2. Understanding Third-Party Fundraising
Perkins School for the Blind, located at 175 N. Beacon Street, Watertown, MA, 02472, welcomes our community’s initiatives to help further promote awareness and funding for our programs. A third-party event is an independent event, program, or initiative undertaken and executed by a corporation, local business, community organization, or individual for the purpose of raising funds in support of Perkins School for the Blind. These are essentially volunteer-driven initiatives that can range from large-scale initiatives such as a golf tournament or gala to small-scale initiatives such as a car wash, bake sale, or a percentage of proceeds from the sale of an item.
Fundraisers which benefit Perkins School for the Blind should be managed by individuals, corporations or organizations that are financially responsible, of well-established reputation and motivated by a genuine desire to help further our mission of serving children and young adults who are blind and visually impaired with multiple disabilities, as well as their families. If an outside individual, corporation or organization wishes to plan and deploy an event or promotional campaign to benefit Perkins School for the Blind, the following guidelines must be followed:
- All third-party fundraising events need to be reviewed and approved by Perkins School for the Blind at least six two weeks prior to the event, keeping in mind that it may take up to four weeks for Perkins to approve the event. Approval from Perkins School for the Blind must be received before any action can take place on any event/campaign.
- Event organizers shall state the terms of the donation Perkins School for the Blind can expect from the event/campaign (for example, 50% of profits, one-time donation of $1,000, or all proceeds). This information must be made specific in event/campaign promotions.
- One hundred percent of donations for any third-party fundraising event will be directed to Perkins School for the Blind’s area of greatest need or a predetermined area mutually agreed upon between Perkins and the third-party event organizer.
- The event organizer is responsible for all fundraising efforts and logistics from inception to the day the check/donation is issued to Perkins School for the Blind. This includes obtaining all vendors (venue, entertainment, food/beverage, etc.), necessary permits or licenses, insurance, staffing/volunteers, securing auction items, drawing participants to the event and all fundraising aspects associated with your event.
- Due to legal requirements, Perkins School for the Blind may not be referred to and identified as the event host. Approved third-party fundraising events must be referred to as “benefitting Perkins School for the Blind.”
- Fundraisers must comply with all federal, state and local laws governing charitable fundraising, gift reporting and special events.
- All expenses incurred at the fundraising event are the responsibility of the third-party event organizer; Perkins School for the Blind has no fiduciary responsibility for external fundraising events.
- Perkins School for the Blind will associate with individuals, corporations and organizations known to conduct themselves in a manner compatible with our mission and brand.
- Perkins School for the Blind cannot sponsor or endorse individuals, companies, programs, products and services and does not allow direct solicitation, including door-to-door selling, phone solicitation, canvassing, and telemarketing on our behalf.
- Perkins Schools for the Blind prohibits events or promotions involving the promotion or support of a political party or candidate or that appear to endorse any lobbying or political activity.
- No fundraising activity that involves agreement with any organizations or individuals to raise funds on a commission, bonus or percentage basis will be considered.
- Any use of the Perkins School for the Blind name, logo, or visual representation of Perkins School for the Blind must be approved prior to the fundraising event or promotion. Perkins’ brand standards must be adhered to. This includes, but is not limited to, materials such as press releases, public service announcements, electronic marketing, posters, brochures, flyers, and tickets. All such materials must be approved by Perkins School for the Blind in writing prior to printing or going live via the Internet including but not limited to websites, social media channels, virtual event platforms, and videos.
- Perkins School for the Blind is the beneficiary of multiple third party fundraisers each year. As such, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to promote each fundraiser via email, social channels or other means.
- Perkins School for the Blind cannot guarantee the presence of volunteers or staff for any third-party fundraising event. We are happy to provide guidance, but we cannot provide administrative support for third-party events due to limited resources available. Each request will be considered individually.