STUDENT FUND-RAISING | Policy Manual | Brevard Co. Public Schools

5830 - STUDENT FUND-RAISING

Property taxes and State funding support the regular School District educational program. There are important activities, however, which are school-related but which do not receive funding through the School District budget. Examples of these activities are club activities, academic competitions, classroom enrichment, proms, and special graduation programs. The Board recognizes the need for some constraint to prevent fund-raising activities from becoming too numerous and overly demanding on employees, students, and the general public.

The Board acknowledges that the solicitation of funds from students by students must be limited since compulsory attendance laws make the student a captive donor and since such solicitation may disrupt the program of the schools. The Board further acknowledges that school time and energy should be singly devoted to curricular pursuits and students should not spend academic class time preparing for fund-raising activities. Participation in or donation to any fund-raising activity shall be optional and under no circumstances will any student be compelled to participate or donate or be penalized for not participating or donating.

Definitions

For purposes of this policy "student fund-raising" shall include student solicitation and collection of money for any purpose including collection of money in exchange for tickets, papers, or any other goods or services.
Fund-raising Approval
1. The Board will permit student fund-raising in school, on school property, or at any school-sponsored event only when the profit therefrom is to be used for school purposes or for an activity connected with the schools. Fund-raising must be conducted in a manner that will maintain the integrity of individual students, employees, and the District.
2. All fund-raisers must be approved by the Principal.
3. School-wide and classroom incentives are permitted with the approval of the Principal. Incentives for individual students may be permitted if they have educational value.
4. Contracts with vendors for student fund-raising activities shall establish the profit-per-item and percentage of the profit earned by the sponsoring organization, regardless of whether that activity is conduct on or off school property prior to approval.
5. Crowdfunding activities aimed at raising funds for a specific classroom or school activity, including extra-curricular activity, or to obtain supplemental resources (e.g., supplies or equipment) that are not required to provide a free appropriate public education to any students in the classroom may be permitted, but only with the specific approval of the Superintendent or designee. All crowdfunding activities are subject to Policy 6605 and any related procedures.
6. Student fund-raising by approved school organizations may be permitted in school by the Principal. Student fund-raising by approved school organizations off school grounds may be permitted under the administrative procedures of the Superintendent.
7. Fund-raising by students on behalf of school-related organizations may be permitted on school grounds in accordance with the Superintendent's administrative procedures. These fund-raisers shall comply with the provisions of Policy 9211, Parent Organizations, Booster Clubs, and Other Fund-Raising Activities.
  
  These administrative procedures should:
  1. specify the times and places in which funds may be collected;
  2. describe permitted methods of solicitation which do not place undue pressure on students; and
  3. limit the kind and amount of advertising for solicitation.
Fund-raising Restrictions
1. Raffles and all games of chance are prohibited.
2. For any fund-raisers by student clubs and organizations, parent groups, or booster clubs that involve the sale to students of food items and/or beverages that will be consumed on campus, the food and/or beverages items to be sold shall comply with the current USDA Nutrition Standards for National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs, the USDA Smart Snacks in Schools regulations, F.A.C. 5P-1.003, and applicable State law. If approved, the fund-raisers that involve the sale to students of food items or beverages that will be consumed on campus must also be consistent with regulations established in Policy 8550, Competitive Foods. Further, there shall be no exemptions from the standards for competitive foods in any of the District's schools.
3. Use of the name, logo, or any assets of the District, including but not limited to facilities, technology, or communication networks, is prohibited without the specific permission of the Superintendent or designee.
4. Door-to-door solicitation by elementary and middle school students is prohibited. High school students who solicit door-to-door are required to work in groups of at least two (2).
Advisor Restrictions
1. Advisors, whether employees or volunteers, for approved school organizations shall not accept any form of compensation from vendors that might influence their selection on a vendor that will provide a fund-raising activity or a product that will be sold as a fund-raiser. Furthermore, advisors, whether employees or volunteers, for approved school organizations shall not accept any compensation from a vendor after a decision has been made regarding a fundraising activity or a product that will be sold as a fund-raiser.
2. In addition, advisors, whether employees or volunteers, for approved school organizations who make the selection of a vendor that will provide a fund-raising activity or a product that will be sold as a fund-raiser shall not enter into a contractual arrangement whereby an advisor receives compensation in any form from the vendor that provides a fund-raising activity or a product that will be sold as a fund-raiser.
3. Such compensation includes, but is not limited to, cash, checks, stocks, or any other form of securities, and gifts such as televisions, microwave ovens, computers, discount certificates, travel vouchers, tickets, passes, and other such things of value. In the event an advisor of an approved school organization receives such compensation, albeit unsolicited, from a vendor, the individual shall notify the Fiscal Officer, in writing, that s/he received such compensation and shall thereafter properly transmit said compensation to the Fiscal Officer at his/her earliest opportunity.
Fund-raising on Behalf of Community Organizations
1. The Board recognizes that schools can be an important resource for the community in supporting other community organizations or purposes in their fundraising efforts. It also recognizes that schools have a limited capacity to support fundraising efforts and that unrestricted fundraising using Brevard Public Schools cannot be permitted.
2. Fund-raising done as a service project initiated by a recognized school organization on behalf of community organizations may be permitted on school grounds in accordance with the Superintendent’s administrative procedures. Indirect forms of charitable solicitations on school premises that are passive such as placing a bin or collection box in a common area to receive donations of food or other items are permitted upon approval of the Principal.
  
  These administrative procedures should:
  1. specify the name of the community organization benefitting from the school’s fundraising efforts;
  2. specify the times and places in which funds may be collected;
  3. describe permitted methods of solicitation which do not place undue pressure on students; and
  4. specify the group of students, club, or student organization which will be responsible for the fund-raising efforts.

Revised 4/27/10
Revised 5/25/21
Reviewed 3/12/24