Fund-Raising by Students 7-43

School Board of the City of Virginia Beach
Policy 7-43

COMMUNITY RELATIONS

Fund-Raising by Students

1. Generally

   Fund-raising activities by a school, school-sponsored organization or student group shall include the following conditions:

   1. Limiting the use of cash or prize incentives in any fund-raising activity;
   2. Prohibiting any door-to-door sales or neighborhood canvassing by elementary and middle school students;
   3. The limited use of instructional time to promote a fund-raising activity or to celebrate the outcome of a fund-raising activity. This restriction on the use of instructional time shall not apply to annual book fairs conducted under the supervision of a school's media specialist;
   4. Food and beverages sold through fundraising are subject to the Smart Snack guidelines established by federal regulation. All food and beverage sales to students anywhere on campus during the school day must meet the Smart Snack guidelines. In accordance with federal and/or state regulation or guidance, the Superintendent or designee may create exceptions to these conditions for a limited number of fundraisers at the school each year. Fundraising activities that take place outside of the school are exempt from nutrition standards. Consideration should also be given to the potential for allergic reaction to ingredients in items for sale as well as compliance with health code requirements when approving such sales;
   5. Charitable gaming or gambling, as defined by state law and regulation, are prohibited by students and staff as a fundraising activity;
   6. Fundraising activities that involve the use or sale of weapons, alcohol, tobacco, drugs, medications, imitations thereof, and/or any material that encourages violence, immorality, illegal, abusive behavior, or a reason determined the Superintendent or designee to be inappropriate for school related fundraiser are prohibited;
   7. Students may not be required to participate in the fundraising activity as a condition of receiving educational services or participating in school sponsored activities;
   8. Fundraising for personal private benefit is prohibited;
   9. Fundraising through crowdsourcing or online fundraising programs must have prior approval from the principal with consultation from the Office of Business Services and/or the Department of Media/Communication. The Superintendent is authorized to develop regulations or guidance regarding this type of fundraising. Students or families must authorize release of contact information for such fundraising activities;
   10. The Superintendent or designee are authorized to terminate any fundraising activity that is determined to be inappropriate to the educational environment, is inconsistent with policy or regulation, or otherwise reflects poorly on the School Division; and
   11. The organizer will consider options that will provide the greatest financial return for the school based on students' participation in any fundraising activities.
2. High School Fund-Raising

   Fund-raising activities by schools, school-sponsored organizations or student groups that require and/or encourage high school students to engage in door-to-door selling or to solicit funds within the community must have the prior authorization of the principal under regulations approved by the Superintendent.

3. In-school Projects

   The individual school principal may use his or her discretion in approving or disapproving in-school fund-raising projects. These are projects in which students are involved either during the school day or are scheduled before and/or after school. Projects in this category take place on the school premises or where a sanctioned school function is being held.

Adopted by School Board: October 21, 1969
Amended by School Board: August 21, 1990
Amended by School Board: July 16, 1991
Amended by School Board: October 20, 1992
Amended by School Board: November 18, 1997 (Effective Date December 1, 1997)
Amended by School Board: October 6, 1998
Scrivener’s Amendments: June 10, 2014
Amended by School Board: September 25, 2018
Reviewed by School Board: March 12, 2024