The benefits of a free PTA fundraising plan

For many PTAs, a free plan is the perfect place to start.

With PTA Events, the free plan gives you access to a full suite of tools, not just basic ticketing. You can:

• Run unlimited events and ticket sales
• Accept one off and recurring donations
• Accept subscriptions
• Manage volunteers
• Run online auctions and prize draws
• Create your own branded PTA website with pages, news updates and more
• Track performance with reporting and analytics

This makes it ideal for:

• New or smaller PTAs
• Occasional events like discos, raffles or fairs
• Committees looking to reduce admin without upfront costs

There is a standard platform fee (3.95%), which can be passed on to parents, meaning your PTA can, and should, run events at no cost to your organisation.

The key benefit is simple: you can start fundraising immediately with no financial risk.

Where free plans can start to feel limiting

As your PTA grows, so do your needs.

Running multiple events, managing larger audiences and trying to maximise income can highlight some limitations:

• Higher transaction fees on larger events
• Limited ways to generate income beyond ticket sales
• Manual effort to manage sponsors and partnerships

This is where many PTAs begin to look beyond just “free”.

The benefits of our premium PTA fundraising plan

A premium plan is designed for active PTAs running regular events and looking to maximise fundraising with additional built-in tools. With a premium setup, your PTA website becomes more than just an event page.

You get everything in the free plan plus:

• Reduced platform fees (1.5%), helping you keep more from each transaction
• The ability to monetise your PTA website through sponsors and advertisers
• Adverts on tickets for premium sponsor visibility
• Ticket scanning tools for smoother event management

This transforms your PTA from simply running events into building a sustainable fundraising model.

Covering the cost through sponsorship

One of the biggest advantages of the premium plan is that many PTAs are able to cover the £299.99 + VAT annual fee through sponsorship alone.

For example:

• If you sell just one primary banner advert on your PTA site for £100 per term, you will generate £300 across the school year.
• That alone can fully cover the cost of the premium plan.

Everything else, from additional sponsors, directory listings or event-based advertising, becomes extra fundraising for your PTA.

This is where the shift happens, from trying to minimise costs to actively creating new income streams.

When should your PTA move from free to premium?

The crossover point usually happens when your PTA:

• Runs multiple PTA events throughout the year
• Starts working with local sponsors or businesses
• Wants to further reduce admin and streamline operations
• Is looking to increase total fundraising, not just reduce costs

At this stage, the focus shifts from:

• "How do we avoid fees?"
  
  to
  
• "How do we raise more overall?"

That is where a premium plan delivers the most value.

Free vs Premium: what really matters

The decision is not just about cost. It is about value and growth.

• A free plan helps you get started quickly, with no upfront investment
• A premium plan helps you scale, save time and unlock new income streams

Both options have their place and the best platforms allow you to move between them as your PTA evolves.

Plan your PTA fundraising with confidence

With PTA Events, you can start for free and upgrade when the time is right.

Whether you’re running your first event or managing a full calendar of PTA fundraising events, you have the tools to stay organised, engage parents and maximise results.

Final thoughts

The best PTA fundraising ideas are not just about the event itself, they are about the system behind it.

Starting with a free plan gives you everything you need to begin. Moving to a premium plan gives you everything you need to grow.

And in many cases, that growth pays for itself.