Student Fund-Raising
Fund-Raising and Concessions
The Center for Campus Activities and Leadership (CCAL) at Middlebury College gives approval to student organizations to raise money for charitable projects. In addition, student groups may be allowed to raise funds on campus to defray costs of a limited number of special College-approved projects.
CCAL also gives approval to students to raise money for entrepreneurial or charitable projects. These projects, known as Concessions, are activities either for a student-run business or a fund-raising activity that involve the sale of a product or service.
Fund-Raising Policies and Regulations
a. Permission for fund-raising drives and concessions will be granted only to current College-recognized student groups (fund-raising) and student in good standing (concessions).
b. Students and student groups organizing fund-raising activities anc concessions not involving the sale of a product or service (e.g., sponsoring a dance or a raffle) must obtain permission for their activity from the Director of CCAL or designate. Any student group sponsoring a fund-raising activity involving the sale of a product or service must also obtain a concession permit from CCAL.
c. When a fund-raising or concession activity involves setup, table, or booth, permission for the setup is granted by CCAL. If the requested site involves another department, then the director of that department must also provide permission for the activity to occur there (e.g., the Director of Athletics must also approve requests for activities at football games and other athletic events). The Director of CCAL and the supervisor of the site will decide whether or not one or more activities may occur simultaneously at the same location.
d. Any student organization funded by the Finance Committee of the Student Government Association must obtain prior approval for all fund-raising activities from the Finance Committee. Once approval has been granted, student organizations are subject to items a. through c. above. CCAL will deposit any funds raised into that organization's account.
e. Off-campus. Students and student groups are not allowed to solicit donations or gifts from local merchants. Under certain circumstances CCAL will approve fund-raising efforts that occur off campus. Student groups wishing to conduct fund-raising off-campus must familiarize themselves with and abide by all College policies in addition to all local, state, and federal laws and regulations.
f. Solicitation
Direct solicitation of funds via campus mail is prohibited. The Director of CCAL in consultation with College Advancement may make specific exceptions to this policy on a case-by-case basis.
Student groups or athletic teams may not solicit funds from parents or alumni. The Director of CCAL in consultation with College Advancement may make specific exceptions to this policy on a case-by-case basis.
Exception: Each year CCAL coordinates a series of mailings to the parents of current students advertising fund-raising opportunities as well as products and services for sale through campus concessions. Students or student groups interested in participating in this type of fund-raising activity must first contact the Director of CCAL. These requests must be made at least six weeks in advance of the mailing date. Mailing dates are available by contacting CCAL.
College-connected or public groups (private, nonprofit, or for-profit) may not use College directories for the purpose of solicitation.
Door-to-door solicitation in residence halls is prohibited. In addition, the solicitation of faculty and staff in their campus offices is prohibited. Door-to-door solicitation is also prohibited off campus.
g. Raising Funds for Charity
Student concessions may raise funds for off-campus charities (e.g. American Red Cross).
When revenue is generated by a student organization from an activity that was approved by the Student Government Association (SGA) Finance Committee using Student Activities Fee (SAF) money, the revenue must be returned, in full, to the organization's Middlebury College account. All revenue up to the principle spent on the activity must be spent according to Finance Committee Guidelines. All additional proceeds may be spent at the organization's discretion within the parameters of CCAL and the rules of Middlebury College. If new money was allocated for the activity, revenue will be repaid to the general SAF first, up to the amount of the new allocation, and then the proceeds will go into the individual organization's account. Exceptions to this rule may be considered by the SGA Finance Committee.
Organizations wishing to make donations to charitable organizations may use the proceeds from certain activities (see above). Allocated funds cannot be used for donations.
Organizations may collect funds through cash, debit cards, credit cards, or checks made out to Middlebury College. Checks may also be made out directly to the charity.
The organizations may not initiate any activity, the profits of which will be used for any direct or indirect contributions to a political campaign.
h. Any student sponsoring a concession must obtain a concession permit from CCAL. Permits must be obtained at least seven working days before the beginning of the activity or program.
i. When a sale involves setup, table, or booth, permission for the setup is granted by CCAL. If the requested sale site involves another department, then the director of that department must also provide permission for sales to occur there (e.g., the director of athletics must also approve requests for sales at football games and other athletic events). The Director of CCAL or designate and the supervisor of the sale site will decide whether or not one or more activities may occur simultaneously at the same location.
j. Students who wish to sell food products or who wish to prepare food in College facilities for sale on campus must obtain the signature of the Director of Dining Services or designate on the Concession Form and submit it to CCAL.
Sale and Distribution of Food On Campus
Recognized student organizations may distribute food in designated locations, as well as outdoor events, provided they have received prior approval from the Center for Campus Activities and Leadership and the director of Dining Services.