Muhlenberg College recognizes that recognized student organizations and College athletic teams (herein referred to as “student groups”) should have opportunities to raise their own program funds through fundraising activities. In order to provide a means of protecting the College, the student group, and each member of the College community, from undue intrusion while providing access for legitimate activities and wares, the following policy has been established:
Definition: For the purposes of this policy Solicitation is defined as petitioning, making an ask, selling, promoting, and/or advertising or displays accompanied by persons selling or taking orders. Fundraising is defined as the act of collecting or producing money for a particular purpose, especially for a charity.
Fundraisers May Not:
- Endorse, criticize or advocate for or against a political candidate. Please see the Partisan Political Activity Policies for more information.
- Promote or condone behavior that violates College policies and/or values, or local, state or federal law.
- Include content that is objectively offensive.
- Encourage/promote the sale or consumption of alcoholic beverages to underage persons, illegal drugs, tobacco or gambling.
Scheduling: All on-campus solicitations must be registered with the Office of Student Life & Campus Events by reserving the fundraising/solicitation location through 25Live and submitting an Application to Host a Fundraiser. All applications must be received by the Office of Student Life & Campus Events at least fourteen business days prior to the requested date.
Solicitation is not permitted in Residence Halls or Academic Buildings. Exceptions can be made for fundraising and solicitation activities to occur in event venues that exist within Residence Halls or Academic Buildings, with prior approval from the Dean of Students Office. Door to door solicitation is not permitted on College property.
Fundraisers/solicitations on campus may take place only in specified, approved locations and are not permitted during College “Signature Events” such as Family Weekend, Alumni Weekend, Commencement, etc., unless otherwise approved by the Dean of Students Office.
Off Campus Solicitations: Solicitations to off-campus constituencies (i.e., parents, alumni, etc.), require pre-approval by the Dean of Students Office in consultation with the appropriate department, such as Advancement, Alumni Affairs, etc. with pre-submission and approval of the solicitation letter/form before mailing.
Games of Chance: In addition to scheduling a solicitation/fundraising event through 25Live, Solicitation of "Games of Chance" (i.e., raffles, lotteries, 50/50 drawings, etc.) must not only be approved, but must be registered in the College Business Office. This is a requirement under the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
College Name and Logo: The solicitation of items identified with or containing the name or logo of Muhlenberg College must be approved by the Office of Communications and Marketing prior to manufacture and solicitation of such items.
Copyright: Items containing federally copyrighted material may not be sold or distributed without written approval of the holder of the copyright.
Illegal Substances: The solicitation of any illegal substances is not permitted.
‘Berg Bookshop: The sale of items which directly compete with the 'Berg Bookstore will not be permitted within or directly around Seegers Union. Requests for sales in or around Seegers Union will be submitted to the Bookstore Manager for approval.
Religious Life Affiliation: The Religious Life Association (“RLA”) of Muhlenberg College (the “College”) is a cooperative endeavor of various religious organizations which serve the College and its students. Recognition as a member is required before an applicant and its sponsoring body may advertise on campus and/or sponsor activity on campus. For more information on the RLA application process, please contact the College Chaplain at 484-664-3120.
Third-Party Vendors: Student groups may sponsor third party vendors as a form of fundraising. Please see the Vendor Policy for more information.
Food and Beverage Sales: Student groups looking to serve food as part of a fundraiser or solicitation effort must contact Muhlenberg Dining Services at 484-664-3046 for approval. No outside food is permitted to be brought onto campus without the express written permission of Muhlenberg Dining Services, except in the following locations: Seegers Union Red Door, Hoffman House, Multicultural Center and Leffell Center for Jewish Student Life.
Bake Sales: In the interest of the wellbeing of our campus community, a department or student organization conducting a bake sale is required to abide by the following guidelines:
- Student groups cannot sell “potentially hazardous foods.”
- Student groups must individually wrap items for sale.
- Student groups must post a sign at the bake sale informing consumers that the items for sale were prepared in private homes that are not licensed or inspected by the PA Department of Agriculture.
- Signs should also be posted about recipes of products that may contain nuts or other allergens.
This policy is managed by the Office of Student Life & Campus Events. For questions, please contact us at [email protected].
