Policy and Procedures for Fundraising Activities
Throughout the year, there are fundraising activities that support specific program activities or that are undertaken to benefit organizations or activities external to the parish. All fundraising activities must be approved in advance by the Vestry and must be proposed and conducted n accordance with Vestry-approved policy and procedures. Request for approval of fundraising activities may be forwarded to the Vestry via the Senior Warden or the Register.
All fundraising undertaken at St. Mark’s must have the prior approval of the Vestry. You may download the application via the Related Documents below.
The policy, adopted by the Vestry in 2007, defines four forms of fundraising:
The Annual Stewardship Pledge Campaign (Canvass), the annual request by the Vestry for financial support of the church’s annual operating budget.
Single Event, fundraising events/activities which will occur a single time, including fundraising undertaken by a Pillar to support activities within the Pillar or undertaken with endorsement of a Pillar to support an external activity or organization.
Continuing Fundraising Activities, generally limited to sales approved by the Vestry such as shirts, pins, works sold under the auspices of the Arts Council and in accordance with the charter of that organization, or other similar, tangible items, as well as the sale of tickets to events (i.e. plays, concerts, etc.).
Emergency Fundraising in response to a natural disaster or similar emergency situation/event which the Vestry and/or the Outreach Board of St. Mark’s Church determines worthy of the support of the parish.
In general, fundraising activities are discouraged during the time of the annual pledge campaign (canvass), generally October through December, unless a specific exception is approved by the Vestry
All requests for Vestry approval of fundraising activities should be submitted to the Senior Warden and Register, using the Application for Fundraiser [insert link]. With approval of the Executive Committee, the request may be placed on the agenda for the next Vestry meeting or may be submitted to the Vestry by email for their e-approval.
The fundraising activity’s “treasurer” – the person designated as responsible for receiving, depositing and managing funds – for each approved fundraising activity is responsible for completing and submitting to the Register the Report on Fundraising [insert link] within 45 calendar days after conclusion of the fundraising. This person will have the responsibilities of an “organizational treasurer.”
Please feel free to contact the Senior Warden or Register for more information prior to submitting a formal request.