Finances and Fundraising
School Council finances
All funds raised by school councils are donated to the school and should only be used for their intended purpose. The resources below will help councils manage finances.
Acceptable uses of school council funds
How to manage school council funds
School Council funds FAQ
How to handle cash sales
How to calculate a profit or loss
School Council Cheque Requisition Form
School Council Donation Receipt Request Form
Apply for a Parent’s Reaching Out Grant
School Council fundraising
Fundraising activities are a great way to contribute to student success and can be conducted at your school as long as you meet and adhere to the board policies and guidelines. Keep in mind that fundraising isn't the primary role of School Council, and many schools do not fundraise or only fundraise for charitable causes separate from the school.
When fundraising, the council must:
- have a clear fundraising purpose in mind and stick to this goal. School Councils should not be fundraising to create a pot of money to be used in the future.
- communicate how the funds will be used to your parent community and only use funds for their intended purpose.
- seek approval of the school principal. They will determine if the fundraiser aligns with school goals and doesn't interfere with the delivery of the regular school program. Activities extending beyond the school community or raising funds for outside organizations requires approval of the school's superintendent of education.
- ensure the fundraiser adheres to the board's fundraising policies and procedures
- consider if your school community is comfortable and interested participating in a fundraiser. Fundraising activities should not become a burden on students, parents or staff.
What activities can you fundraise for?
Fundraising efforts must be aligned with your school's goals. It cannot replace public funding for education. School Councils may only fundraise for enhancement or extras – things that the school does not receive ministry funding for. Fundraising to support items such as textbooks and learning materials that are already funded through the school budget will not be approved.
Additionally, the board has the right to place restrictions on any fundraising activities that are unsafe in order to protect students and prevent student exploitation. With this in mind, School Council members must always consider a student's well-being while planning and conducting fundraisers.
In terms of movie presentations in schools as part of a fundraiser, the board has acquired movie copyright licenses that allow the viewing of feature films for non-educational purposes. The video license agreement includes the rights to charge admission fees.
To learn more about fundraising for School Councils, review the following resources:
Fundraising guidelines tip sheet
Policy #5 – Partnerships/Fundraising
Operating Procedure COMSI - Raising funds for capital-related and capital projects
How to plan a successful event