2005 Annual Online Ethics Training

Generally, you may not use your official position to endorse any non-Federal activity.

There are only a few exceptions that allow DoD personnel to officially endorse the following:

1. The Combined Federal Campaign

2. The military relief societies

3. Emergency and disaster appeals approved by the Office of Personnel Management.

4. Organizations composed primarily of agency employees or their dependents, when fundraising among their own members for the benefit of welfare funds for their own members or their dependents, when approved by the head of the organization after consultation with the ethics counselor. (This includes most morale, welfare, and recreation programs.)

So, if you don't use your title or position, may you let the organization use just your name on the fundraising flyer?

Probably. In your personal capacity, you may actively and visibly participate (including using your name) in the promotion, production, or presentation of a fundraising event. You may not do that in your official capacity. When you do it (in your personal capacity), however, you can't use (or allow the charity to use) your official title or position, as we've just discussed.

You also can't personally solicit funds or other support from subordinates or prohibited sources, or those entities that do business, or want to do business, with your agency.

Personal solicitation doesn't include mass-produced correspondence, such as the flyer, as long as it doesn't target subordinates or prohibited sources.

Refer to our Reference Index for additional guidance on any of this year's training subjects.

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General Rule - Making Official Endorsements