Legal Office provides fundraiser tips Published March 6, 2007 By Capt. Thomas Franzinger 60th Air Mobility Wing Assistant Staff Judge Advocate TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- In the Air Force few things seem to cause as much confusion and frustration as fundraisers. What should normally be a very simple operation can often turn into a nightmare of epic proportions. The first step to fundraising is getting permission. At Travis, authority to give permission for fundraisers has been delegated to the 60th Services Squadron commander. Requests should be submitted at least 20 days before the event is to occur. It should include who is requesting the event, the time, when the event is to be held, the items to be sold and the location of the event. The request must also include the name and phone number of the requesting organization's representative. When planning a fundraiser there are some things individuals may not do. They include: selling alcohol, lotteries or other gambling type activities (raffles are an exception), car washes, anything that would duplicate or compete with the Army Air Force Exchange Service, any solicitation of funds on base and participation in fundraisers while in uniform. When conducting a fundraiser it may only be done so away from the workplace and off-duty. Soliciting or selling in the duty section is strictly prohibited, however doing so in lobbies, break rooms or other common areas is permissible. Remember, individuals that fundraise on base do so as part of a nonfederal entity, and as such, the U.S. Government cannot contribute money, materials or any other active support to an organization. The Joint Ethics Regulation is very specific as to what constitutes misuse of government property. Thus, working on a fundraiser while on duty, or using a copier at work to make fliers are misuses of government resources. Further, fundraisers must not detract from the Air Force Assistance Fund or Combined Federal Campaign, if conducted during the same time frame. When fundraising, raffles are often an easy and relatively profitable way to raise funds, however, there a few notable restrictions before you start. First, raffles cannot violate existing local law. Only officially recognized private organizations can conduct raffles on an occasional and infrequent basis and the raffle must benefit the entire military community. Further, raffles to raise funds for purely social, recreational or entertainment purposes are not permitted. Fundraising can be a tricky area. To ensure getting the required permission and avoid any hassles, start early. By going through the correct channels, the process of getting a fundraiser approved will help an organization steer clear of any possible problems.