Student Fundraising Policy

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• The fundraising activity is required to offer a benefit to the university community that is consistent with the university’s educational mission, and the purpose for which the funds will be raised must be consistent with the purpose of the registered student organization/club, the Student Code of Conduct, and other applicable policies of the university.
• University policy governs all fundraising activities for cash, goods and services targeting off-campus entities including individuals, local businesses, corporation and entities. Off-campus fundraising activities by any SUA entity including student organizations and individuals is restricted and requires prior university approval from the Office of Development, with preliminary approval from the Office of Student Activities. The Office of Development coordinates all fundraising efforts to benefit the university. The university has such policies in order to coordinate fundraising efforts and to ensure good stewardship.
• Prior to undertaking any fundraising activities, a Fundraising Request Form must be submitted to, and approved by, the Office of Student Activities who will notify the Office of Development. If approved, the Office of Student Activities will notify the person(s) submitting the request form and fundraising may commence no earlier than the notification of approval date.
• An accounting of any funds raised must be provided to the Office of Student Activities within five business days after the event.
• With prior written approval from the Office of Student Activities, and notification given to the Office of Development, certain exceptions to the policy may be made on a case by case basis. If permission to raise funds is granted, it will be limited to each specific fundraising event and only for the school year in which it is approved. For example:
  • Fundraising for Alternative Spring Break (i.e. car wash)
  • Fundraising for SESRP
  • Fundraising for Student Organizations or Class Activities (i.e. selling flowers, T-shirts, chocolate, Boba)
  • Fundraising for International Festival
• Otherwise, except by written approval from the Office of Student Activities and notification given to the Office of Development, solicitation, sale of goods or services, and or distribution of items or materials on campus by students, student groups, and non-student groups is strictly prohibited.
• Individual students, university registered student clubs, affinity groups and other student organizations are not permitted to solicit donors, alumni or parents for monetary support. Should a student organization wish to solicit donors, alumni or parents for fund-raising, it is required that the group contacts the Office of Development.
• Students are not permitted to conduct widespread fundraising appeals, including fundraising using crowdfunding platforms (e.g., Kickstarter, GoFundMe, Patreon, etc.) as they do not meet university policy. In addition, any funds raised through such crowdfunding sites, which are not tax-deductible and subject to the third-party transaction fees, create possible personal, earned-income and related tax liabilities for those individuals collecting such funds.
• Techniques such as social media or crowdfunding (the practice of funding a project by raising money from many people, typically via the internet, for example but not limited to: GoFundMe) using person-to-person payments (for example but not limited to: Zelle, Venmo, PayPal) are never used by the university.
• Any student or group found using the name of Soka University of America, logo, name lists of donors/alumni/staff/faculty/students, or the likeness of Soka without expressed written consent of the University will be subject to repercussions ranging from a minimum of a warning to a maximum of suspension. In the event legal resources are required to be employed by the University, the fees will be the responsibility of the violating individual or group.
• Students are prohibited from contacting donors for purposes of soliciting donations of any kind.
• Approved fundraising initiatives must report all fundraising activity to the Office of Student Activities and all fundraised monies for the purpose of club support shall be deposited into the student club/ affinity group’s designated account. In addition, there should be proper accounting for all disbursements from the account to insure that monies are spent in accordance with the student organization’s bylaws and/or purpose.
• The Offices of Student Activities and Development reserve the right to prohibit and rescind any and all university-recognized organization fundraising activity and privileges when appropriate. The university reserves the right to restrict all fundraising activities to reasonable times, places, and manners. The following activities are specifically prohibited:
  • Solicitation by credit card or debit card, with the exception of those approved by the Office of Student Activities or Office of Development.
  • Fundraising using crowdfunding platforms (e.g., Kickstarter, GoFundMe, Patreon, etc.) for any student clubs, organization or individuals
  • Door-to-door fundraising on campus or on university-owned, -operated, or -controlled property.
  • Formal fundraising events/programs soliciting donors, alumni, parents, faculty, or staff, with the exception of those approved by Office of Student Activities or Office of Development.
  • Fundraising for any candidate for political office or political campaigns.
  • Sale or distribution of items that are a violation to the Student Code of Conduct.
• Donations of $250 or greater which intended to support a registered student organization on campus must be made through the Office of Development so that the donor can be properly recognized and receipted. The Office of Student Activities will coordinate the disbursement of funds to the student organization.
• SUA acknowledges that a policy of this nature may not anticipate every possible issue that may arise with respect to fundraising activities. As a result, the university reserves the right to impose reasonable restrictions and/or requirements with respect to time, place and manner of fundraising activity. Restrictions may be made in addition to, or in lieu of, those set forth in the policy. Violators of this Fundraising Policy may be subject to:
  • Fines and/or restitution including loss of funding for the current academic year or longer
  • Loss of the right to use university property or facilities for events/programs
  • Loss of registered status as a student organization
  • Other disciplinary sanctions
  • Other educational sanctions appropriate to the circumstances.

Click here to see more policies in the Student Handbook!