Policy Relating to Fundraising at South Church
Approved 9.19.2007 by the Board of Trustees
1. PURPOSE: This administrative policy establishes a process for approving all fundraising activities that occur in or at South Church, or which use affiliation with or through South Church as part of the fundraising effort.
2. SCOPE: This policy applies to all fundraising activities targeted toward the South Church Unitarian Universalist (SCUU) congregation, or otherwise using its name or its facilities. This policy supersedes all previous policies on fundraising.
3. POLICY:
a. General Fundraising.
(1) As used in this policy, the term “fundraising” means the organized activity of soliciting and collecting money for community outreach programs and initiatives and/or nonprofit organizations or activities. It includes outright requests for cash or cash equivalents (stocks, gift certificates, etc.); raffles; the sale of goods (e.g., coffee, cookies, T-shirts, etc.) and auctions, the proceeds of which are applied toward nonprofit purposes; and similar activities.
(2) No fundraising will be conducted without the prior approval of the Board of Trustees (or its properly designated Board Committee on Fundraising) in accordance with this policy.
(3) Fundraising activities at SCUU will be in accordance with Unitarian Universalist (UU) principles.
(4) Fundraising not sponsored by SCUU Members, fundraising of indefinite duration, and fundraising contrary to UU principles will not be approved.
b. Social Justice Fundraising Approval.
A Member or Committee of SCUU that seeks to further the broader interests of social justice and/or community outreach may request fundraising approval from the SCUU Board of Trustees (or its designated Board Committee on Fundraising, and collectively, “the Board”) by submitting a request which includes all the information listed in the attached Fundraising Proposal Checklist.  A completed comprehensive checklist may be used as the request. The Board will in its discretion approve or disapprove the application after considering, without limitation, the organization’s adherence to UU principles; the social justice or community outreach initiative being served; the history of the fundraising organization and any intended recipients of funds to be generated by the effort; the fundraising organization’s willingness and ability to distribute any collections as advertised and other factors; and the existence of other fundraising efforts aimed at the same issue or issues, as appropriate.
c. Other Fundraising Approvals.
A Member or Committee of SCUU that seeks to raise funds for SCUU groups and activities (for example, music, library acquisitions, etc.); or for causes of primary interest to individual Members (for example, Girl Scout cookie sales, local school activities, walk-a-thons, etc.); or for any other purpose, will submit a fundraising request to the Board (or its designated Board Committee on Fundraising, and collectively, “the Board”).  A completed checklist may be used as the request.  Board decisions will be based, in its discretion, on the appropriateness of the activity, the duration of the effort, the complexity of the event, any conflicting, repetitive or overlapping fundraising, and other factors, as appropriate. The Fundraising Committee will inform the Communications Committee of all approvals for possible advertising.
d. Recurring Fundraising. Some fundraising occurs annually or periodically. These recurring drives need only be approved once. The Board will maintain a current list of approved recurring fund drives as an attachment to this numbered policy and will periodically assess whether the need for these drives is continuing.
e. Requirement of Sponsors. All fundraising requests must be sponsored by a member or committee of SCUU.
f. Advertising. The Board may also ensure, in the course of the process of giving its approval or disapproval, as the case may be, that the Member, Committee or organization seeking approval will be able to appropriately advertise the fundraising initiative.
4. EXEMPTIONS:     Certain fundraising activities that would otherwise fall within the definition of Fundraising in Section 3.A(1), above, shall be exempt from the requirements of this Fundraising Policy.  These activities are:
a. Appearances of Musicians and Guest Writers, whose appearance is otherwise approved by the Minister, the Music Director or the DLFD;
b. Activities undertaken pursuant to a rental agreement, including by way of example and without limitation rental use of the building and facilities for weddings;
c. Activities aimed at fundraising for Religious Education and children and youth of SCUU, which activities are otherwise approved by the Minister and/or the DLFD; and
d. Other activities or appearances or uses of the SCUU building and facilities that, in the combined judgment of the Minister and the Chair of the Board of Trustees do not require full Board of Trustees approval.

5. RESPONSIBLE COMMITTEE: The SCUU Board of Trustees may in its discretion establish a Committee of the Board to administer and enforce this Fundraising Policy, which Committee shall act with the authority of the full Board of Trustees.
6. EFFECTIVE DATE: This policy is effective immediately.
Approved by the Board of Trustees 9.19.2007

Attachments:
1. Fundraising Proposal Checklist

Fundraising Proposal Checklist
Include, at a minimum, the following information in your fundraising proposal: