Expenditures: Incentives, Contests, Drawings, Games and Prizes

Scope

All university units, including university student organizations (USOs).

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Policy Statement

In support of the university mission, units may periodically offer incentives or conduct contests, drawings, or games to encourage attendance at or participation in university sanctioned events, programs or activities.

The Fiscal Officer is responsible for ensuring the propriety and reasonableness of the incentive or contest, however the total value of any prizes awarded per event or activity cannot exceed $10,000.

As a public institution, Indiana University is entrusted with the funds of various constituents. In order to carry out its fiduciary duty, university employees must demonstrate prudent judgment when expending funds. Issues of appropriateness, reasonableness, fairness, and liability are inherent in any contest, game or drawing for prizes. The university seeks to minimize those concerns by limiting the dollar amount for such events.

  Special Considerations

1. Gift Cards or Cash Equivalents: Any incentive to an employee, non-employee or student must be in the form of tangible personal property and cannot include items such as gift cards, travel certificates, Crimson Card contributions, meal points, cash, or cash equivalents.
   1. A gift card or cash equivalent of any dollar amount that is issued in exception to this policy is taxable to the individual recipient and must be reported to the Office of the University Controller (UCO).
   2. If the recipient is a student, any gift card or cash equivalent, regardless of dollar values is required to be reported to University Financial Aid (see procedures section below).
2. Prohibited contests: Raffles (including 50-50 raffles), bingo, poker, and other charity gaming activities that require a gaming license issued by the Indiana Department of Revenue are strictly prohibited.
3. Incentives and Prizes for Students: All contents involving students must follow Payments to Student Guidelines .
4. Incentives related to Compensation: Employment related incentives are not governed by this policy. All employment related compensation must be paid through university payroll.
5. Use of Restricted Funds: Payments under this policy cannot be made with restricted funds, including contract and grant accounts, loan funds, scholarship accounts or restricted gift accounts, unless explicitly approved in writing by the granting agency via the agreement or guidelines or donor intent.
6. Use of Auxiliary Service Center Funds: Incentives and prizes cannot be made with funds from Service-center accounts (sub-fund AUXSER).
7. Exceptions to Policy: Exceptions to this policy may be made by a department’s respective Vice President, Provost, Chancellor, or designee. Approval for such exceptions must be obtained in writing in advance of the event.
8. Events conducted by Third Parties: If an event is conducted by a third party where gifts, gratuities or benefits are offered and no IU funds are being used, the Fiscal Officer is responsible to ensure that the event is conducted in accordance with the Conflicts of Interest and Commitment (BOT-34). The Fiscal Officer should seek advanced approval for the event in writing from their respective Vice President, Provost, or Chancellor.

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Reason for Policy

To establish and communicate the rules governing the allowability of contests, incentives, drawings, or games for prizes.

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Procedures

1. Compliance with Research Regulations

Drawings for prizes that are conducted by an Indiana University entity as an incentive to complete academic research activities may be controlled by research administration policies governing human subjects and campus institutional review boards, in addition to the requirements of this policy. Drawings that fall under human subjects’ compliance are exempted from the prize limitations of this policy; however, tax and financial aid implications for prizes still apply. For additional guidance on research with human subjects please see IU policy RP-11-004.

2. Compliance with Financial Aid Regulations

Units that are planning contests, drawings, or games should consult the university’s Payments to Student Guidelines . Units must communicate to students in advance through the documented event rules or incentive program that the value of prizes to the winners must be reported and may affect the recipient’s eligibility for financial aid.

3. Compliance with Tax Reporting Obligations

The value of an incentive or a prize awarded through a contest, drawing, or game is considered taxable income to the recipient and may require the university to report the value of the prize to federal and state agencies. All tangible prizes awarded in excess of the de minimis  threshold must be reported to University Tax Services in the Office of the University Controller within 30 days of the award. All cash or cash equivalent payments under this policy including gift cards, regardless of amount, are subject to reporting to University Tax Services.

Procedures for tax reporting will be maintained by IUF and UCO and are posted on the Office of the University Controller website at IU Accounting Standards. For questions please contact UCO using the UCO Contact Form.

For questions on Financial Aid reporting obligations units should consult the university’s Payments to Student Guidelines.

Units must communicate to recipients in advance through the documented event rules or incentive program that the value of prizes to the winners are taxable and may be reported.

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Definitions

Contest: A competition for a prize involving actual skill or criteria for winning (such as a poetry contest or a free-throw shooting competition) that is different from a drawing based on luck.

De minimis: A benefit for which, considering its value and the frequency with which it is provided, is so small as to make accounting for it unreasonable or impractical. The university’s current de minimis threshold applies to tangible goods under $100, which are distributed to any given individual on an infrequent basis. This threshold is applicable in aggregate for all sources of funds (e.g. IU and IUF funds would be combined towards this limit) paid in a single calendar year.

Drawing: A game of chance where the prize is awarded based on participation or attendance, such as a door prize.

Incentive: Items of value provided to encourage attendance, participation in an event, or promote engagement.

Giveaway: Items of value provided to everyone participating in or attending an event.

Prize: Include cash, cash-equivalents (such as gift cards, tangible personal property, and complimentary services).

Raffle: The selling of tickets or chances to win a prize awarded through a random drawing, including a door prize (I.C. 4-32.2-2-26).

University Student Organizations (USOs): Student organizations that are treated as operating units of the university as identified in STU-01.

Value: The fair market or retail value of a prize, regardless of whether the prize is purchased by an Indiana University unit, donated, or furnished by an external entity.

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Sanctions

Violations of university policies, including the failure to avoid a prohibited activity or obtain required approvals, will be addressed in accordance with applicable university policies and procedures.

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Additional Contacts

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History

Prior to 2009, the practice was not to allow games of chance of any kind at the university, which was reflected in the purchasing guidelines for sponsorship; however, no comprehensive written policy existed.

This policy was updated in April 2019.

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