School Program Fundraising Rules
Approved high school and college programs may run SEA fundraisers in which the school receives 90% of the Eligible Merchandise Margin on designated fundraiser products. This elevated 90% split applies only during the approved fundraiser window (2 weeks to 60 days, per the fundraiser agreement). The team's underlying school-affiliated status and School-Affiliated Team Rules remain in effect at all times, not just during a fundraiser.
Each fundraiser runs for a fixed window of 2 weeks to 60 days, set by the approved fundraiser agreement. The 90% Eligible Merchandise Margin allocation applies only to designated fundraiser products sold between the approved start and end dates confirmed with SEA before the fundraiser opens.
Outside that window — before it opens or after it closes — only the merchandise split reverts: designated products return to SEA's standard Sponsor-Linked Merchandise structure.
The team's school-affiliated status and School-Affiliated Team Rules do not revert. Once a school program is approved, the team keeps its school banner as a standing designation, and the applicable High School or College & University rules (eligibility, banner use, consent, prize structure, and compliance) continue to apply whether or not a fundraiser is currently running.
Who Can Run a Fundraiser & How Often
Fundraisers are exclusive to approved school-affiliated programs. A team must already hold approved school-affiliated status under the High School or College & University rules before it can apply to run a fundraiser. Non-school (standard) teams are not eligible.
Each approved school program may run one SEA fundraiser per academic year. The single approved window may last anywhere from 2 weeks to 60 days, as set in the fundraiser agreement. Additional or overlapping fundraisers in the same year are not permitted.
Outside that one approved window, the program keeps its standing school-affiliated status, but merchandise reverts to SEA's standard Sponsor-Linked Merchandise structure until the next year's fundraiser is approved.
Eligible School Fundraisers
Approved high school and college programs may conduct SEA fundraisers for:
- Esports programs
- Athletic departments
- School athletic funds
- Student organizations
- School or institutional foundations
- Authorized booster organizations
- Other approved educational programs
School Fundraiser Merchandise Allocation
SEA's standard Sponsor-Linked Merchandise structure allocates merchandise margin among the Team, SEA, and the Sponsor Activation Pool. For approved School Fundraiser Merchandise, the allocation changes so the school beneficiary receives 90% of the Eligible Merchandise Margin:
The school receives 90% of the Eligible Merchandise Margin generated by designated fundraiser products. SEA retains 10% for platform administration, payment administration, reporting, store operations, and program support.
Why the Sponsor Activation Allocation Goes to the School
The fundraiser itself constitutes the related school and community sponsor activation. Through the fundraiser, the participating partner receives measurable exposure and engagement among:
- Students
- Parents and families
- Teachers and administrators
- Alumni
- Booster members
- Fans and supporters
- The surrounding community
Because the fundraiser fulfills the related school activation, the same Sponsor Activation Allocation does not simultaneously fund a second sponsorship contract or create a second payment obligation. Qualifying fundraiser sales may contribute to the team's ProStatus and Wildcard performance, but the same sales do not also create a separately funded earned sponsorship contract from the School Sponsor Activation Allocation.
Eligible Merchandise Margin
Eligible Merchandise Margin means the merchandise revenue remaining after approved costs associated with:
- Product production
- Customization
- Fulfillment
- Payment processing
- Refunds, returns, and chargebacks
- Applicable reserves
Sales taxes and separately charged shipping are excluded.
Example
For a $100 merchandise purchase producing $50 in Eligible Merchandise Margin:
The school receives $45, representing 90% of the $50 Eligible Merchandise Margin and 45% of the total purchase price. The percentage of the purchase price received by the school will vary based on the margin of the product sold.
Approved Fundraiser Recipient
Before a fundraiser opens, the school or institution must provide:
- The legal beneficiary name
- The approved program name
- The requested fundraiser window (start and end dates, 2 weeks to 60 days)
- Tax identification and payment documentation
- School or institutional authorization
- Bank information matching the approved beneficiary
- The authorized representative
- The intended program use of the proceeds
SEA releases proceeds according to the published payment schedule after applicable refunds, returns, chargebacks, and reserves are accounted for.
Customer Disclosure
The following disclosure appears on participating fundraiser stores and checkout pages:
“This purchase supports the participating school program. Ninety percent of the Eligible Merchandise Margin generated by designated fundraiser products is allocated to the approved school, institution, foundation, athletic fund, or booster organization. The purchase price is not represented as a tax-deductible charitable contribution by the purchaser.”
A merchandise purchase is a retail transaction. The customer receives merchandise and should not be told that the full purchase price is a charitable donation.