This model district policy elaborates on a transparent financial procedure for acquisition of gifts. It serves to align gifts and contributions coming to the athletics program with other financial and in-kind support that may be gifted to a district, school and/or personnel.
Women’s Sports Foundation
Acceptance of Gifts Policy
Fairview School District (FSD) 4
Policy # ____
Section: ____
Title: Acceptance of Gifts
Adopted: Month/Day/Year
1. Purpose
Acceptance of Gifts
Procedure for Donations by Booster Organizations and Parent Organizations
The Fairview School District (FSD) Board of Education recognizes that extracurricular support groups (including the School-wide Sports Booster Club) provide important financial benefit to the district’s schools and can be valuable means of stimulating community interest in the aims and activities of the district’s schools. Booster organizations foster community support to raise funds for extracurricular activities including athletics.
2. Definition
Boosters and parent/teacher organizations are entities separate from the FSD and its schools, and it would not be appropriate for them to represent the district or its schools in contractual arrangements with students, parents or other organizations.
3. Authority
Only the Board of Education has the authority to enter into contractual agreements on behalf of the school district. Therefore, it is not appropriate for any booster and/or parent/teacher organization to offer a contribution that would appear to circumvent the authority of the Board of Education.
Individual and/or organized groups who wish to make contributions to the athletics program will be directed to adhere to the following procedures:
- The individual who is requesting or considering the acceptance of a donation from any special-interest group, parent/teacher organization, or local business or professional should discuss the reasons with the athletic director and have written/signed documentation of the proposed donation.
- The athletic director will make sure the donation is acceptable according to the state athletic association, Title IX, and student activity guidelines.
- The athletic director will then notify the school principal and superintendent or his/her designee in writing of the proposed donation/contribution.
- All moneys and/or equipment/supplies donated to the school become the property of the FSD Athletic Department.
- The donation must have a purpose consistent with established district and school goals.
- The donation shall not require the endorsement of a particular business product.
- The donation shall not conflict with policies or actions of the Board or applicable law.
- Offers of donations of technology and software must first be reviewed by the FSD Technology Department to ensure that such donations are compatible with the FSD Technology Plan.
- Exceptions to these procedures may be considered only by Board action.
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