1005.5 - Revenue Enhancement, Gifts, and Facility Naming Rights

PURPOSE
The board understands that corporate and private donors are guided by a philanthropic desire to provide resources that are not only useful but timeless in promoting the educational mission of the district. Further, the board recognizes that the development of alternative sources of funding for the district’s educational programs and facilities is desirable. Opportunities are available to enhance or supplement traditional sources of district revenue through the pursuit of fundraising activities, sponsorships, partnerships, marketing activities, grants, and other similar activities. Naming rights to district facilities and/or portions or components of district facilities may also present opportunities for fundraising and revenue enhancement.

The board also recognizes that individuals within the community may wish to contribute additional funds, books, supplies, or equipment to enhance or extend the district’s programs or facilities. These revenue enhancement opportunities are subject to certain limitations and restrictions as approved by the board, and all such gifts and revenue enhancement activities must be consistent with the educational mission of the district and contemporary standards of good taste within the Linn-Mar Community School District.

The purpose of this policy is to establish parameters for the acceptance of gifts, donations, partnerships, and grants and for the pursuit of revenue enhancement opportunities which may include naming rights of district facilities and other enhanced programming. These parameters align with state codes which clarify that gifts, bequests, and donations are to be used in accordance with the terms of the gifts, bequests, or donations. Therefore, a gift, bequest, or donation that is not in keeping with the district mission, philosophy, or practice will not be accepted.

GUIDELINES
Gifts to schools and revenue derived from revenue enhancement activities including facility naming rights will be used to:

  1. Enhance student education and achievement;
  2. Assist in the maintenance of existing academic, activity, and athletic programs and facilities;
  3. Assist in the development and funding of new academic, activity, and athletic programs and facilities;
  4. Provide scholarships for students participating in academic, activity, or athletic programs who demonstrate merit or financial need; and
  5. Provide support through recognition for professional staff to enhance academic, activity, or athletic programs.

The board has the authority to accept such gifts and donations as may be made to the district or any facility within the district. The board reserves the right to decline to accept any gift which does not contribute toward the achievement of the goals of the district or ownership of which would tend to adversely affect the district.

Any gift accepted by the district will become the property of the district, may not be returned without board approval, and is subject to the same controls and regulations as are other properties of the district. The district will be responsible for the maintenance of any gift it accepts, unless otherwise stipulated. In no case will the acceptance of a gift be considered to be an endorsement by the district of a commercial product, service, business enterprise, or an institution of learning.

The district accepts monetary contributions designated for specific purposes and donations of equipment or materials, if acceptable to the district. As instructional equipment becomes more complicated and diverse, it is imperative that attention be given to technical and curricular compatibility. Before supplies, books, equipment, or other items are purchased or donated approval must be obtained from the superintendent or school board.

REVENUE ENHANCEMENT
The district will consider opportunities for revenue enhancement such as sponsorships, partnerships, grants, advertising, and fundraising. Any revenue enhancement opportunity pursued by the district must be consistent with the values and educational mission of the district. The board has the exclusive discretion to determine whether to accept or decline any revenue enhancement opportunity. The factors to be considered by the board include, but are not limited to:

  1. The extent to which such revenue enhancement opportunity limits or restrains the district’s discretion or its ability to pursue other opportunities;
  2. The duration of the arrangement or agreement and the district’s ability or discretion to terminate the arrangement or agreement;
  3. The extent to which the revenue enhancement opportunity imposes any obligation on the district, either presently or in the future, financial or otherwise, and whether the opportunity is subject to conditions acceptable to the district;
  4. The extent to which the revenue enhancement opportunity constitutes a conflict of interest or creates the appearance of, or a potential for, a conflict of interest;
  5. The extent to which the revenue enhancement opportunity interjects advertising or commercialism in the schools or classrooms; and
  6. The context of the relationship of the entity providing the revenue enhancement opportunity to district business operations or patron consumerism.

The superintendent [or designee] may establish an ad hoc committee to investigate, evaluate, and/or consider potential revenue enhancement opportunities, compliance with board policies and state codes, and the potential to advance the learning and engagement of students and report its finding and recommendations to the board.

FACILITY NAMING RIGHTS
The district recognizes that naming rights of buildings and/or portions or components of buildings may present opportunities for revenue enhancement and fundraising. Special requests to name buildings or other facilities in honor of people who have contributed to the betterment of the district’s academic activities or athletic programs, or alumni who have distinguished themselves, will be considered by the board. Such requests should be made to the superintendent [or designee].

The naming of any building, room, or facility in the district must be approved by the board. Where naming rights are to be offered or implemented as a component of a fundraising drive relating to the construction of a new building or facility or the renovation of an existing building or facility, the board authorizes the superintendent to establish a committee to follow the parameters for facility naming rights and the recognition of donations. The board reserves the right to decline any donation that includes the condition of naming rights as unacceptable to the district.

DELEGATION OF RESPONSIBLITY
It is the responsibility of the administration to consult with potential donors and benefactors regarding potential gifts to the district or proposals to enhance revenue and to report these potential gifts and opportunities to the board for approval or rejection. Consultation with potential donors may occur in collaboration with the Linn-Mar School Foundation, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization established to support the district.

Adopted: 7/07
Reviewed: 3/13; 6/15; 7/19; 7/22
Revised: 4/14
Related Policy: 1005.5-R

1005.5-R - Revenue Enhancement, Gifts, and Facility Naming Rights Regulations

The board recognizes that donations and sponsorships from corporate or private sources for programs and activities related to education can provide valuable enhancement of the educational opportunities available to the students of the Linn-Mar Community School District. For that reason, the Linn-Mar Board of Directors may enter into sponsorship and/or partnership arrangements under certain conditions.

DEFINITIONS

  • Educational Partnership is a mutually beneficial cooperative relationship in which partners share values, objectives, and/or human or financial resources to enhance learning for students.
  • Educational Sponsorship is an arrangement pursuant to which the sponsor provides money, price reductions, equipment, materials, services, or other benefits in exchange for recognition of its products or entity for a specified period of time.

GUIDELINES
Gifts, bequests, or donations will be used in accordance with the terms designated by the donor, partner, or sponsor. However, the district reserves the right not to accept a gift, bequest, or donation that does not fit with its mission, philosophy, or practice.

AUTHORITY
On behalf of the board, the superintendent will work with a committee to recommend sponsorships or partnerships which will benefit the district. The members of the committee will include, but not be limited to, two administrators, two parents, one staff member, one Linn-Mar School Foundation representative, and the superintendent. The conditions of the educational sponsorship partnership will be in writing and will include the following:

  1. A statement of specific benefits of the sponsorship or partnership to the district or particular school including how the sponsorship/partnership will increase student participation in academic activities or athletic programs, or how the students will otherwise benefit from the agreement. The statement should also address how the sponsorship/partnership would address equity and parity across the district.
  2. The duration of the agreement and a statement that the board has the right to terminate the agreement without penalty if it determines in its sole discretion that the agreement is having an adverse impact on student education.
  3. A statement clearly defining the roles, expectations, rights, and responsibilities of all parties to the agreement. This will include a statement of the limitations of the sponsor or partner to advertise in connection with the agreement and, if so, the extent of such advertising.
  4. A guarantee of the monetary value to be received by the district pursuant to the agreement and how the benefits arising from the agreement will be distributed.
  5. A statement clearly defining whether the agreement creates any exclusive rights for the sponsor or partner and if such rights are created, clearly defines those rights. If no exclusive rights are created, the sponsorship/partnership will not limit the discretion of the board or its personnel in the use of sponsored or non-sponsored materials.
  6. A statement that the board or superintendent must approve its identification as a co-sponsor in all publicity materials and retains the exclusive right to authorize the use of the district’s name, logo, or other similar information.
  7. A statement disclosing any relationship between the sponsor or partner or any of its employees or major stockholders and any student, district employee, board member, or the superintendent.
  8. A statement that the sponsorship will comply with all applicable federal and state laws, local ordinances, board policies and regulations, and all pre-existing board contracts.
  9. A statement that any participation by any student or district employee in any activity established pursuant to the agreement will be purely voluntary and that no sponsorship or partnership shall exploit any student or district employee.
  10. A statement that the sponsor or partner assumes the responsibility for obtaining the consent of any student or district employee whose likeness may appear in any materials disseminated by the partner or sponsor.
  11. A statement that no sponsor or partner will be permitted to collect personal information including names, street and email addresses, or telephone numbers of students or district employees because of the sponsorship or partnership.
  12. A statement that any curriculum materials provided pursuant to the agreement will be held to the same standards as other curriculum materials in accordance with board policy.

PROHIBITIONS
No agreement will be entered into if the sponsorship, gift, or donation involves or gives the appearance of involving any activity that could result in the following:

  1. Promotion of hostility or violence;
  2. An attack on ethnic, racial, or religious groups or any other group specified in board policy;
  3. Discrimination prohibited by any law or board policy;
  4. Promotion of the use of alcohol, firearms, drugs, tobacco/nicotine, or weapons;
  5. Promotion of sexual, obscene, or pornographic activities, and
  6. Promotion of any image that is not in keeping with the established goals and purposes of the board and the Linn-Mar Community School District.

LIMITATIONS

  1. Donations of any form are to be made either to the Linn-Mar School Foundation or to the Linn-Mar Community School District.
  2. Staff must not individually benefit as the result of a gift, sponsorship, or partnership. The benefits of a gift, sponsorship, or partnership must go to the district to be distributed or assigned, as appropriate.
  3. Any sponsorship or partnership agreement must not compromise the professional standards and ethics of the staff. In the case of the district or individual schools, sponsorship/partnership agreements must not limit or direct academic debate in the classroom or influence the curriculum or other school programs.
  4. Written agreements must be retained for at least seven years after the expiration of the sponsorship or partnership.
  5. Written agreements must not endorse or recommend any product or service.  Furthermore, neither staff nor students may be involved in marketing commercial products or services of sponsors or partners.
  6. Plaques denoting the sponsorship or partnership will be displayed in an area designed to recognize contributions or donations near the entrance of the facility, or another designated area, and will follow guidelines on size and appearance.

Adopted: 7/07
Reviewed: 3/13; 6/15; 7/19; 7/22
Revised: 4/14
Related Policy: 1005.5