New Officer Starter Kit
Starting a brand-new group: where to start
From scratch is the hardest start of all. Do these in order and you'll skip the classic first-year mistakes.
Not your role? Pick a different one.
Get legitimate
- □ Decide PTO vs. PTA (independent vs. chartered) — it changes your bylaws and dues. PTO bylaws explained →
- □ Draft bylaws, then pursue an EIN and 501(c)(3) status. Bylaws Builder →
- □ Set up org-owned email and a shared drive from day one — never personal accounts. Google Workspace for PTOs →
Get running
- □ Open a bank account in the group's name and pick a collection platform. Platform Chooser →
- □ Build a first budget from real patterns, not guesses. Budget Builder →
- □ Make the welcome-table one-pager and start counting members. One-pager generator →
- □ Start the binder now so year two doesn't start from scratch too. Handoff Binder →
The New Officer Starter Course
Want it walked with you, one email a week?
A short weekly email that walks your role's checklist with you — one doable step at a time, timed to the school year. We'll start you on the starting a brand-new group track.
One useful email a month — what your board should be doing right now. Unsubscribe anytime.