Private Organizations & Fundraising

Fundraising activities are subject to the following limitations according to the Joint Base Ethics Regulations and AFI 34-223:

• Fundraising events may not be conducted in the workplace (i.e., private offices or workstations).

• Fundraising activities may not be conducted by military members or civilian employees during their duty time. Military members may not engage in fundraising activities while in uniform.

• Government materials or email may not be used to support fundraising. Once the fundraiser is approved, it can be advertised through: Staff Bulletin board, flyers and word-of-mouth, or the 316th Public Affairs Office. The following disclaimer must be provided in all verbal communication and public announcements to include Fundraisers per AFI 34-223, Section 10.1: “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.”

• Donations for the organization may not be solicited on-base.

• Fundraising activities may not duplicate or compete with the AAFES or a NAFI, such as the Club, base restaurants, Outdoor Recreation or the base golf Courses.

• If the fundraiser involves food preparation, food-handlers training must be obtained from Public Health. A copy of the training must be turned in with the fundraiser request.

• Fundraising events that the 316 FSS/FSR deems “unusual” will require additional coordination through the 316th Wing Commander or designee.

• Fundraisers cannot involve games of chance, lotteries, raffles or other gambling-type activities, except as provided for in AFI 34-223, Private Organization Program.

• Fundraising during the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) and Air Force Assistance Fund (AFAF) are subject to more stringent requirements than fundraisers throughout the rest of the year. If a Private Organization wants to conduct a fundraiser and donate 100% of the proceeds to the CFC or AFAF or keep any portion of the funds, please submit your request at least 4 weeks in advance. The approval process has to be coordinated through the 316 MSG/CC, 316 WG/JA and 316 WG/CC, per AFI 36-3101.

Private Organizations

What is a Private Organization?

Private Organizations are self-sustaining, special interest groups set up by people acting exclusively outside the scope of any official capacity as officers, employees or agents of the federal government. They operate on Air Force installations with the written consent of the installation Commander (AFI 34-223 Section A.1.).

Private Organizations are not Federal entities and are not to be treated as such. Accordingly, they are not NAF instrumentalities (NAFIs) as defined in AFI 34-201, Use of Non-Appropriated Funds, nor are they entitled to the sovereign immunities and privileges given to NAFIs or the Air Force (AFI 34-223 Section A.1. 1.1).

Unofficial activities/organizations are small groups that are not required to be formally established as Private Organizations because their current assets (including cash, investments, inventory and receivables) do not exceed a monthly average of $1,000 over a 3-month period (AFI 34-223 Section 2. 2.2.).

Examples of a Private Organization include:

• Squadron Booster Clubs

• Unit Advisory Committees

• Spouse Clubs

• Special Interest Groups