PTA Branding
Your PTA will benefit if all of its messaging is clear, consistent and uniform in appearance. This includes your printed and online resources, fliers, signs and social media. How often does your community think the school provided an assembly or event or purchased an item, when it was your PTA and its members and volunteers who provided the benefit? Let your community know all of the great things PTA does by ensuring your messages look like have your PTA logo and consistent name and style usage. This page will help you brand your PTA, create and use a logo and communicate professionally.
Logo Usage
Your PTA’s logo does more than convey your PTA’s name. It also identifies your unit as one of the thousands of PTAs around the world that are part of National PTA. It tells everyone—including members, volunteers, sponsors and partners—that your PTA is all about helping children succeed. Your PTA is not a booster club. It is part of a powerful association working to improve the lives of children, families and schools.
To ensure your PTA is seen as part of the PTA family, use National PTA’s Branding and Web guidelines to quickly and easily customize your PTA’s logo. And download the Visual Identity Standards Quick Reference Guide for colors, fonts and a professional look.
PTA Branding and Web Guidelines: Follow these important guidelines maintain a consistent, visual style and brand identity for all PTA-produced materials. Includes links to download National PTA logos and instructions for customizing a logo for your own PTA.
Use of the PTA Name
Be protective of your PTA’s name. Your PTA’s name and reputation are its most important assets.
Only PTAs established by your state PTA or National PTA can use the PTA name. While PTA has become a part of the American vocabulary in the same way that people might call a soft drink a “Coke” or a facial tissue a “Kleenex,” the PTA name is protected with federal trademarks, and has been for over 100 years. If you see the PTA name used in an inappropriate manner in your community or beyond, or if you have questions about PTA name usage, report it to your state PTA or to National PTA.
Be aware that companies cannot use your PTA’s name without your PTA’s permission and that no company can use the PTA name in any manner that claims or could be reasonably inferred to suggest a relationship that does not exist. Companies may, however, reference PTA in statements of fact. For example: Papa’s Pizza provides discounted pizza to Madison PTA for their PTA Pizza Night. Papa’s Pizza cannot say they sponsor Madison PTA or sponsor Madison PTA’s Pizza Night unless they have entered into a formal sponsorship agreement with Madison PTA that allows them to do so. However, Papa’s Pizza can say they are proud to supply Madison PTA’s Pizza Night with delicious pizzas.
Style Guide
Style aids communication.
Creating a uniform presentation extends well beyond print. It helps make your message clear to the audience. The purpose of a stylebook is to ensure this clarity.
Attention to style is efficient.
When someone drafts and proofs materials, a substantial amount of time might be spent rewriting content that does not adhere to style. Instead, this time should be spent carefully crafting the message, making it more powerful and effective.
Style also protects the integrity of our brand.
Poor grammar, misspellings and inconsistencies reflect poorly on an association. An association that advocates for children, particularly their education, should be a strong proponent of consistent style.