Follow correct rules, procedures when organizing fundraisers

  • Published
  • By Capt. Katherine Milton
  • 100th Air Refueling Wing Legal Office
RAF MILDENHALL, England --  With fall here and holidays right around the corner, fundraising for private organizations is on the rise. Fundraisers such as bake sales, car washes and food booths at base events are a great way for private organizations to raise money. However, the rules on fundraising are restrictive and can be difficult to navigate.
Following the guidance below will help ensure a successful fundraising season.
The process begins and ends with the 100th Force Support Squadron. Private organizations will submit requests to the 100th FSS, which routes them for review and approval. The 100th Air Refueling Wing Legal Office conducts a legal review of all fundraisers and makes a recommendation to the 100th FSS commander, who makes the final decision on the fundraiser.

When planning your fundraiser, be sure to consider the time it's going to take to process your request. Ensuring that your private organization has done all the necessary coordination with the proper agencies on base prior to submitting a request, including the 48th Aerospace Medicine Squadron Public Health Office, if food sales will be taking place, will help expedite the process.

Remember that private organizations are not an official Air Force activity. All participants must be in a non-duty status and military personnel must not be in uniform. This means service members cannot grill hamburgers or frost cupcakes in uniform!

Participants must not solicit funds in duty sections during duty hours or through the use of government resources, such as work email.

Private organizations must make it clear that they are not part of the Department of Defense. They may not imply official wing or command sponsorship of the event. Use the following disclaimer on all print materials mentioning the private organizations name, "This is a private organization. It is not a part of the Department of Defense or any of its components and it has no governmental status."

Common fundraising issues and ways to avoid them:

Can you send that email?
Probably not. You are not allowed to use your official email to conduct your fundraiser! However, it's permissible, mission permitting, to send notifications of unit or base events through official email. These emails are very limited though, and can literally only be notifications. You must also get permission from your supervisor. No frilly advertisements, no sales-coordinating push, just the facts with no military endorsement. So nothing that shows you are acting in an official capacity. Think of other creative ways to advertise, such as word of mouth.

Is your flyer okay?
Does it have your job title on it? Is it missing a disclaimer? Did you send it out before your fundraiser was approved? Does it have a DOD logo or seal on it? If the answer to any of these questions is "yes," then your flyer is probably not okay. When making your flyer, keep in mind that you are acting in your personal capacity.

What about fundraising during CFC and AFAF?
Fundraising during the Combined Federal Campaign and Air Force Assistance Fund is more restrictive. These additional restrictions are in place in order to ensure the success of the CFC and the AFAF. During the CFC and AFAF, fundraising intended to benefit an organization outside the private organization are not allowed. Fundraising intended to benefit a private organization's welfare fund may be held during the CFC and AFAF on an exceptional basis with special authorization. These fundraisers must not detract from the CFC or AFAF. Consider holding fundraisers before or after the campaigns instead.

When can members fundraise?
You may not use your official time in support of your fundraiser. You may not use the official time of your subordinates in support of your fundraiser either. Remember that you are acting in your personal capacity and not as a member of the Air Force, so you should be off-duty.

For more information, call the legal office at DSN 238-2028.