Milford Public Schools has banned door-to-door sales and street-corner canning for student fundraisers, part of a sweeping policy overhaul that also eliminates reward contests for students who collect the most money and bars teachers from soliciting donations from people over whom they hold professional authority. The Milford School Committee approved two revised fundraising policies that reshape how teams, clubs and programs across the district can raise money going forward.
The new rules prohibit door-to-door solicitations and canning on public streets, according to MassLive, which reported that the prohibition is rooted in safety concerns. Craig Consigli said the fundraising policies had been developed over several years, and he said the rules protect students from commercial vendors claiming substantial percentages of collected funds. He also said the district does not want to overburden families or create inequities through fundraising.
Safety Concerns With Roots Going Back More Than a Decade
Worries about students standing along roadways collecting cash aren't new in Milford. Municipal records reviewed show local concern over street solicitations dates back to 2010, when town selectmen questioned the safety of youth group canning at busy town intersections. The updated policy also reflects guidance long recommended by the Massachusetts Association of School Committees, whose model Policy JJE urges districts to eliminate door-to-door sales and street canning because of student safety risks and community solicitation concerns.
Christopher Wilson said the policy changes were long overdue. Under the new guidelines, money collections may not take place on school grounds without advance consent from the superintendent, and district fundraising requests must receive advance approval from the superintendent or a designated administrator. Milford's central administration plans to maintain a centralized log of approved fundraising events and donations.
No More Prizes for Top Sellers, and Fundraising Can't Be Mandatory
The revised policies eliminate student reward competitions, meaning schools may no longer reward individual students with extra recess, snacks, prizes or parties for collecting specific sums. The district determined that such fundraising incentive contests create unfair pressure and equity concerns. Students also cannot be required to participate in fundraising to take part in athletic sports, art programs or extracurricular clubs, and the new policies discourage fundraising drives that reduce classroom learning time.
Ticket sales for scheduled athletic events, arts performances and student publication advertising remain permitted, and charitable fundraising connected to community service programs is still allowed with approval from the building principal and superintendent. Fundraising campaign organizers remain responsible for following state statutes and securing municipal permits where required.
Teachers Barred From Using Parent Contacts for Solicitations
Staff members are now barred from using parent email addresses gathered for school communication to distribute fundraising pitches. Teachers are also prohibited from directly soliciting donations from individuals over whom they have official dealings or professional authority. That restriction tracks conflict-of-interest guidelines under Massachusetts General Law Chapter 268A, which prohibit public school teachers from soliciting donations worth $50 or more from individuals or businesses over whom they exercise official authority, according to guidance published by Mass.gov.
Teachers still have an outlet for classroom needs: they may share general classroom supply requests through main school offices rather than approaching individual families directly. Separately, the Massachusetts State Ethics Commission permits public school teachers to accept anonymous collective class gifts for classroom supplies up to $150 per year, an existing exemption that gives parents a legal avenue to support classrooms without triggering solicitation concerns.
State Law Already Restricts Raffles and Requires Financial Oversight
The updated district policy incorporates Massachusetts statutory restrictions on raffles and games of chance, and Massachusetts state law bars student groups from operating or participating in raffles and games of chance. Under Chapter 271, Section 7A, student groups can't run raffles unless sponsored by an eligible non-profit that has operated for at least two years and secured a municipal permit from the town clerk, per guidance published by Mass.gov.
Student activity accounts and high school class accounts remain heavily regulated under existing state accounting frameworks. Massachusetts General Law Chapter 71, Section 47 mandates that all funds raised for student activities be deposited directly into official municipal student activity agency accounts subject to periodic public audits, preventing club advisors or booster groups from keeping independent, unmonitored bank accounts.
Vendor Cuts and a Diverse Student Body Shape the District's Rationale
Consigli's concern about commercial vendors taking a large share of fundraising proceeds lines up with broader industry data: commercial product fundraising companies operating nationally typically retain 50% to 70% of total sales, returning only 30% to 50% in net earnings to student groups, according to figures published by fundraising vendor Original Works. During the 2023-2024 academic year, Milford Public Schools enrolled 4,413 students across six schools, with 52.6% of students living in homes where English is not the primary language, according to Ballotpedia — a demographic backdrop that factors into the district's stated equity concerns around fundraising burdens on families.
Independent outside groups may still solicit donations, but they must follow district guidelines to distribute materials through school backpacks or official email channels rather than direct door-to-door approaches. Milford Public Schools has said it values partnerships with PTOs, boosters and other organizations supporting schools, and the fundraising requests behind the new rules were approved by the Milford Public Schools central office. The fundraising policies are meant to provide guidance for school leadership working with families and community partners.
Part of a Wider Statewide Trend
Milford is not alone in rewriting its fundraising rules. Auburn Public Schools similarly revised its own Policy JJE in September 2025 to improve audit compliance and prevent fundraising fatigue, according to town records. Town meeting records show the Milford School Committee directed its policy subcommittee to initiate a formal review of district fundraising guidelines back in May, a process that led to the two revised policies now in place.
