Fundraisers, squadron holiday parties

  • Published
  • By the 509th Bomb Wing
  • Legal Office
WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo., --  Many squadrons are now getting ready for holiday parties. This is a great time for military members and their families to foster espirit de corps while celebrating the season.

Often, a squadron's private organization or unofficial activity will assist their unit in raising money to help foot the bill. It is important that these organizations recognize there are federal and state laws, as well as Department of Defense and Air Force instructions that must be followed before conducting any type of fundraiser.

Air Force Instructions 36-3101, Fundraising Within the Air Force, and 34-223, Private Organizations Program, provide guidance to Air Force personnel with regard to raising money or contributing to an agency's health-and-welfare events and instructions pertaining to the operation of private organizations, as well as unofficial activities.

Only the 509th Force Support Squadron commercial sponsorship coordinator can enter into commercial sponsorships with businesses off-base, and the installation commander is the only approval authority for local internal fundraisers. For questions about commercial sponsorship, call (660) 687-3594.

Raffles are prohibited for social or recreational purposes. Missouri law restricts these activities even further. Chapter 572 of the Missouri Revised Statutes prohibits most gambling activities not licensed by the state of Missouri. Any game of chance is considered gambling.

This doesn't mean people can get around the law by having a blackjack or poker fundraising tournament. Games of skill are considered gambling activities as well. The maximum sentence for violating Missouri's gambling laws is four years in prison; fines may be assessed as well.

However, there is a provision in the Missouri Constitution that does permit certain types of games of chance if certain criteria are met. So any would-be entrepreneurs are encouraged to run their ideas past the legal office before going too far in their planning.

If private organizations desire to hold a fundraiser for the holiday season, or any time in the future, the request begins with the 509th FSS Resource Management Office. The 509th BW Legal Office reviews the request for legal sufficiency and provides a recommendation to the approval authority. For questions about private organizations, call (660) 687-6512.

The Air Force officially endorses only two fundraising activities a year, the Combined Federal Campaign and the Air Force Assistance Fund. The wing commander may allow fundraising activities when conducted by organizations composed primarily of DoD employees and when the fundraising is among their own members for the benefit of welfare funds. During the CFC and AFAF, all other proposed fundraising activities at the workplace are prohibited with limited exceptions.

For questions regarding fundraisers, contact the legal office at (660) 687-6809.