Crowdfunding
The Charter School recognizes that crowdfunding is a useful tool to assist teachers and other employees in the procurement of funding for specific projects and/or programs. Crowdfunding campaigns have been used with great success to provide revenues for such benefits as classroom supplies, educational programs and activities, and community advancement. However, the Charter School also recognizes that unregulated use of employee crowdfunding campaigns that are administered on behalf of the School or an individual classroom within the School can subject the School and employees to legal liability.
Purpose
The purpose of this policy is to ensure that crowdfunding campaigns administered by employees in their capacity as Charter School employees or on behalf of the School or to supplement any School programs are effectively regulated and are appropriately used to further the School’s objectives and mission.
Definitions
“Crowdfunding campaign” means the practice of raising funds to meet an advertised goal or need by soliciting funds from a large number of people, typically via the Internet.
Prohibition on Unapproved Crowdfunding on Behalf of the Charter School
Charter School employees, including teachers, coaches, staff, and paraprofessionals, may not engage in crowdfunding campaigns in their official capacity as a School employee, on behalf of the School, or for the benefit of a School program or activity without obtaining prior written authorization from the building administrator.
Employees who have not obtained prior written approval pursuant to this policy may not:
1. Solicit funds or items on behalf of the Charter School or a classroom within the School on a crowdfunding website;
2. Give the appearance of soliciting funds or items on behalf of the Charter School on a crowdfunding website;
3. Use the Charter School’s name, logo, mascot, or other identifying information in a crowdfunding post;
4. Link to or reference any of the Charter School’s websites or social media sites; or
5. Link to or reference any other sites, platforms, or accounts associated with the Charter School.
Absent prior written approval by the Charter School of a crowdfunding project pursuant to this policy, employees are prohibited from providing any information that would lead a reasonable person to conclude that the funds identified on the crowdfunding website are to be used by the Charter School or for any School purpose or program.
Procedures
Employees wishing to utilize crowdfunding for Charter School purposes or programs are required to obtain written permission to do so by submitting a Crowdfunding Request Form, to the building administrator. Written permission must be received before launching any crowdfunding web page or effort.
It shall be the responsibility of building administration to approve or deny all crowdfunding requests. Crowdfunding requests that are incomplete, not submitted in writing, and/or do not meet the requirements of this policy shall not be considered for approval. Information required to be included in the crowdfunding request includes:
1. The name, job title, school, and contact information for the person overseeing the campaign;
2. The crowdfunding website to be used;
3. The items requested and/or the amount of funds targeted to be raised;
4. The classroom, program, and/or activity to be benefited;
5. The exact language that will be included in the post and/or advertising for the crowdfunding campaign; and
6. The start and projected end dates of the post and/or advertising.
Guidelines for Crowdfunding
1. All crowdfunding campaigns involving classroom materials, projects, or resources must be consistent with the Charter School-approved curriculum;
2. Before the building administration accepts technology related items, the building administration is responsible for confirming acceptability with the coordinator of technology and media services.
3. All crowdfunding campaigns, including the solicitation of donations, online posting, selection of items, and/or use of funds must be consistent with all applicable laws and Charter School policies; and
4. All crowdfunding campaigns must have specific, pre-determined beginning and ending dates.
5. To the extent that physical property and not funds are solicited, such property shall be delivered directly to the building administrator of the building where the items are to be used and shall be deemed Charter School property, subject to Charter School policies concerning the use and disposal of Charter School property.
Crowdfunding campaigns may not:
1. Include personally identifying information of any Charter School student or otherwise focus on any identifiable student or groups of students;
2. Include pictures of Charter School students on the crowdfunding website or post any personal or biographical information about any individual student or students on the website;
3. Reveal any confidential information concerning student academic or disciplinary records, personal confidences, health or medical information, family status or income, or assessment or testing results;
4. Reveal any confidential information about colleagues obtained through employment practices;
5. Disparage the Charter School or any of its buildings, programs, students, or employees or cast the School or any of its employees, students, or programs in a negative light;
6. Be used for personal gain to the teacher or of any individual other than the Charter School-related benefits associated with the campaign's purpose;
7. Result in funds and/or items being provided or delivered directly to the individual who requested the funds;
8. Solicit funds for items or projects that are religious or political in nature or that have a religious or political purpose;
9. Violate Title IX or any other applicable state or federal law;
10. Be contingent on additional Charter School spending or require "matching" funds from the School or another organization;
11. Request food items that do not meet the "smart snacks" standards of the USDA regulations for school nutrition; or
12. Contain language that suggests or states that an item or items for which the donations are being sought are required for or otherwise integral to a student's special education program, necessary for a student to achieve his or her IEP goals, or necessary to ensure participation of a student or students with disabilities in school or any program offered by the Charter School.
Requirements for Crowdfunding Sites
All crowdfunding sites that are approved by the Charter School must meet all of the following requirements:
1. The site must be operated by a legitimate corporation or limited liability company with no significant history of fraud, unlawful activity, financial mismanagement, or other misconduct; and
2. The site must have a policy that requires all funds raised by an individual on behalf of the school to go directly to the school, not the individual who posted or advertised the fundraising request.
Additional Requirements and Regulations
Where a crowdfunding campaign requires the electronic transfer of funds, the building administrator in consultation with the business manager shall ensure that such transfer is made properly and in accordance with acceptable standards of practice. Where such transfer cannot be properly achieved, the campaign should not be approved.
The Charter School reserves the right to refuse funds that have been raised through an approved crowdfunding campaign if it discovers that the project violated this policy or was in violation of the crowdfunding site's requirements, policies, or regulations.
The Charter School reserves the right to terminate any pre-approved crowdfunding campaign for any reason or withhold approval for any crowdfunding campaign project for any reason.
Delegation of Responsibility
The Executive Director or designee shall ensure that procedures and guidelines are in place to monitor all crowdfunding requests. The Executive Director or designee will be responsible for forwarding all information to his or her staff. The Executive Director or designee is responsible for reviewing all crowdfunding requests and determining the appropriate response. The Executive Director or designee shall review any ongoing crowdfunding campaigns to ensure compliance. The Charter School’s business manager or designee shall ensure the proper recording and accounting of any funds or items received through a crowdfunding campaign and shall be notified of any unused funds and determine the most appropriate method of expending or returning any unused funds. These duties are intended as a guideline and in no way establish liability on the part of the Charter School if a crowdfunding campaign fails to comply with School policies, state or federal law.
Policy History
Adopted on: May 17, 2021
Revised on:
Reviewed on: