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Student Organization Manual

Fundraising Policy

TWU does not allow any activity by individuals or student organizations which involve the selling or auctioning of services by individuals or student organizations.
Any items sold by the Barnes & Noble TWU Bookstore can not be sold in the Student Center. All fundraising activities must be approved by either the Director or Assistant Director of the Center for Student Development.
Organizations hosting bake sales must reserve the space in the Student Center through the Student Center office in SC 209 and complete a Vendor Reservation form. All requests are received on a first come, first serve basis as only one bake sale per day will be permitted in the Student Center.
Bake sales conducted in other campus venues outside the Student Center should be scheduled through Conference Services, located in Hubbard Hall.

Raffle Policy

STUDENT ORGANIZATION RAFFLE POLICY

This provides guidelines, procedures, and minimum requirements for chartered student organizations to conduct raffles on the property of Texas Woman's University, in accordance with the terms of the Texas Charitable Raffle Enabling Act, Occupations Code, Chapter 2002, Texas Codes Annotated. Texas Woman's University does not sponsor raffles.

What is a raffle?

A raffle means the award of one or more prizes by "chance" at a single occasion among a single pool or group of persons who have paid or promised a thing of value for a ticket that represents a chance to win a prize.

Who may conduct a legal raffle?

TWU chartered student organizations may conduct a legal raffle only if you are considered a "qualified organization." "Qualified organizations" include the following:

• A qualified religious society organized primarily for religious purposes that has been in existence in Texas for at least ten (10) years and does not distribute any of its income to its members, officers, or governing body, other than as reasonable compensation for services or for reimbursement of expenses.
• A qualified nonprofit organization that has existed for at least three (3) preceding years, during which it has had a governing body duly elected by its members; is exempt from federal income tax under the Internal Revenue Code Section 501 (c); does not distribute any of its income to its members, officers, or governing body; does not devote a substantial part of its activities to attempting to influence legislation; and does not participate in any political campaign.

*A copy of your organization's IRS Letter of Determination verifying 501 (c) status will be required.

If your student organization is considered qualified, then read on.

If it is not considered qualified, then stop. Your organization cannot legally conduct a raffle.

Charitable Purposes

Raffles must be for CHARITABLE PURPOSES only. Charitable purposes are defined as follows:

• Benefiting needy or deserving persons in Texas for religious or educational advancement; relieving them from disease, suffering or distress; contributing to their physical well-being; assisting them in establishing themselves in life as worthy and useful citizens; or increasing their comprehension of and devotion to the principles on which this nation was founded and enhancing their loyalty to their government.
• Initiating, performing, or fostering worthy public works in Texas.
• Enabling or furthering the erection or maintenance of public structures in Texas.

If your student organization's raffle will be used for one of the above "charitable purposes," then read on.

If it will not be used for the above stated "charitable purposes," then stop. Your organization cannot legally conduct a raffle.

Raffle Restrictions

• University policies and procedures regarding time, place and manner must be complied with in order to conduct a legal raffle. Illegal raffles conducted by student organizations may result in sanctions against your organization.
• All proceeds from the sale of tickets must be spent for charitable purposes of the organization only.
• The student organization may not conduct more than two (2) raffles during a calendar year (January 1 - December 31) and these two (2) raffles cannot be held simultaneously or in overlapping time periods.
• The student organization may not, directly or indirectly, promote a raffle via television, radio, newspaper, or any medium of mass communication by the use of paid advertising.
• The raffle may not be promoted or advertised statewide, and tickets to the raffle may not be sold or offered by sale statewide.
• A person who is not a member of the organization cannot sell tickets to the raffle, nor may any member be compensated for selling raffle tickets.
• A prize offered at the raffle may not be money or any illegal substance/object. The value of the prize that is offered or awarded at the raffle and that is purchased by the organization or for which the organization provides any consideration may not exceed $50,000.00.
• The prize must be owned by the organization or in its possession prior to the sale of any raffle tickets, or the organization must post a bond with the county clerk for the full amount of the money value of the prize offered.
• Before selling or offering to see tickets for a raffle, the student organization shall set a date on which the organization will award the prize or prizes in a raffle.

Raffle Ticket Information

State law requires the following information to be included on each raffle ticket:

• Name and address of the organization conducting the raffle;
• Name of an officer of the organization;
• Price of the ticket;
• General description of each prize to be awarded that has a value of over $10; and
• Date on which the raffle prize or prizes will be awarded.

University policies and procedures require the following information to be included on each raffle ticket:

• Date the drawing for the raffle is to be held; and
• Pre-numbered tickets, beginning with #1.

All raffle tickets must be inspected by the Center for Student Development for approval before distribution.

Injunctive Action Against Unauthorized Raffles

A county attorney, district attorney, criminal district attorney, or the attorney general may bring an action in county or district court for a permanent or temporary injunction or a temporary restraining order prohibiting conduct involving a raffle that violates or threatens to violate state law relating to gambling and is not authorized by this chapter or other law. Venue for an action under this section is in the county in which the conduct occurs or in which a defendant in the action resides.

Texas Woman's University and the Center for Student Development are not responsible for the conduct of any student organization's raffle or its proceeds and the manner in which they are spent. Since the state law is very technical, your student organization is responsible for checking the status of your organization's qualification and its compliance with the law.

Procedures for Conducting a Raffle