Introduction 

UMass Boston is a university for the times. As the city’s only public research university, we are de?ned by our deep connection to Boston, our remarkably diverse student body, our focus on ground-breaking research, and our commitment to student success. As a university that believes in a holistic approach to the education of students, the Athletics Department plays a critical role in creating an exceptional student-athlete experience. The university and our department constantly strive to ensure gender equity in athletics. Title IX legislation sets important parameters around our athletic fundraising philosophy. 

To address rising donor interest in funding speci?c Athletics priorities and programs/teams this policy was created to ensure that we comply with all university policies for receiving philanthropic gifts and provide a framework to help the university stay compliant with Title IX regulations regarding how we spend those gifts. 

Scope 

This Athletics Fundraising Policy outlines: 

1. The process for determining fundraising priorities for the Athletics Department 

2. Protocols for operations, endowment, and capital improvement fundraising 

3. Approved strategies for athletic fundraising 

4. Guidelines for team travel fundraising 

5. Mechanisms for fundraising eforts within athletics 

This policy applies speci?cally to philanthropic gifts, de?ned by the IRS as charitable, and directed into internal accounts (53818). It does not pertain to activities like concessions, exchange of goods and services via sales, or car washes, which are considered non- charitable fundraising and deposited into other revenue accounts (51230). 

Philanthropic donations to the UMass Boston Athletics Department and its teams must follow this policy, which aligns with the University of Massachusetts system, UMass Boston, NCAA Division III, and Title IX requirements. 

Policy 

The University Advancement Ofice (UA) is the designated ofice for receiving charitable donations. All donations, including gifts-in-kind, must be processed through University Advancement, which will oversee receipting, deposit tracking, and tax acknowledgement. If checks are sent directly to Athletics, the Associate Business Manager will ensure they are deposited through University Advancement. 

Note: Donations from certain entities must be processed via a nonpro?t 501(c)(3), with the University Advancement Ofice managing these transactions through the UMass Foundation. 

Charitable donations to UMass Boston may include cash, checks, credit cards (MasterCard, Visa, Discover, American Express), stocks, and, occasionally, gifts-in-kind or bequests. All fundraising appeals, including direct mail or web-based solicitations, must be coordinated with the Deputy Athletic Director for Strategic Advancement and the Ofice of Annual Giving in University Advancement. Donors should make checks payable to the University of Massachusetts Boston, with details on the intended fund or team clearly noted. 

Note: Cash donations (highly discouraged) should be documented with the donor’s contact information and submitted to the Associate Business Manager. Online donations must go through an approved University Advancement portal to ensure proper security and receipt. 

When soliciting donations from alumni, friends, corporations, or foundations, approval must be sought from the Deputy Athletic Director for Strategic Advancement and University Advancement. Solicitation and fundraising plans must be submitted for approval to the Deputy Athletic Director for Strategic Advancement, Sport Administrator and SWA via email 30 days prior the start of a fundraising campaign. During major campaigns, such as capital or annual campaigns, solicitation eforts must be coordinated through the Deputy Athletic Director for Strategic Advancement and University Advancement to avoid duplicating outreach to the same donors. In each case, the Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics and Recreation will ?nalize and sign of on all approvals. 

For stock donations, the Deputy Athletic Director for Strategic Advancement should be contacted to facilitate the transfer of securities. 

Establishing Athletics Fundraising Priorities 

Athletics budgets at UMass Boston fall under the oversight of the Ofice of Administration and Finance and the Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics & Recreation. These budgets are reviewed to ensure compliance with University policies, NCAA regulations, and Title IX. Fundraising efforts are intended to support or enhance athletics budgets as outlined in this policy. 

1. Fundraising should aim to support the Athletics Department or speci?c teams. 

2. Fundraising goals will be set by the Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics & Recreation in consultation with the Deputy Athletic Director for Strategic Advancement, head coaches, and the Deputy Athletic Director for Internal Administration/SWA. These goals will address any ?nancial gaps that may exist between the department's budgeted funds and unbudgeted priorities necessary to maintain competitiveness at regional and national levels and serve the needs of care for our student-athletes. 

3. Fundraising goals for individual teams should be aligned with eforts to maintain gender equity, ensuring that both women’s and men’s programs are supported proportionately. 

4. While team travel can be a priority, fundraising for multiple priorities within a single team should be carefully considered to ensure feasibility and efectiveness. 

5. Fundraising should be categorized into three areas: 

• Current operations (e.g., equipment, gear, and day-to-day expenses), 

• Endowment (e.g., sustaining speci?c positions or operations long-term), and 

• Capital improvements (e.g., facilities and infrastructure). 

1. Current operations funds are typically unrestricted and can be used at the discretion of the head coach as long as previously approved through budgeting process or by Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics & Recreation. 
2. Endowment gifts may be established with a minimum contribution of $25k, payable over ?ve years, and will be directed toward the endowment fund. 
3. Due to NCAA regulations, donations cannot be made directly to student-athletes to prevent impermissible bene?ts, which could lead to eligibility issues. 

Fundraising Protocols 

Current Operations Fundraising 

1. Annually, the Athletics Department will set fundraising goals in consultation with head coaches and the Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics & Recreation. 

2. All fundraising solicitations must be coordinated through University Advancement to avoid con?icting appeals and ensure the success of each campaign. 

Endowment Fundraising 

1. Endowments are established to support a team or program inde?nitely. 

2. To create an endowment, a minimum of $25k is required, payable for up to ?ve years. 

3. The Foundation pools all endowment funds, and the annual distribution rate is typically 4% of the fund value. 

4. Endowments may be enhanced by donations of any size at any time. 

5. Endowment donations can support a speci?c team, with the language stating that the gift will annually support areas such as operations, maintenance, equipment, and travel. 

Beacon Club 

Launched in 2024, the Beacon Club supports all 20 varsity programs and over 325 student- athletes. This fund is vital for enhancing travel opportunities, facilities, special events, and equipment, all while prioritizing student-athlete welfare and competitive success. 

Team Trip Fundraising 

Teams may organize special trips for unique opportunities, including international travel or domestic overnight trips. These must be approved by the Sport Administrator and Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics & Recreation during the budget planning process to ensure appropriate ?nancial planning and compliance with NCAA and university policies.

Approved Fundraising Strategies 

1. All fundraising eforts must be coordinated through University Advancement. 
2. Approved strategies include personal visits, peer-to-peer fundraising (e.g., “Giving Days”), and direct mail campaigns. 
3. Fundraising events such as golf outings or Hall of Fame events may also be organized to support the department. 

Non-Charitable Fundraising 

Athletic teams may participate in non-charitable fundraising activities such as working concessions or selling apparel. 

All requests for non-charitable fundraising activities must be submitted via email at least 30 days prior to the start date for approval by the Sport Administrator and the Deputy Athletic Director for Strategic Advancement. If University space (?eld, gym, rink, etc.) is needed for a fundraising event/clinic/etc., the head coach must complete Sport Programing and Facility Usage Request Form in ARMS three (3) months prior to the event and applicable fees may apply. 

Spending 

Annually, each team will establish a fundraising goal, which will be approved by the Vice Chancellor and Senior Woman Administrator. Funds raised will be allocated based on these goals and must adhere to the budget set by the Athletics Department. Should a coach want/need to spend more than their approved spend they must put the request in writing to their sport supervisor and the Vice Chancellor for approval. This ensures that all fundraising efforts remain in compliance with Title IX regulations and support the university’s commitment to gender equity in athletics.