Fundraising Guidelines

This document will be used to address fundraising guidelines. This applies to all fundraising including, but not limited to: Deaflympics, World Championships, training, tryouts, and general needs. Fundraising efforts are for USA Deaf Sports Federation (USADSF) and to send athletes to ICSD-sanctioned competition.

NSOs can choose to fundraise using current team donation pages on USADSF’s Kindful fundraising platform or on their own with alternative platforms or fundraising options. Note that team donation pages provide the option for donors to designate their gifts to individual team members or to the team as a whole. Using this option, you are provided a weekly or monthly donation distribution report and donors receive automatic thank you receipts for their donations. It is the responsibility of the National Sports Organization (NSO) to track athlete donations and ensure the full amounts have been met prior to competition.

Fundraising amount: NSOs and athletes are required to fundraise the full amount to cover their participation in the event. NSO leaders and athletes may contact USADSF for assistance with establishing and operating fundraising platforms or other forms of operational support towards fundraising efforts. To the extent possible, USADSF will also fundraise to help offset costs, the amount of which will be determined prior to the event. NSOs are also encouraged and expected to fundraise to ease the financial and fundraising burden on the athletes.

Fundraising timelines: Timelines for when payments are due to USADSF will be announced when available. USADSF will establish payment timelines based on timelines determined by the International Committee of Sports for the Deaf (ICSD) and the event host countries. Generally, half deposit is expected 6 months prior and full payment is expected 3 months prior to competition start.

Ways to receive donations: Through our fundraising platform (Kindful)or working with USADSF, donors can elect to donate funds either to specific NSOs, specific athletes, general Deaflympics, specific events, or general USADSF support. USADSF will submit a monthly report to the NSOs highlighting the amount of donations received. NSOs can contact USADSF to receive donor information. It is the responsibility of the NSOs tontify if the donation was to the general NSO or if it was to a specific athlete. NSOs also have the ability to establish separate fundraising efforts on their own using their own 501c3 status if applicable. In the event that the NSO does not have their own 501c3 status, USADSF can be used, but funds must flow into USADSF’s account, not the NSOs for the donations to be tax-deductible.

Platform fees: NSOs choosing to fundraise through the use of platforms such as Kindful (through USADSF) or another platform on their own or other methods should recognize the full donated amount as part of the athlete’s fundraising efforts. The amounts withheld by the platform for fees should be absorbed by the athlete’s NSO. This amount should be covered by the NSOs general fundraising efforts. The amount that the athlete is able to raise is to be recognized in its entirety and the fees deducted from the platforms are to be covered by the NSO. USADSF's Kindful platform gives the donor the option to cover the online transaction fee.

Example: an athlete’s donor donates $100, the platform will withhold processing fees (vary between platforms). Suppose the fee is $3, the organization will receive $97, but should recognize the full $100 towards the athlete’s fundraising goal. The $3 would be expected to be covered by the NSOs general fundraising efforts.

Refunds: Donations made through USADSF’s platform orctly to USADSF (via check or cash) are non-refundable as USADSF is a 501c3 organization and donors automatically receive tax information statements. If the athlete elects to pay their own way instead of fundraising, they can obtain a refund as this would not be considered a donation and no tax statement would be issued. Refunds will consider the amount of costs incurred prior to being issued.

Examples: if after total amount is met, the athlete is forced to withdraw from participation, did not make the final roster, or other circumstances,

Athlete pays in full: the athlete can submit a request for reimbursement.

Athlete fundraises for full amount: the athlete cannot submit a request for reimbursement. The donors will receive tax statements for their donation. Funds will be used to support the NSO for continued participation.

Athlete fundraises and pays out of pocket remaining amount: athlete can request reimbursement up to the amount paid out of pocket for expenses.

Event cancellation: In the unfortunate situation that an event is cancelled, funds will be held in escrow for the next event that is scheduled. For example, suppose the 2021 Deaflympics was cancelled instead of postponed, the funds would be held until the next Deaflympics in 2025. If funds were donated for a specific person, funds would be held by USADSF and be tracked by the NSO for that individual for the next event. If the individual does not participate in the next event, the funds will be used to support the NSO during that next event. If the athlete paid their own way and the event was cancelled, they could request a reimbursement.

Athlete participation: Donors can choose to donate to specific athletes.

**Prior to doing so, student-athletes and potential student-athletes should consult with their respective school’s compliance officer if this is allowable under NCAA guidelines.** Please review Amateur Athlete Fundraising Guidelines.

If the athlete makes the final roster, these funds will be used to ease the fundraising burden of that athlete. In the event the athlete does not make the final roster, the athlete can submit a request to receive funds to cover expenses related to attending tryouts (airfare, room, and board). Reimbursement requests would be allowable up to the amount fundraised and after costs incurred are considered. Remaining funds will be used to support the general NSO.

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