How to Spend Summer as a PTA/PTO Leader (Month-by-Month Checklist)

Ahhhh, summer. Those long days, outdoor adventures, and beautiful nights are here. You survived the end-of-year rat race, and now you’re ready for some well-deserved relaxation. So go ahead and put your feet up! But as crucial as it is to have a break, Summer doesn’t mean your PTA/PTO to-do list goes quiet — it just changes shape. While families are on break, this is your window as a leader to plan, recruit, and set the stage for a school year that runs smoothly from day one.

This isn’t a list of summer PTA event ideas for families — it’s a planning checklist built specifically for PTA/PTO leaders and board members. Use it to pace your summer month by month, so nothing falls through the cracks before the first bell rings.
In this guide:

• June: Wrap-up and reflection
• June to July: Volunteer recruitment
• July: Building your calendar
• August: Communication and final prep
• Free templates: first-meeting agenda + volunteer recruitment email

PTA/O Tips to Start Your Fundraising School Year Strong: A Monthly Guide

June: Wrap Up the Year & Gather Feedback

Before you plan forward, close the loop on the year behind you.

• Debrief with your outgoing board. What worked? What didn’t? Capture this while it’s fresh — you’ll thank yourself in September.
• Gather member feedback. A short survey to teachers, parents, and volunteers surfaces what programs to keep, cut, or expand.
• Assess your budget. Review actuals against last year’s fundraising goals. This is the foundation for every decision you’ll make over the next two months.

June to July: Start Recruiting Your Volunteers

Summer is when parents are most relaxed and ready to plan for the upcoming school year. This is the perfect time to gauge their interest in volunteering for fundraising events!

• Get your volunteer sign-up form live before vacation season hits. A simple online form (Google Form, SignUpGenius, etc.) lets people commit on their own time.
• Target specific gaps, not just general “help needed” asks. “We need 2 people to co-chair the fall fun run” gets more responses than a blanket call for volunteers.
• Follow up personally with anyone who expressed interest last spring but didn’t commit yet.

July: Build Your Calendar For The Upcoming School Year

July is a great time to get your whole year in focus.

• Set your school fundraising windows. Decide when your major fundraiser (like a fall fun run) will run, and work backward from there.
• Map your events calendar — meetings, spirit nights, fundraisers — against the school’s academic calendar to avoid conflicts.
• Finalize your first meeting agenda. Set the tone for your first PTA meeting with a well-structured agenda. Our PTO/PTA templates can be a great place to start!

August to September: Start Promoting Your First Fundraiser

Once the year kicks off, momentum matters. Use back-to-school night and early newsletters to introduce your fall fundraiser — for many schools, this is a fun run that channels back-to-school energy into your biggest fundraising push of the year. Get ideas for framing your fundraiser in our summer fundraising ideas guide.

Summer PTA Tip: Continue to Communicate with Parents

Don’t shut down your communication channels just because school is out. Staying connected with parents and families is essential, even during summer vacation.

You can use social media and email to check in, publicize volunteer needs, share exciting school news, and give teasers to get people excited about the fun events you have planned for the upcoming school year. Just remember to keep it light and infrequent. Read more social media tips here.

Ready to plan your fall fundraiser? Check out our guide to summer fundraiser ideas for inspiration on your biggest event of the year.