SOLICITATION, FUNDRAISING, AND CROWDFUNDING
Effective: August 15, 2024
Purpose: To regulate solicitation activities, including credit card solicitation, on-campus sales, fundraising, and crowdfunding, to ensure compliance with regulations and alignment with University objectives.
Scope: This policy applies campus wide.
Responsible Office: Business & Finance Office
Policy Statement:
SOLICITATIONS
No solicitation of credit card applications from Emporia State University students shall take place on campus during the week before and the two weeks following the first day of each semester. During the times when credit card solicitations are permitted on campus, the credit card issuer shall provide to students information about the responsible use of credit cards and the risks of credit card use. Educational material on the proper use of credit shall be included in orientation programs for incoming students.
Retail vendors located in the Memorial Union building may provide credit card applications on the premises it leases from the Union, as consistent with its lease.
Credit card solicitation shall be limited to the Memorial Union, Welch Stadium, and Trusler Sports Complex in compliance with Memorial Union policies and regulations, or Athletic Department policies and regulations as applicable, or University Alumni Association contracts with credit card vendors.
The display, promotion, marketing, or sale of products or services on the University campus by individuals, partnerships, corporations or other such entities not associated with, related to, or specifically authorized by or on the behalf of, the University is prohibited. The Memorial Union building is exempt from this restriction, but all such activities shall comply with the Memorial Union’s policies regarding solicitation by outside businesses.
Individuals and/or organizations who are not affiliated with a recognized student or employee organization are not permitted to solicit money or other donations on campus. Student or employee group fundraising activities on campus will be conducted in a centralized location in each building to be approved by the building manager. Solicitors shall not conduct office-to-office sales or disrupt the work of university employees, unless expressly authorized by the President or a designee of the President.
FUNDRAISING
The University shall establish fundraising priorities for the Emporia State University Foundation, which is the designated and officially recognized University-associated, private Foundation charged with the responsibility of encouraging, soliciting, and managing private resources contributed for the benefit of the University, its students, faculty, and staff.
University fundraising initiatives will be approved by the President of the University, or the President’s designee, and coordinated, as appropriate, through the Foundation. This does not include sales of merchandise or ticket sales which do not have a tax-deductible component.
While every University employee is empowered to build relationships which inspire philanthropy, the approval and coordination process for any specific initiative should occur prior to making substantive contact or plans with prospective donors.
The University President, or the President’s designee, or members of the Foundation’s Gift Acceptance Committee with the consultation of the University President, will review and approve or decline donors’ gift opportunities on a case-by-case basis.
CROWDFUNDING
Crowdfunding campaigns or projects undertaken by any individual associated with the University, who is planning to use a third-party crowdfunding or crowdsourcing vendor, portal, or service provider, shall follow these guidelines:
- Engagement with a crowdfunding platform and/or vendor shall be considered contractual and shall follow the University’s policies and procedures related to Purchasing, including but not limited to, the internal, contract workflow process administered by the University’s Office of General Counsel.
- The University’s name, branding, and/or logo may not be used without prior written approval from the University’s Marketing and Media Relations office.
- Campaigns or projects that use University resources, or affiliate themselves with the University in any capacity, must receive approval as may be required in the University’s Fundraising policy.
Use of crowdfunding as described in this policy is subject to all other, applicable University policies and procedures, and applicable state and federal regulationsand laws.
Definitions: All words and phrases shall be interpreted utilizing their plain meanings unless otherwise defined in University or Board of Regents policy or by statute or regulation.
Crowdfunding- is the practice of funding a project or campaign by soliciting relatively small donations of money from a large number of people, typically facilitated through a web-based giving site.
Procedures: All procedures linked and related to the policies above shall have the full force and effect of policy if said procedures have first been properly approved by the University’s administrator in charge of Business and Finance.
[Business and Finance procedures - coming soon]
Related Policy Information: N/A