To facilitate its growth and fiscal solvency, NAFSA must raise funds from a variety of sources that support NAFSA's mission and address members' interests. The NAFSA Office of Organizational Advancement wants to work collaboratively with national and regional leaders to raise funds to support Association goals. Working together the central office staff and members can ensure that approaches to potential donors are well-designed and that conflicting solicitations are not made. The following guidelines provide a framework for fundraising on the association's behalf.

  1. Definitions
    1. Fundraising refers to the following
      1. Traditional grant proposals to corporations and/or foundations.
      2. Solicitation of funds, goods or services in the form of sponsorships, underwriting, partnerships or strategic alliances, including support for events (i.e. underwriting a speaker or a meal in exchange for recognition of the sponsor).
      3. Donations to the member giving program on behalf of leadership groups or regions, gifts in 'memory of' and/or in ‘honor' of groups and/or individuals.
      4. Outreach to current or retired members to join the New Century Circle (NCC), NAFSA's planned giving program.
      5. The term 'fundraising' as used here does not include advertising or exhibit sales.
    2. Coordination
      1. Members engaged in project or regional conference fundraising should send a memo to NAFSA's Organizational Advancement Department which discusses the solicitation's objective, who is being approached, timeframe, amount being asked, event or project which is being supported, etc. Direct this memo to Gail Hochhauser.
      2. Members engaged in fundraising should ensure that all solicitations are consistent with NAFSA's mission. If there are questions, contact the Organizational Advancement Department. NAFSA staff will assist with strategies regarding effective fundraising.
      3. Members should notify all potential donors that the agreement to accept a donation does not provide the donor with the automatic right to use NAFSA's name or logo (if appropriate).
      4. NAFSA staff will provide clearance for the use of NAFSA's non-profit status (if appropriate), use of NAFSA name or logo as appropriate.
    3. Principles
      1. NAFSA does not accept financial gifts, in-kind donations and grants that include restrictions, establish conditions or impose binding obligations on the association or its membership.
      2. Acceptance of a gift, donation, sponsorship, underwriting or grant from a business or other entity does not constitute an endorsement by NAFSA.