FUNDRAISING GUIDELINES

Fundraising is defined as solicitation of funds or engaging in profit making activities to obtain funding or benefits for a team or members of a team (including coaches).The fundraising rules below relate to voluntary contributions. To the extent there is any conflict between the guidelines and the rules below, they will be resolved by the Regional Commissioner, the Tournament Director, the Team Manager.


Categories of Fundraising

Fundraising falls into three categories:

It should be remembered that all teams are the Region's teams. They do not belong to any coach or sponsor. Priority will be given to fundraising for the Region. However, we recognize that fundraising for that team may be more effective for teams with numerous families in financial hardships. The following rules are intended to ensure that fundraising for the Region's teams is handled in an appropriate manner.


Approval Required

Participation in Tournaments

The region will announce the list of tournaments before December 31. That list will include the tournament season costs. Teams can opt to participate in all tournaments listed or not. Teams wishing to participate in tournaments other than those listed by the Region, must seek approval of the Tournament Director and the Regional Commissioner.

Fundraising Projects

All fundraising projects in the first two categories must be approved in advance by the Regional Commissioner or his designee. A copy of AYSO National's Guidelines will be made available to all persons involved in fundraising. Fundraisers' attention is drawn, in particular, to the rules concerning sponsor logos. The Regional Commissioner or his designee must be informed of any agreements or conditions to which a donation is subject. Donations subject to conditions deemed unacceptable to the Region will be returned to the donor. Approval is not required for fundraising where the solicitations are limited to the immediate families of the team members and coaches.


Handling Funds

All funds raised by teams must be deposited into and disbursed from the Region 1031 account. No exceptions are permitted.

Handling Receipts

A person responsible for fundraising must make a full accounting of all cash receipts and checks. Checks must be made payable to "AYSO Region 1031". All cash and checks received must be turned over promptly to the Regional Commissioner or the Regional Treasurer with an itemized list of donors. All mail enclosing donations must be sent to the Region's address (4859 W Slauson Ave PO Box 604, Los Angeles, CA 90056) and all solicitations requesting donations must request that donation checks be mailed to that address. If a payor wishes to use a credit card , they may do so at our donation page.

Handling Expenses

Wherever possible, payments of expenses are to be made by Region check direct to the supplier upon presentation of an invoice with adequate supporting detail. If an individual seeks to have an expense reimbursed by the Region, that individual must present a receipt (except if the amount of the expense is less than $5) and (in all cases) adequate supporting detail.


Donor Identification and Tax Receipts

Donors and their relationship (if any) to any player must be identified to the Region in writing, except where the fundraising consists of the sale of products or services.

Donations for the particular players, as opposed to donations for the Region, are not deductible for tax purposes as charitable contributions. No tax receipts will be given by the Region for such donations and no representation is to be made concerning the deductibility of such donations. Whether a donation is deductible as a business expense is a matter for the donor with which the Region shall not be concerned. A receipt may be provided for a donor requesting one but such receipt will make clear that it is not a charitable contribution tax receipt.

Tax receipts for donations to the Region as a whole will be given and, to the extent required by law, indicate any value received by the donor. Under no circumstances may anyone other than the Regional Commissioner or the Regional Treasurer provide a tax receipt to a donor.


Fundraising for Individual Players

Fundraising for individual players is permitted. For example, gifts from family and friends to pay for registration and tournament fees, uniforms, balls, travel expenses and accessories (sweatshirts, bags, warm-up suits, etc.) are not subject to these rules. However, it must be made absolutely clear to the donor that he or she is giving to an individual or his or her family and not to AYSO or any Region of AYSO and that no advertising relating to the sponsorship shall be permitted. Tax receipts will not be given for these types of donations.


In General

These rules generally are to be interpreted flexibly and with common sense; exceptions and dispensations should be requested from the Regional Commissioner or the Team Manager Coordinator. However, no exceptions can be made to the rules relating to handling and accounting for receipts and expenses.