies and
through Payroll and Company Matched Giving
schemes.
There are about 8,800 grant-making
trusts and foundations in the UK which give around £1.25 billion
each year to charitable causes. This is in addition to the millions
of pounds awarded by the National Lottery. However, almost
all will require your association to demonstrate its charitable
status through registration and a charity number. A key benefit of
PTA-UK membership is access to a database of grant-making
organisations, managed by the Directory of Social Change. PTA-UK
members have free access to this valuable resource which would
normally cost in the region of £180 per annum.
Raising funds from donations and
grants is something that every PTA should try. This is often
particularly beneficial if your PTA is trying to raise a large sum
for something specific like a playground refurbishment or building
works. This is also a helpful source of funds where an
association finds it difficult to run successful fundraising events
or is struggling to engage parents. For secondary school
PTAs, donations and grants are often an invaluable source of
income.
PTA-UK provides support and
guidance for members seeking charitable status. Any
association wishing to register as a charity needs to have adopted
a constitution. The PTA-UK has developed a model constitution
on behalf of its members which has already been approved by the
Charity Commission for England and Wales and HMRC Charities
Division for the purposes of charity registration. This can
be used to gain charity status within 10 days (if the application
is made online) and six weeks for applications sent through the
post.
Checklist
• consider obtaining
charitable status; discuss the benefits this will bring
• use the PTA-UK Model Constitution to speed-up the
application process for charity registration
• consider applying for grants and donations, especially if
your PTA is seeking to raise a large sum for a specific project and
where support from parents is limited