Membership Dues 101
Annual membership dues include per capita dues to your council (if in council), PTA district, California State PTA, and National PTA. The remaining portion stays in the unit. Dues may differ in amount in each PTA.
The portion of dues paid to a unit that is specified in the bylaws as due the National PTA, the California State PTA, PTA district, and council (if in council), known as “per capita dues,” does not belong to the unit, but must be forwarded through channels at the completion of the enrollment month and by the first of each month thereafter. Once membership per capita has been sent by the unit through channels, dues cannot be refunded to an individual member.
To remain in good standing, a unit must remit through channels, the required per capita membership and insurance in time to be postmarked by Fourth District PTA no later than March 15.
Family Memberships
The California State PTA does not encourage, but rather discourages, multiple and/or family memberships. The concept of group memberships (e.g., family memberships) must include the payment of per capita dues and a membership card issued to each member.
A Note on Dues:
How Much is Enough?
Keep your dues affordable so that everyone can afford to join!
A good rule of thumb for membership dues is to specify an amount that will cover per capita for the constituent organizations—National PTA, California State PTA, the district PTA and council PTA (if in council)—and a small portion of each membership for liability insurance premiums. To change the amount of membership dues, the unit bylaws must be amended.
Membership Dues Versus Donations
A PTA may wish to solicit additional donations (there is a special line for this on the new membership envelope) and have levels of membership for different prices. However, there is only one level of PTA membership. The actual amount of per person dues is specified in the bylaws and prospective members must be allowed to join at that price.
If a PTA wishes to solicit donations with varying levels of contribution, it may do so as a separate project from the membership campaign. For example, a gold donor/patron could be $100; a silver donor/patron could be $50, etc. The details of this project must be outlined in the standing rules of the bylaws and approved annually by the membership. Remember to keep contributions and membership dues separate in your accounting and regular financial reports.
Every Member Gets a Membership Card!
