Session Description: A case study on how The American School in Japan re-defined the role of its PTA and moved away from event-based fundraising to a new funding model. From a starting point of having two separate PTAs, a Boosters group, Friends of the Fine Arts group, and a Senior Parent group, ASIJ transitioned overtime to a single PTA Board. The session will explore how the school moved from having multiple event-based fundraisers that supported parent group budgets to a school-funded budget model and the creation of a PTA Annual Fund Committee that supports the work of the Advancement Office. These changes contributed to ASIJ having its most successful fundraising year in 2022-23.

Is there any additional information you would like to share about the session, speakers or format? : Having been at ASIJ for 22 years, and as a serving member of the PTA Board, I have been the architect and shepherd for much of the change that has taken place over the years to bring us to this position. I can speak to the challenges, roadblocks, and opportunities that schools have with parent groups and provide insight into how ASIJ was able to complete this journey and how we are stewarding the change as we move forward.

Learning Outcomes : Articulate the pros and cons of moving away from a traditional PTA fundraising model.

Understand how to build consensus and move forward with changes.

Describe the benefits of focusing the PTA on institutionally aligned fundraising.

Creating community support for the Annual Fund

What is the key takeaway from this session?: That the traditional PTA model with event-based fundraising is not the only option and the time, energy, and resources used for major fundraising events can be harnessed to move institutions forward more strategically and sustainably.