The Defense Department’s main ethics office has sent out a
reminder that the standards of ethical conduct for employees
of the executive branch “prohibit employees from both
accepting and soliciting gifts from prohibited sources” and
that the rules bar “solicitations of anyone, by personnel
using their official position or capacity.”
The memo says that recently a DoD organization held its
annual awards banquet honoring its military and civilian
personnel and that to raise funds for the event, the
organization solicited donations from the local business
community. It said that promotional literature, signed by
a senior official in the organization, promised contributors
that, “Your generosity will not go unnoticed or unmentioned.”
“While such marketing may be commonplace for private
organizations and charities, it is prohibited for federal
organizations and federal personnel acting in their
official capacities,” the ethics office said.
“Bottom line, federal personnel, in their official capacities
(in uniform or using their office or authority) may not
solicit outside of their organizations,” it said. “If you
need to raise funds for private organizations (scouts,
athletic clubs, civic groups, etc.) or for unofficial
activities of your DoD organization (banquets, picnics,
etc.) ensure federal personnel who are soliciting funds do
so without referring to their office, title, position, or
authority; are not in uniform; do not solicit from
subordinates; and do not solicit from prohibited sources.
Better yet– before soliciting or starting a fundraising
campaign, consult your legal counsel or staff judge
advocate.”
