Fundraising legal issues with the Phila School District.

[coalhot]

Hi everyone.
Or team sends out fundraising letters every year like many of you, but this year about halfway into the season, the school told us to stop sending out letters. My understanding is that someone brought up a "legal issue" about our team sending out fundraising letters to prospective sponsors. We have been sending these letters out for years, and have had no problems until now.

My question is: have any other teams had an issue like this? Is there any way around it? We are in need of a place to build with these recent snowstorms coming through PA and schools being closed.

Thanks, and we appreciate your answer.

--Phil, Team 304

[BrendanB]

Have they told you anything specific about why you can't send out letters like the content, school policy, etc...?

[coalhot]

All I have heard is that someone contacted the school district about the legality of a team fundraising from a school (or something like that).

Thats all I know so far.

[BrendanB]

Originally Posted by coalhot

All I have heard is that someone contacted the school district about the legality of a team fundraising from a school (or something like that).

Thats all I know so far.

Then I would suggest that you investigate why you can't and then see about action. Who knows, it could be a very small issue that could be resolved in a matter of minutes or something much larger. But a school team not being allowed to do fundraising seems a little odd with over 1500 teams doing across the country.

Good luck!

[GaryVoshol]

So the school district will fully fund your team? That'd be nice.

Rather than question it here, you need to talk to your school administration, the superintendent, and the school board. Find out the policy. And find out if any other school organizations are allowed to raise funds. I'd be surprised if there weren't booster clubs for the sports teams.

[RoboMom]

I would suggest that your team leader contact your FIRST Regional Director to discuss options.
http://www.usfirst.org/regionalcontact.aspx

You can also contact your FIRST AmeriCorps-VISTA member: http://www.usfirst.org/community/vol...t.aspx?id=3312

[coalhot]

Thanks for the info. A large problem is that the school district is very slow with everything, but I'm sure we can work it out.

[Tristan Lall]

Does this have something to do with the team making legal agreements that could impact the school?

How were your other sponsorships arranged?

[GaryVoshol]

Another thought - are any of the other Philly teams affected by this? How do they deal with it?

[Akash Rastogi]

As long as your parent organization is 501c3 (if a school is somehow not, then god help them) then you should have nothing legal holding you back. Ask the school to talk to your regional director and explain how things like sponsorships work through the school.

[KC1AJT]

i know our team's letters have to be approved by a school administrator just because they mention the school.....did you get your letters approved?

[waialua359]

Is it more of a directive/policy rather than a legal issue?
I find it hard that a school (which normally are non-profit status) is not being allowed to fundraise legally.

[synth3tk]

My educated guess is that you need to run the letter by the school. Our district has no issue with us sending them out, we just had to have a specific letter approved by the school, then only use that letter for the sponsors.

[Daniel_LaFleur]

Originally Posted by Akash Rastogi

As long as your parent organization is 501c3 (if a school is somehow not, then god help them) then you should have nothing legal holding you back. Ask the school to talk to your regional director and explain how things like sponsorships work through the school.

Most schools (other than private schools) are NOT 501c3, as that implies non-profit corporation status. Public Schools fall under government funded and thus are not non-profit corporations. Donations to School clubs can be tax deductable, but not under 501c3.

[coalhot]

Tristan Lall:
Does this have something to do with the team making legal agreements that could impact the school?

How were your other sponsorships arranged?

As far as I know, we don't really sign any contracts. In the past we did the same things, and never had any problems.

Akash Rastogi:
As long as your parent organization is 501c3 (if a school is somehow not, then god help them) then you should have nothing legal holding you back. Ask the school to talk to your regional director and explain how things like sponsorships work through the school.

We had the paperwork until this year, when the District refused to give it to us (thats what I last heard)...

computerteen643:
i know our team's letters have to be approved by a school administrator just because they mention the school.....did you get your letters approved?

We never got them approved in the past. The format of the letter changed very little in the past years.

waialua359:
Is it more of a directive/policy rather than a legal issue?
I find it hard that a school (which normally are non-profit status) is not being allowed to fundraise legally.

As I understand it, the team is a separate entity from the school. This is complicated by working in the school rather that at a company/business.

Daniel_LaFleur:
Most schools (other than private schools) are NOT 501c3, as that implies non-profit corporation status. Public Schools fall under government funded and thus are not non-profit corporations. Donations to School clubs can be tax deductable, but not under 501c3.

We had the 501c3 paperwork until this year. Most companies never asked for them though, so we never provided it.

I was just thinking of a way of trying to get the someone in the School District to move on this, because from personal experience (being homeschooled in Philly) they are very slow to act on anything and provide answers. I think the idea to contact our regional director is a good one, and I will suggest it to our mentor.

Thanks for all the input.

--Philip