Where does all the money go?
 

I am in a PFA chapter which is currently not in the schools greek system, and we are paying about $70-100/semester. Needless to say we dont have risk management, but we do have houses and almost everything other social frat/sorority has (except mixers/homecoming etc.)

Sometimes I just dont understand, the membership dues of most GLO's are somewhere close to $1000/semester. But where does all this money go?:confused:

Obviously, it varies by organization and campus, but usually dues will go toward programming, insurance, national/administrative fees, and housing/food (for organizations that have it).

How can you have houses without risk management? How can you have an organization that does pretty much anything without risk management?

As far as I know, the chapters with more expensive dues take that into account for housing and food. Money can also go to national organization fees, rush, social events, and other organizational expenses.

We try to be all inclusive with our dues. It's easier on the members (and/or parents) to budget if they know in the Spring how much it will cost for the entire next year. Except of course any additional individual purchases such as t-shirts, pix, etc.

Our dues are separated into 2 categories, but are collected on 1 bill. First there's rent/parlor fees and meals. This covers utility bills, house maintenance and improvements, staff salaries, property insurance, food, etc. These funds go to the House Corporation.

Then there are Chapter dues. This covers things such as:
- Chapter Administration costs (printing, postage, website, copier lease, etc.)
- Social functions (location rental, band cost, food, buses/transportation when necessary, security)
- Recruitment and Bid Day (t-shirts, gifts, food)
- On campus activities: Homecoming (lawn decorations, float, etc.), Greek Week, etc.
- Chapter Retreat (travel, lodging, food)
- Alumnae newsletters (printing and postage)
- Sisterhood activities
- Panhellenic Dues
- Int'l Dues (liability insurance included)
- Composite (ridiculously expensive!)
- District leadership training for officers (registration fees, travel, lodging, food)
- Philanthropy donations (not fundraisers)

In the time between I was an active and I became an advisor, the cost per year quadrupled, mostly due to Risk Management.

The cost of liability insurance is ridiculous. It's the single largest threat to the continued existence of Greek Life. Perhaps one day our individual endowments will be large enough to self-insure.

and most of the increase in insurance dues is levied on the fraternities. also when a very bad thing happens such as the death of a pledge, often the parents sue the GLO for 10-15 million which then transfers to higher insurance dues.

To satisfy your national presidents porn addiction

Risk Management and Liability Insurance is a HUGE expense. Small and local orgs and those not in their school's greek system can get away with not dealing with this I guess but larger, national orgs don't have the luxury. Also, the national organizations have a headquarters bldg. and paid staff to support all chapters nationally and even internationally for some.