Student Organization Fundraising

Purpose

Definitions

Student organization - any group of students that is officially recognized by Willamette University.

Outright gift - any tax-deductible donation of cash immediately transferred by the donor to the recipient of the donation.

Restricted fund - Willamette-operated funds that have been designated for a specific department, scholarship, organization, or purpose.

Campus community - current students, faculty, staff, parents of current or former students, alumni of the University and any entities interested in supporting Willamette.

Policy

1. Students and student organizations may: 
   
   
   1. Collect food, clothing, or other donated items from the campus community that directly benefit the student organization. These items are not tax-deductible. 
   2. Purchase goods (e.g. baking supplies) using their custodial account for the purpose of reselling those goods to generate a profit. If the proceeds collected from these fundraising activities will be deposited into a student organization’s custodial account, the request for deposit must be initiated within 72 hours of collecting the proceeds.
   3. Conduct off-campus fundraising activities in partnership with Salem businesses (i.e. “restaurant take-overs”). Student organizations must speak with the Advancement staff member responsible for student fundraising prior to any contact with any business or entity about fundraising.
   4. Solicit the campus community for outright gifts to the Willamette Annual Fund. Student organizations must speak with the Advancement staff member responsible for student fundraising one month prior to the expected fundraising date.
      
      
2. Students and student organizations may not:
   
   
   1. Solicit the campus community for outright gifts to restricted funds.
   2. Organize a raffle, game of chance, or gambling event of any kind for the purpose of fundraising.
   3. Use third-party vendors (e.g. Venmo or GoFundMe) to collect money.
      
      
3. If students or student organizations want to use funds from their University-controlled account for the purpose of making a charitable donation to another organization, please reference the Institutional Gifts section of the Gifts, Awards, and Prizes from University Funds Policy.
   
   
4. If students or student organizations have questions about their fundraising activities, please contact the Advancement staff member responsible for student fundraising.

Status: This policy was approved in 2019
Effective Date: 11/1/2019
Last Review Date: 2019
Next Review Date: 11/2020
Responsible University Office: Advancement