What your board should be doing right now

Every month of the PTO year, by role — the tasks, the deadlines that bite, and the things to start now so they're ready later. Assumes a July–June fiscal year; adjust if yours differs.

September: The launch month

September is launch month: the first general meeting, the membership drive, the fall fundraiser kickoff, and sponsorship season all land at once. In September a PTO board should run a short, welcoming first meeting, present the budget, open the fundraiser with clear money-handling rules, assign room parents, and get sponsorship letters to local businesses while their community budgets are still open.

Treasurer

Present the budget to members

If your bylaws require a member vote, this is the meeting. Bring simple category totals, not a spreadsheet dump.
Start the monthly report habit

Beginning balance, income, expenses by category, ending balance, versus budget. Same format every month, presented at every meeting.
Track fundraiser money by category from day one

Label income as it arrives. Reconstructing "which event was this deposit" in June is the classic treasurer nightmare.

⏰ Deadlines that bite

Sponsorship window

Local business community budgets close as fall ends — letters out this month, follow-ups in October.

📅 Start now, thank yourself later

Book the holiday shop vendor

December shop vendors and inventory need commitments by early October.
Plan conference-week meals

October–November conferences mean meal signups — and an allergy check against the favorites collection.

Prefer the readable version? Read the September guide · or see the whole PTO year at a glance.

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