Student Organization Fundraising

Definition of Fundraising, fundraising is defined as the collection of money through donations from individuals, companies, or programming for the purposes of generating charitable donations.

Soliciting Donations for Student Organizations

1. Organizations must schedule an appointment with the Senior Development & Alumni Affairs if they wish to solicit donations from off-campus entities. Woodbury University has existing sponsorships that may prevent student organizations from securing conflicting sponsors. Additionally, the University has well-established relationships with several off-campus entities (individuals, companies, trusts, etc.) that must be observed.
2.  Donations may be monetary gifts or in-kind items.
3. Cash, items, or services are not considered donations if the donor receives something in return ( promotion of a business, product, or service; on-campus flyer distribution; etc.). In these cases, only listing business names on programs or banners as sponsors is permitted.
4. Student organizations unique to Woodbury (not affiliated with national organizations) fall under the University’s 501(c) tax ID status. National fraternities/sororities and other national academic organizations have their own tax status and should contact their headquarters to obtain tax information.
5. Woodbury does not provide advice to donors. Donors should consult their professional tax advisors.
6. Check should be made payable to Woodbury University.
7. All charitable funds raised must be deposited into student organizations’ campus accounts through the Senior Development & Alumni Affairs, NOT through the Business Office.
8. Be careful to represent Woodbury appropriately when communicating with potential donors:

• Follow guidelines for the proper use of the University seal, logo, and other visual media.
• Use proper grammar.
• Follow- up with written acknowledgment in a note or card.
  
  

Scholarships

1. Student organization-sponsored scholarships open to specific groups (all students, all Animation majors) must total at least $2,500.
2. Endowed scholarships must be a minimum of $50,000.
3. Awarding scholarships is determined and managed by the Financial Aid Office.

Donations from Woodbury Departments

Money should not be transferred from a university department into a student organization account. Departments may support student organizations by purchasing goods or services on their behalf.

Soliciting Donations for a Charity

1. Each charitable organization must submit a statement of support on an official letterhead to Student Affairs acknowledging that the fundraising will occur on its behalf and indicating the expected date of receipt of the donations
2. Donations may only be made to charitable organizations that provide their tax ID number and proof of 501(c)(3) status.
3. University funds, including funds from ASWU, can never be donated to charitable organizations. Only money that has been specifically raised for a charity can be donated to that specific cause.
4. Checks should be made payable to the charitable organization.

Cash collected for a charity should be deposited through the Business Office immediately, the deposit receipt attached to a check request form so that payment may be made to the charitable organization.

Fundraising Events (To Raise Money for Student Organizations or Charities)

1. Fundraising activities must align with the University’s educational mission and the organization’s purpose.
2. All fundraisers must be pre-approved through the FREA process.
3. Educational information about the student/ charitable organization should be made available during the event.
4. Only net proceeds of a fundraising event may be donated to charitable organizations. For example, if an event costs $500 to implement and $1000 is raised, $500 must be donated to the charity. All fundraiser event advertisements must indicate that net proceeds will go to charity.

Prohibited Methods of Fundraising

1. Fundraising events where people or their services are auctioned/sold.
2. Bake sales utilizing foods prepared at home.
3. Solicitation by credit card companies.
4. Door-to-door fundraising in residence halls or campus offices.
5. Email blasts to any portion of the campus community.
6. Fundraising for any candidate for political office or any political party.
7. Contests based on chance (i.e., 50/50 raffles, raffles not conforming to the description below) because they are considered lotteries and under California law, only the California State Lottery may operate a lottery. Contests based on skill (i.e., business plan competition, basketball tournaments, logo design competitions) are permitted.
   
   

Raffles

1. 50/50 raffles, in which monetary donations grant entry into raffles for half of the total raised profits, are prohibited.
2. Items donated for raffle may be considered in-kind gifts.
3. Raffles are permitted under certain conditions:

• The raffle must be used to fund charitable work.
• At least 90% of the raffle proceeds must be used to support California-based charities.
• Each ticket must have a detachable coupon or stub marked with a matching identifier.
• Winners of prizes must be determined by drawing among the tickets.
• The drawing must be conducted in California and performed/supervised by an adult.
• Law forbids the use of gaming devices or the sale of raffle tickets at a racetrack, gambling establishment, satellite-wagering facility, or on the internet