Policies and Procedures for Fundraising Events for My Sister’s Place, Inc. 

THANK YOU for your interest in conducting a fundraising activity/ event to benefit My Sister’s Place, Inc. (“MSP”). You and numerous community supporters know first-hand how important private support continues to be to MSP. All of the efforts you put forth are greatly appreciated. 

Please read and agree to these guidelines before planning your activity/event by signing the signature page below.  

Our policies and procedures are designed to guide you in planning fundraising activities and events to benefit MSP. State and Federal law regulate all fundraising activities, and we follow all applicable laws and best practices guidelines for charitable giving and acknowledgments. Any individual or organization who wishes to conduct a fundraising activity/event or promotion involving the use of the name “My Sister’s Place DC” or “MSP” or “My Sister's Place, Inc” or for other fundraising activities and/or publicity purposes, must receive advance written approval from My Sister's Place, Inc. Please allow at least four weeks for the review process to take place. 

1. Activities and events should complement the mission and image of My Sister's Place, Inc. Organizations that conflict with MSP’s mission or values may not be sponsors. The final judgment allowing an organization and/or a person to host an activity/event benefiting MSP shall be the sole and final decision of MSP. 
2. Applications must be submitted in writing no later than 4 weeks prior to the proposed activity/event date. Applications shall be submitted by e-mailing the written application to development@mysistersplacedc.org. Applicants must reapply annually for approval. 
3. You, as the activity/event organizer, must obtain all necessary permits, licenses and/or insurance. 
4. It is the event coordinator’s responsibility to ensure that the event is properly advertised.  The event producer should not rely on MSP for publicity or advertisement. 
5. MSP ASSUMES NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR ACTIVITY/EVENT. YOU AGREE TO RELEASE MSP AND ITS OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES AND AGENTS FROM ANY AND ALL LIABILITY ARISING OUT OF YOUR ACTIVITY/EVENT. 
6. Be prepared to estimate expenses and revenues for your activity/event, as well as the size of the contribution you intend to donate to MSP. MSP reserves the right to require a minimum guaranteed donation on a case-by-case basis. The Council of Better Business Bureau states that, “reasonable use of funds requires that at least 50% of total income from all sources be spent on programs and activities directly related to the organization’s purposes.” MSP will not approve an activity/event in which fundraising costs exceed 50% of total income. MSP strives to maintain overall fundraising costs at 15% of the total income and strongly urges activity/event organizers to meet this standard. 
7. MSP must approve, in advance, the content of all invitations, advertisements, press releases, posters or other promotional materials related to your project. Public announcements or promoting the activity/event IS PROHIBITED until written approval has been sent to activity/event organizer. 
8. MSP may only be identified as the beneficiary of the activity/event. For example, activity/event organizers should not call an activity/event “My Sister’s Place, Inc. Walk-a-Thon.” Your activity/event should be promoted as the “Walk-a-thon to benefit My Sister’s Place, Inc.” 
9. The public should be informed regarding any net amounts that will be donated to MSP.  If MSP will not receive all of the proceeds from the activity/event, then the exact percentage of the proceeds that benefit MSP must be stated clearly on all invitation copy, advertising, and promotional materials. 
10. If another organization will benefit from the activity/event, MSP must be notified when you apply to host an activity/event. 
11. You are responsible for ensuring that activities/events comply with all federal, state and local laws governing charitable fund raising, gift reporting and special events. If your organization is eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions, the IRS requires that all tickets, invitations, or entry forms state the fair market value, or which portion of the contribution is tax-deductible. For activities/events that MSP assists with planning and where contributions may be sent directly to MSP, you must inform us in advance of the value of any good or services, if any, that the donor will receive in exchange for the contribution. 
12. You, as an activity/event planner, may not keep any portion of the proceeds as profit or compensation for organizing the activity/event. If activity/event expenses are greater than the money raised, you are responsible for paying those expenses. 
13. Proceeds must be received by MSP within business 30 days of the fundraising activity/event or campaign. 
14. MSP must be notified if there are any significant changes planned for the activity/event. If circumstances warrant (i.e. fraud, negative exposure, etc.) MSP may, at any time, through members of its governing board or senior administrators, direct you to cancel the activity/event. You must agree to cancel the activity/event, if so directed, and you hereby agree to release MSP and its board members, officers and employees from any and all liability in connection to any such action. 

What We Can Do to Help You 

1. Offer advice and expertise on activity/event planning 
2. Provide a letter of authorization to be used to validate the authenticity of the activity/event and its organizers 
3. Promote the activity/event on the My Sister’s Place, Inc website 
4. Promote the event on MSP’s social media accounts/e-newsletter audience 
5. Provide digital marketing support 
6. Assist with the development of your mailing list based on specific criteria 
7. Provide a written tax receipt to donors who make their checks payable to My Sister’s Place, Inc. 

What We Cannot Do to Help You 

1. Provide a representative to attend your activity/event (exceptions granted on a case-by-case basis, with prior approval of MSP’s senior administrators) 
2. Provide on-site staff support at your activity/event 
3. Provide volunteer support for your activity/event 
4. Provide access to our confidential office or shelter locations 
5. Extend our tax exemption or charitable solicitation license to you 
6. Provide insurance coverage 
7. Provide funding or reimbursement for expenses 
8. Solicit sponsorship revenue for your fundraising activities 
9. Provide celebrities or professional athletes for your activity/event 
10. Provide My Sister's Place, Inc letterhead 
11. Submit press releases to media outlets (exceptions granted on a case-by-case basis) 
12. Obtain permits or licenses 
13. Provide printed marketing collateral 

Please understand that the volume of requests we receive exceeds the number of staff available to attend activities/events. Please contact My Sister’s Place, Inc. at development@mysistersplacedc.org a minimum of four weeks prior to your activity/event or check presentation to discuss MSP representation. 

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