Fundraising
One of the most popular ways to raise money for your group is through fundraising. Fundraising can take a number of forms, from selling items like shirts or cookies, to charging admission to an event. When planning a fundraiser, use the following guidelines below. And of course, don't forget to complete an SAO360 request with the Fundraising module completed. The request will need to be approved before you begin the activity. A new request is needed for each semester of a fundraising activity.
Additional funding for your event may be found elsewhere.
- Click here for information regarding funding for Halls.
- Click here for information regarding funding for undergraduate Clubs.
Groups should consider fundraising when they want to raise funds for a specific purpose, whether is be for internal group use or as a charitable contribution. group which attempt to fund raise for "stock piling" purposes are more likely to fail.
Here are a few things you will want to establish during the planning process:
Purpose: Why are we raising the funds? (People want to know where their money is going, and it should be for a good cause.)
Financial Goals: How much do we need to raise? How much do we want to raise? How much can we anticipate raising with the proposed activity?
Initial Cost: How much will it cost to produce this fund raiser? Do we have the money in our account to cover the front-end costs of the project?
Effectiveness: Will the idea work? Can we really raise money doing this fund raiser? Will we at least break even? Take the time choose fund raisers which could be effective, and take the time to plan and publicize them properly.
Before you start planning a labor-intensive, financially risky event, make sure you have addressed all other funding opportunities. Here are some suggestions to consider: Evaulate your budget! Can you cut expenses from other items you have budgeted for? This may be the easiest way to "internally fund raise"!
If you have decided that you want to coordinate a fund raising event, start thinking of some possible activities you could coordinate. To get the ball rolling, here are some suggestions for fund raisers:
- Guess the pennies (candy, paperclips, etc.) in the jar.
- Food/Bake sales
- Arts/Crafts sales
- Apparel sales (be sure to complete the Imprinting Merchandise module on SAO360, and obtain approval before ordering merchandise from approved vendors)
- Car Wash
- Volunteer yardwork for donations
- Dance party (charge an admission fee)
- Candy-grams
- Athletic tournament (contact RecSports for assistance with coordinating it effectively)
- Band concert
- Raffles (please be aware that this can be a lengthy process if you are running a game of change--contact Karen Kennedyfor details at least eight weeks before your event).
- Talk to Devon Sanchez Ossorio in the Student Activities Office - SAO has additional funding opportunities for clubs like DICE, as well as opportunities to collaborate.
Solicitation
Another form of fundraising is solicitation. This is when you ask people, companies, or organizations for monetary or in-kind donations. Before approaching potential donors, complete an SAO360 request Solicitation module. People or groups to consider asking for donations from include:
- Parents, friends, or alums of your group
- Keep track of your alums - it will make it easier to contact them after they have left!
- ND Departments, like those with which your group has a relationship
- You do not need to complete an SAO360 request when requesting funds from on-campus departments.
- Local businesses that may have a stake in your group, or would benefit from exposure.
- If contacting a chain, make sure to contact the local store, not that national office when requesting donations.
- Businesses usually need a letter as proof of the request, so consider putting one together with your officer' and advisor's input. This will be required for the SAO360 request.
Credit card donations can only be accepted through the Notre Dame Department of Development website or Student Shop ND. Both credit card and check donations can be accepted. This is a safe and easy way to collect money, and gives your donors the tax benefits of donating to Notre Dame. Make sure to tell your donors to indicate your group on their donation.
Steps to Follow When Collecting Funds
When collecting funds for your group, follow these steps to ensure a smooth fundraiser:
1. Request approval for the fundraiser through SAO360. Fundraisers may only take place if approved on SAO360 prior to the event.
2. If you need cash to make change for your fundraiser, complete the Event Cash Advance Form, also found in 314 LaFortune on the rack outside 314C, and turn into Deb Acrey (Student Union Bookkeeper) in 314C LaFortune at least a day before you need the cash.
3.
On the day that the Event Cash Advance form is ready, see Deb Acrey in 314C LaFortune to sign & pick-up your completed form. From there you will go to the Notre Dame Federal Credit Union (NDFCU) in the LaFortune basement to pick-up your cash.
4. Bring a cash box or other safe holding container for the cash to the fundraising site.
5. When the fundraiser is over, go to 314 LaFortune to complete the Deposit Slips, and deposit the cash at NDFCU in the basement of LaFortune (directions on how to deposit funds can be found in the literature rack in 314 LaFortune).Please note: the cash from the Event Cash Advance must be redeposited to NDFCU within two business day of the event.
Repeat steps 2 - 5 each day if your fundraiser will take place on multiple days. This helps reduce the possibility that money will be lost or stolen between fundraising days. If you are the treasurer, but are not the person who is on site for the fundraiser, consider preparing all the forms ahead of time so that those picking up the cash and depositing the funds do not need to do the paperwork. To donate this money to a charity, click here for more information.
Locations to Collect Funds
When collecting funds, your group must do so at an established time, date, and location. In addition to setting up a table in your residence hall (with permission from the Rector), other locations to collect funds include:
Dining Hall Lobbies
Ticket sales or the promotion of activities may be done in the dining hall lobbies and in LaFortune Student Center. Permission must be obtained in advance from the Student Activities Office through an SAO360 request.
LaFortune Elevator Lobby
When using the LaFortune Elevator Lobby for your fundraiser, you can collect Domer Dollars using the Domer Dollars Terminal. Click here for more information.
LaFortune Information Desk
Tickets and other items may be sold through the LaFortune Student Center Information Desk and Box Office. This service is provided for all departments, residence facilities, and recognized student organizations/clubs. For each sale, a Box Office Ticket Sales Agreement must be completed. This agreement can be found in the CRC on the 3rd floor of LaFortune in the literature rack.
Raising Money through Credit Cards
To collect funds using credit cards, you can sell items or collect donations using Student Shop ND. Collecting funds through any other online means is prohibited.
