fundraising
 

So I know that as Alpha Xi's we're not allowed to fundraise (other than for philanthropies). But does this limit house mothers, alumni organizations and/or parent's organizations? It seems so odd to me that chapters can't fundraise when it would help them immensely. I don't want to go against our national's rules but is there any way to get some money up in here????

Tax Status
 

I'm no tax expert, but from what I understand, our limited ability to fund raise has to do with our tax status with the IRS. But that's for our chapters.

I'm trying to dig out a copy of our actual fund raising policy so once I find my copy maybe I can be more help.

Building corporations have different rules - they have a completely different tax status. I know one corporation that wanted new dining room furnature so they asked for sponsors.... you could get your name on a chair for $100 I think, naming a table cost $250 (I think).

I'm not sure about the rules for parents clubs but I do know of one parents club that held a garage sale to purchase items on a chapter's wish list.

There are options that are legal.

Actually, there is a lot of confusion around this area - it's not entirely true that a chapter can't fundraise for its own purposes. However, a chapter can only solicit funds from its own members (I assume that includes chapter alumnae), and National Council must approve the fundraising plan. They can also solicit an alumnae association for funds for a particular event (aka, to send members to convention).

However, members can participate in fundraisers held by other entities, such as alumnae associations or corp boards. Real-life examples include attending an auction held by an alum association or working concessions at a football game where the funds go to the corp board. Those funds raised may end up back at the chapter eventually, as when the corp board renovates your house.

The fundraising guidelines are available on the "resources" section of the national site (login required).

We heard that alum associations could only solicit from other members. So, individual alums would "fundraise" on their own (garage sale, etc) without an event being a specific sorority event and then the alum donates the proceeds to the chapter.

I know our building corp. works the concession stand at the baseball games to earn money for building corp to help the chapter purchase things for their suite. Also they do a yearly letter campaign asking for funds for a specific thing that the chapter needs done. Last year, it was redoing the suite. This year we are restoring composites that got damaged. So by all means if you need help turn towards your building corp. They will help you out.

When I was in college (2001-2005) our chapter sold Sally Foster gift wrap every fall to raise money for our local Alumnae Association and they gave the proceeds to the chapter.