Fundraising
Fundraising is the solicitation of funds from or sale of items to military and civilian personnel.
Before any group (including booster clubs, private organizations, unit advisory councils, etc.) engages in a fundraising activity, either on or off base, prior approval must be obtained from the installation commander or his/her designee.
The installation commander may authorize continuous thrift-shop sales operations and occasional (not more than two per quarter) sales for fundraising purposes like bake sales, dances, carnivals, car washes, and similar occasional functions.
This prohibition against frequent or continuous resale activities does not preclude collective purchasing and sharing of purchased items by members of private organizations or unofficial activities so long as there is no actual resale.
Collection boxes for toys, clothing, canned goods, or the like in public areas are not considered fundraising.
Military members must not use office supplies, such as postage, paper, or other equipment, in support of the fundraising activities.
Private organizations and unofficial activities cannot sell or serve alcoholic beverages. Further, these organizations cannot conduct games of chance, lotteries, or raffles.
Official fundraising includes officially endorsed campaigns conducted during duty hours by government personnel in their official capacities. The only two authorized on-the-job campaigns in the Air Force are the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) and the Air Force Assistance Fund (AFAF). For these causes, employees may use government time, equipment, and supplies, but 100 percent participation goals and individual goals, quotas, or assessments are prohibited.
Unofficial fundraising includes off-duty solicitation of funds, by individuals or private organizations, away from their workplace (including quarters on a military installation, entrances, lobbies, or concourses of buildings).
Unofficial fundraising solicitation conducted by military members must be done in their personal capacity, away from the duty section, and in a non-duty status unless it falls within the exception allowed for employee welfare organizations. To qualify as an employee welfare organization activity, the event must satisfy the following three conditions:
The fundraising is by an organization composed primarily of Department of Defense employees or their dependents
The fundraising is conducted among the members of the organization
The fundraising is for the benefit of a welfare fund for the members of the organization or their dependents.
Fundraising events for employee welfare organization funds are not allowed during CFC or AFAF if they will be held “at the workplace” (e.g. in offices, hangars, flight line, or other places where people actually work). However, if the event is held “away from the workplace” (e.g., in lobbies/concourses of buildings or in other areas where people generally are not working), then the event can be approved if it will not detract from CFC or AFAF.
Whether on or off a military installation, a federal employee may not:
Personally solicit funds or other support from a subordinate or from any person known to the employee to be a prohibited source
Use or permit the use of his/her official title or any authority associated with public office to further the fundraising effort, unless for the CFC or AFAF.
