Guidelines for Special Events, Benefits or Promotions

Application Form for Special Events, Benefits or Promotions Application (pdf)

Thank you for sharing our vision of a world without breast cancer. By supporting the Lowcountry Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, you're involved in the largest and most progressive grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists in the world, and you're also helping the community right here at home. Below are guidelines to help you plan and manage your fundraising event.

While we are able to provide guidance for your event, we do not have the personnel to handle administrative tasks of third party events. These tasks may include distributing invitations, compiling RSVP's, or selling tickets.

Some thoughts before you get started...

• As responsible stewards of public funds, our mandate is to keep expenses to 25 percent of gross revenue as we work on our mission to eradicate breast cancer. The expectation of any third party that organizes an event to benefit Komen Lowcountry is that expenses will be kept to 25% of gross revenue. Exceptions may be made for first-year events and on a case-by case basis.
  
  
• We also want to ensure that your event runs as smoothly and safely as possible. You are required to obtain all the necessary permits and insurance for your event and for the specific event location. The following entities must be added as additional insureds on the liability policy for the event:

Susan G. Komen for the Cure
5005 LBJ Freeway, Suite 250
Dallas, TX 75244

Lowcountry Affiliate for Susan G. Komen for the Cure
9302 Medical Plaza Drive, Suite E
North Charleston, SC 29406

• If you are planning a sporting event, you must require all participants to sign a waiver/release.
  
  
• Any item(s) you are planning to sell as a fundraiser for Komen Affiliate must be non-controversial in nature. As part of good fundraising practices, we require that the public be informed of the specific dollar amount or the percentage of the sale that will be donated to Komen Lowcountry.
  
  
• As an organizer of this event, you should be prepared to initiate publicity for this event and commit the necessary funds.

Some other ideas to keep in mind...

• A third party must request written permission to use Komen's name and/or logo, and completion of the Application for Special Events, Benefits, or Promotions constitutes such a request. All references to the Foundation in publicity and promotional materials, on tickets, invitations, etc. should say:
  
  
  • Lowcountry Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure (for the first reference)
    
    
  • Komen Lowcountry Affiliate (This is acceptable for subsequent references.)
  
  
• All promotional material related to an event benefiting the Komen Lowcountry Affiliate must be reviewed and approved by the Affiliate prior to its production and distribution. This includes, but is not limited to, invitations, press releases, newspaper or newsletter articles, merchandise, etc.
  
  
• Komen Lowcountry negotiates with many different financial underwriters and sponsors for our own events. We require that you inform us of any sponsors you have or any efforts made to recruit financial underwriters/sponsors. This will ensure that there is not duplication of efforts when it comes to working on financial underwriting and sponsorships.
  
  
• As on organizer of this event, you are responsible for complying with IRS regulations regarding the event. IRS regulations governing charitable deductions are quite specific and the Komen Lowcountry Affiliate can provide some information and guidance.

When it comes time to make your donation...

• Please have participants make checks payable to the organization that is holding the event. Organizers of third party events specifically may not offer underwriters or donors the option of writing checks to the Komen Lowcountry Affiliate for tax purposes.
  
  
• In order to fulfill our own accounting requirements; we request that you provide us the event proceeds and details of the accounting within 60 days after the conclusion of the special event.
  
  
• Our policy is to acknowledge checks of $25 or more to Komen Lowcountry. We also like to acknowledge the reason for the donation. This may not be possible if we receive checks without an explanation of their purpose. In order to properly account for all donations, we ask that you send us only one check made out to Komen Lowcountry. If the donation is coming from several donors, please provide us with an electronic spreadsheet that includes the donor names, addresses, and amount of donation and check number.