DoD’s central ethics office has issued guidance on a topic that could arise at any agency, saying that ethics officials should be brought in to determine whether a “fund me” type solicitation in the workplace is allowable.
The guidance stresses that apart from certain specified exceptions, the Combined Federal Campaign is the only authorized charitable solicitation of employees in the workplace. “The CFC is intended to reduce disruptions in the federal workplace by consolidating approved solicitations into a single, annual, officially-supported campaign. Solicitations that occur on the federal installation, but outside of the federal workplace, as well as solicitations by organizations that do not affiliate with the CFC may create additional disruptions and compete with the CFC for donations,” it says.
There is an exception for solicitations by non-federal organizations composed of federal personnel if the solicitations “are directed to their own members for either organizational support or for the benefit of welfare funds for their members,” and such solicitations are allowable with management’s permission, it says. Also allowable are “ad hoc” collections, including cash, for ill or bereaved co-workers.
“By contrast, if an individual solicits on behalf of himself, that request is not considered fundraising among the members of the organization for the benefit of the organization’s members. ‘Go Fund Me’ type solicitations are similar in nature to an individual soliciting for themselves and such solicitations in the workplace are prohibited,” it says.
Ethics officials should examine “exactly what is solicited and for whom” to make a determination, it says.
