Organization Funding

Organizations at Temple are funded in several ways: a) local/national dues, b) TSG Allocations, c) fundraising, or d) donations.  Your executive board should be well-versed in the funding processes of your organization.

Student Activities enhances the student experience by developing and empowering students, creating opportunities for meaningful interpersonal relationships, supporting student organizations, and providing fun, engaging programs for the diverse campus community. 

Like other top public universities, Temple University is increasingly dependent upon private funding from alumni, parents, and other members of the Owl community. Financial support from these sources helps us to maintain and advance the excellence of our programs for which state dollars are either unavailable or insufficient. In order to sustain these essential relationships, we have established policies and procedures to ensure that all contacts between students and the community reflect Temple’s professionalism and reputation.

The student organizations here at Temple are guided by their passions for the University as well as the causes they support. As a means to increase their operating and programming budgets, most student organizations turn to fundraising. The Office of Student Activities is devoted to assisting student organizations in meeting their funding needs. We wish to educate students about philanthropy and the role it plays at Temple, providing students with the tools, training, and guidelines to be successful in their fundraising efforts.

 

TSG Allocations

Please click here to read about Temple Student Government Allocations. 

 

Fundraising

Our office is continually impressed with the innovation and initiative that the student organizations have brought to fund raising. Points to consider when planning your fundraiser include:

  • Ideal time and location for foot traffic
  • Advertising and publicity (both timing and placement)
  • Facilities and equipment needed
  • Feasibility of the planned event
  • Monetary goal for the event
  • Cash in advance

Student Orgs holding an event:

  • Will assume all responsibility and liability for the event
  • Must comply with all Temple policies as well as local, state, and federal laws and ordinances

The following ideas are just a few of the ways that your group can make the most of fund raising opportunities. To increase the effectiveness and scope of the fundraising events, we encourage collaboration between student groups.

  • Auction
  • Car Wash
  • Theatre/music production
  • Raffle for a donated Prize
  • Antique show/flea market
  • Sports/academic tournament
  • Open Mic Night

Suggested items you could sell:

  • Books – in conjunction with an event/book signing
  • Baked goods
  • Candy
  • Finals care packages
  • Plants/Flowers
  • Sale of products as related to the organization
    • Garden Veggie Sale by the Temple Community Garden
    • Literary Works
    • Art
    • Handmade Crafts
    • T-shirts, mugs, caps and other apparel/novelty items
  • Tickets to Events
    • Dances
    • Concerts

Prohibited items NOT allowed to be sold:

  • Alcohol
  • Tobacco
  • Credit card applications, in which the org and/or its members received monetary subsidy for each application distributed
  • Items that clearly promote or endorse commercial products not related to the purpose and mission of the org (including discount & coupon cards and books)
  • Anything producing income for an individual or for-profit business

Fundraising FAQ:

Q: Who is allowed to organize/sponsor fundraisers on campus and/or using University resources?

A: Student Orgs who are registered with our office (Student Activities) and in good standing.

Q: Can I raise money just to donate it to a charity?

A: Yes. The money must go through the student org’s university account with a check made out to the charity from that organization’s university account.

Q: Someone is writing me a check that is to be deposited into our organization’s university account.  To whom should it be made out?

A: All checks should be made out to Temple University.

Using the Temple “T” for Promotional Items

  • Must be reviewed by the Office of Student Activities to ensure compliance with University Regulations - Early review is HIGHLY recommended
  • Products that violate trademark or licensing regulations will NOT be approved for sale or distribution and if found will be confiscated

Selling TICKETS to an on-campus, admission-charged event:

  • You can charge however much you wish for admission
  • Tickets must be administered to individuals
  • If the ticket is on campus, and LESS than $5 – you can use any type of printed ticket but they must be numbered started with 001
  • If there is more than one ticket price available, separate tickets must be printed for each price (preferably on different colored paper)
  • If the tickets are MORE than $5 – the price must be printed on them  and they must be numbered

 

University Accounts

How do I obtain a University account?

Fill out the Agency Fund Report Form online here. 

Where do I deposit and withdraw money from the University account?

  • Deposit - First come to see Miss Chris in the Student Activities offices. After completing paperwork, you may then go to the Bursar’s Office, Carnell Hall, First floor. You should make all deposits within 24 hours of receiving them.
  • Withdrawal – Four ways to do so that all require different forms to be submitted to the Office of Student Activities, so remember to plan ahead!
    • Check Request – usually takes up to ten days, used to:
      • Reimburse someone who has been authorized to make a purchase and has receipts as proof of said purchase OR
      • Pay a business for materials, equipment, etc for which your org was billed
  • Purchase order
    • Guarantee of payment to the vendor and a contract to your organization that you receive what you requisition.
    • You will need to present the following to the Office of Student Activities
      • The name, address, and telephone number of the company with which you are transacting business and the contact person at that company (if known);
      • What it is you wish to purchase and the quantity (if there is a catalog number, part number, etc., this must be included);
      • The total cost of the purchase, including shipping and handling charges (if known)
  • Petty Cash/Cash Advances
    • Fill out the Petty Cash Advance form and have signed by the Associate Director of Student Activities
    • Take the signed form to the Petty Cash window in the Bursar’s office
    • Retain the Yellow copy of the form and all corresponding receipts
    • Submit receipts, Yellow form and the completed Deposit Reconciliation sheet to the Office of Student Activities
  • Journal Transfer of Funds – used for the transfer of funds from one University account to another

 

Guidelines for Solicitation of Area Merchants and Corporate Sponsors

Area merchants and corporations can contribute to student organization endeavors in one of two ways:

  1. A simple donation of money or other non-monetary donation of merchandise, products, gift certificates, etc. (“gift-in-kind”) in response to a solicitation by your organization.
  2. A co-sponsorship understanding where the business will receive recognition your organization provides in response to a contribution of money or gift-in-kind.

All solicitations of businesses or corporations must be cleared through the Office of Student Activities.  Be prepared with the following information:

  • Description of the activity for which your organization is seeking support
  • List of potential donors
  • The ways co-sponsoring businesses or corporations will be acknowledged
  • Student Activities will provide you with the Student Organization Solicitation form and suggestions for a successful corporate or business solicitation.
    • ​This form and a letter that your organization has written will then be approved or denied by the Office of Institutional Advancement.
  • Once approval has been granted, the local merchant or corporation will need to write on business letterhead the wholesale value for the product or service provided and send back to the Office of Institutional Advancement.
  • The Office of Institutional Advancement will send the local merchant or corporation a receipt acceptable by the IRS for its tax benefit.

Promotion of the Sponsoring Business

  • The acknowledgement of the assistance or contribution of co-sponsoring businesses or corporations is allowed in programs, banners, displays, or event memorabilia (party favors, T-shirts, caps, etc.)
  • Student groups are NOT allowed to conduct sales or sales promotions, or distribute free samples or coupons, unless the sales promotion activity provides a value added service during a traditional Temple event
  • Any such sales promotion activity must be approved by the Office of Student Activities.