Policy 7450

STUDENT ACTIVITIES
7450 FUNDRAISING BY STUDENTS


Fundraising is the selling of merchandise or services in school, on school grounds, or in the community which the school serves.  Any fundraising activities shall be approved in writing by the building principal or department director and must comply with the provisions of the Education Law and Commissioner’s Regulations. All flyers, signs, or other promotional materials must be approved by the Superintendent or his/her designee prior to distribution with the exclusion of extracurricular clubs. In addition, all promotional materials must indicate whether or not the activity is sponsored by the school district.

Employees are cautioned against giving the impression to students that the purpose of selling items or paying a fee is to defray a portion of the District's educational program. In addition, employees are not permitted to deposit the proceeds of any legitimate sales activity in their own personal accounts. These activities may jeopardize a student's right to participate in the educational program on a tuition or fee-free basis. Further, employees engaged in these activities may be held personally liable.

Student Engagement

It is the expectation of the Board that fundraising should benefit students collectively, or in recognized groups, or an agreed upon beneficiary. The officers and staff advisor(s) of extra-curricular clubs should identify the beneficiary in their club’s meeting minutes prior to any fundraising activities.  For all other groups, beneficiaries must be selected by a committee comprised of a minimum of an administrator, an advisor/staff member and a student. Fundraising that benefits families or individuals is not tax-deductible.

No student shall be required to participate in fundraising as a condition of participation in any school event or school sponsored activity. It is further understood that no student shall be pressured or coerced into participating in fundraising activities, nor shall any student face academic, social, participatory, or disciplinary consequences as a result of the decision to participate, or not participate, in fundraising activities. 

Restricted or Prohibited Fundraising Activities

1. Raffles, lotteries, and all other games of chance are expressly prohibited.
2. The sale of any food or beverages in schools or on school grounds may be permitted subject to review and approval by the district’s Director of Food Services.
3. Fundraisers promoting alcohol, drugs, and tobacco and fundraising activities in which participants will be engaged in the sale, service, or use/consumption of alcohol, drugs, or tobacco are expressly prohibited.
4. Fundraisers otherwise inconsistent with prevailing law, board policy, or the district’s Code of Conduct are expressly prohibited.
5. Fundraising activities away from school property will be held to a minimum. Door-to-door sales projects undertaken by any organization using the District's name require prior approval.
6. Fundraising shall only be used to raise funds in excess of those funds provided by the district’s general fund budget, or to raise funds to pay for activities and experiences that are not included in the district’s core program offerings. Therefore, fundraising activities shall not be conducted to raise funds for expenses considered ordinary and contingent to the class, club, or activity in which the student is participating.

Interscholastic Athletic Team Fundraisers

1. All interscholastic team fundraising shall be conducted in cooperation with the all-sports booster club that is recognized by the district/board pursuant to Policy 3260.
2. Student participation in out-of-season fundraising through a travel team, youth league, or other outside-of-school program shall not be subject to this policy and guidelines, nor shall the funds raised by such groups be used to offset in season athletic expenditures.



Policy References:
New York State Constitution, Article ⅤⅢ, § 1
Education Law § 414
8 NYCRR § 19.6

NOTE:  Refer also to
Policy 3260 - Booster Clubs and Parent Teacher Organizations
Policy 3271 - Solicitation of Charitable Donations



Adopted: 6/22/99
Revised: 9/6/22, 4/8/25

Policy 7450