We recognize that some funding must come from external resources. These initiatives not only enable an organization to host events, attend conferences, and undertake projects, but also help build skills like teamwork, communication, and project management, while fostering a sense of community engagement.
Fundraising activities are permitted only to the extent needed to support your organization’s activities, since all student organizations operate on a non-profit basis. This section covers solicitation, sales, and fundraising rules for student organizations.
Looking to partner with or receive funding from a company or outside organization instead? See Outside Sponsors and Partners.
Non-Monetary Solicitation
Student groups may engage in non-monetary solicitation, in person or passively. Solicitation is only permitted to gather signatures for petitions on matters of concern to Yale students, or to distribute noncommercial questionnaires.
Sales
Items and services may only be sold on campus by registered undergraduate student organizations, the Yale College Council, and Yale students engaged in on-campus performances or regular publication activities. Sales must support the relevant group’s activity. (Yale College students are not permitted to engage in commercial, for-profit activity on campus, except in limited circumstances.)
Permitted items of sale:
- Tickets of admission to benefit performances of plays or musicals held on University property.
- Regularly issued student publications.
- Approved merchandise to support student events held on campus.
- Approved merchandise to support the mission-based activities of registered student organizations.
Permitted Locations for Solicitation, Sales, and Fundraising
In-person solicitation, sales, and fundraising may only take place in a limited number of campus locations. You must request permission in advance and follow any policies associated with the location and must register the event with the Student Organizations office.
- The Schwarzman Center Rotunda (submit request);
- Performance venues, in conjunction with a student performance, with permission from Undergraduate Productions.
- Residential college common rooms (make a request at the Head of College office; this is usually only permitted for sales related to campus events like tickets to a performance).
Passive Solicitation, Sales, and Fundraising
Links and QR codes may be shared in accordance with the Posters, Chalking, and Publicity policy. With advance permission, donation boxes for physical items may also be set up in residential college common rooms (request at the Head of College office).
Please refer to the Solicitations & Sales sections of the Undergraduate Regulations for more detailed information. If you have any questions, please reach out to Student Organizations at student.organizations@yale.edu.