Campus activity fundraiser vendors must be on the approved District vendor list.  Student activity fundraisers should first attempt to select a vendor from the approved District vendor list.  If the item is unavailable, Student Activity Fundraisers may select a vendor not on the approved vendor list. The list is maintained by the Purchasing Office and is available on the District website.  For Booster Club/PTA fundraisers, using an approved vendor from the fundraiser list is encouraged by not required.

 

What Are The First Steps In Having A Fundraiser?

 

All fundraising projects must first be PRE-APPROVED by the principal.  The Campus/Student Activity Fundraising Information and Recap Form must be completed.

 

What Other Fundraising Guidelines Must Be Followed?

 

 Once the fundraiser has been approved and a vendor has been selected from the approved fundraiser list, if material/supplies need to be ordered, notify the office manager.

 

• Materials/supplies may not be ordered without an approved purchase order.
• Once materials/supplies are received, an inventory must be taken (how many were ordered, received, how many were sold, returned, lost or damaged).  What is the unit selling price.
• Maintain complete and accurate records of all funds received.  Please complete the Tabulation of Monies Form.
• All funds must be counted and verified by two people and documented.
• All checks are to be made out to Rockwall ISD.
• Deposits should be made as often as possible with no significant time lag between receipt of monies and the time it is turned in for deposit, usually within one to two days.  Please complete the Sponsor Deposit Form.  The individual receiving the money directly from the buyer cannot prepare and record the deposit.
• The Fundraising Information and Recap Form must be completed in its entirety on all fundraisers.

 

Can Students or Sponsors Earn Rewards for Participating in a Fundraiser?

 

No.  Gifts are not to be accepted by students for selling projects or by sponsors for participating in a fundraising project.  Prizes in student activity projects are prohibited.  However, a group (entire class, grade level, or school) may be rewarded for setting and achieving group fundraising goals.  Fundraising competitions between groups is discouraged. 

 

Does Sales Tax Have to be Paid on Items Sold?

 

Educational organizations that qualify for exemption under the Texas State Tax Code and are classified by the IRS as 501 (c)(3), (4), (8), (10), or (19), and each chapter of the organization, may hold two, one-day tax-free sales during a calendar year.  Sales tax information/calculator is available at:

tax.help@cpa.state.tx.us

 

One-day tax free day defined:  a twenty-four hour period when the sale actually occurs or the delivery of the items that were sold.

1. If items are sold after this twenty-four hour period, sales tax must be collected from the purchaser for these items.
2. The school/campus and each student activity club are considered to be separate entities and each is allowed two, one-day tax-free sales during a calendar year.
3. Teachers and students must collect the sales tax on merchandise (other than food products) they sell.  If the school assumes responsibility for the activity and/or sales, the school is responsible for insuring the tax is paid.  The school may purchase items tax free and must collect the tax when the items are sold even if a profit was not made.
4. It is the responsibility of the individual school to maintain accurate records as to when the tax-free sales days are held, including the name of the organization and date of sale.  The Finance Office will not maintain records containing this information.
5. The sale of food, including candy and soft drinks, is exempt from the sales tax when sold by an organization associated with a public or non-profit private elementary or secondary school, if:
   1. The sale is part of a fundraising drive sponsored by the organization; and
   2. All net proceeds from the sale go to the organization for its exclusive use.

NOTE:  All Department of Agriculture Guidelines/Rules apply to the sale of food.  Please see Nutrition Policy Brochure.

 

Do I have to Consider Paying Sales Tax if a Profit Was Not Made on the Fundraiser or Sale of an Item?

 

Yes.  Sales tax has to be considered whether the item is sold for a profit or not.  The key factors in regard to paying sales tax are:

• The first transaction purchased by RISD from an approved vendor
• The second transaction is the sale of item to the end user (buyer).  The sale price of the item can be below, more than or the same as the purchase price.

This can be a taxable transaction.  If the sale does not qualify for a one-day tax-free sale as described above, sales tax must be calculated and applied to the fundraiser.

 

How Do You Distinguish Between A Fundraiser Led By A Student Organization Or By A Pta/Booster Club?

 

Supervision of the activity is the primary determining factor.

Student Organization:  The District staff member is organizing, controlling, and supervising the event.  All proceeds will be deposited into the District’s student activity account.

PTA/Booster Club:  There is no District staff member supervising the event.  The PTA/Booster Club is organizing, controlling, and supervising the event.  All proceeds will be deposited into the PTA or Booster Club account.  The responsibility of the fundraiser lies entirely with the PTA/Booster Club including:  Ordering, Selling, Contracting with Vendor, Collecting/Depositing all Monies.

Can Food, Candy or Baked Items be Sold as a Fundraiser?

Elementary Schools:  Cannot sell candy between midnight and 30 minutes after the end of the last scheduled class.

Secondary Schools:  Cannot sell candy between midnight and 30 minutes after the end of the last scheduled class.

If a fundraiser is conducted on campus before or after school involving the preparation of food in the facility, Health Department guidelines must be followed, and facility use request procedures must be followed. Food prepared prior to and brought to the facility does not fall within these guidelines (i.e., bake sale items), however, the food items must meet FMVN guidelines.

Fundraisers involving food must comply with the foods of minimal nutritional value (FMNV) guidelines or is sold as part of a Fundraiser exemption day. Additional details about food sold at fundraisers and smart snacks in schools can be viewed HERE. For any additional questions, contact the Director of Child Nutrition for Rockwall ISD.

 

Can Tickets Be Sold For Performances Or Banquets As A Fundraiser?

 

This is considered a fundraiser if the gross receipts are expected to be greater than $250 or have more than 100 in attendance, pre-numbered tickets should be utilized.  A log must be maintained for all tickets issued with Pre-Numbered Ticket Sign-Out/Sign-In information.  The information must include the following data:  event name and date, beginning ticket number, date tickets checked out, signature of person receiving the tickets, date tickets returned and signature of person returning unused tickets, number of tickets sold, and number of complimentary tickets.  Gross receipts must be reconciled to total tickets sold.  Ticket sales should be conducted in a secure area.

 

Can a Grade or Class Raise Money to Donate to a Charitable Organization or local family?

 

Individual classrooms or grade levels cannot fundraise.  Fundraisers can only be performed by bona fide student organizations or parent organizations.  The student-initiated fundraiser must be completed as a community service project by a curricular or non-curricular club.  Any fundraising project that is held for the sole purpose of donating the funds to a local family is discouraged.

 

Can Gift Cards be Sold as a Fundraiser?

 

A campus may not purchase or sell gift cards as a campus activity fundraiser.  Gift cards may be sold as a fundraiser by student organizations or parent organizations.  The following should be considered:

• Must be sold for the face value of the gift card (Limit for value???)
• Pre-sells is preferred method
• Arrange for unsold cards to be returned to vendor
• If gift cards cannot be returned to vendor, the unsold gift cards need to be secured and stored for future sales.  They cannot be given to staff.
• Inventory controls must be established and maintained