By Tim Cherry
Staff writer
Thursday,February 7, 2013

Whether it’s raising money for disaster relief or a private organization, individuals and organizations must follow Belvoir’s guidelines and regulations to fundraise on post.

The first step is to present a formal request to the Directorate of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation, which is delegated authority to approve requests for fundraising, according to Fort Belvoir Fundraising Policy Memorandum 38.

DFMWR coordinates the scheduling and location of events directly with the organization’s point of contact. The Main Post Exchange is one authorized fundraising location and Rebecca Santee, Army and Air Force Exchange Service general manager, said the exchange is happy to support approved events.

“The Exchange recognizes that fundraising is an important source of revenue and morale for installation private organizations and military units,” said Santee, who allows installation-approved fundraising when there is space available in public areas such as the Main Exchange lobby or in front of Exchange facilities.

“This is a “win-win” for all concerned – the organizations can fundraise in desirable locations and the Exchange can support the installation community,” she said.

Policy Memorandum 38 applies to all Department of Defense organizations, private organizations operating on post, informal funds and other activities operating on Fort Belvoir. The guideline is intended, in part, to govern fundraising in a manner that allows worthy causes such as the Combined Federal Campaign to be supported while minimizing the disruption to installation operations.

The Fort Belvoir Commissary is another location available for fundraising. Troy Collins, Commissary store director, said his facility will support approved fundraisers by allowing them to participate in the Bagging for Dollars program.

“They’re assigned one checkout lane (normally 31) to bag groceries for patrons in exchange for a donation/tip to be used for whatever they’re raising funds for,” Collins said. “While performing bagging for our patrons they have to follow the same rules a regular bagger does and they are also held accountable for any damaged or lost product.”

Fundraising, with the exception of gift wrapping at the Post Exchange and other activities specifically approved as exceptions, is permitted each year from Jan. 2 through the Friday following Thanksgiving.

Additional restrictions within the policy include the housing areas. The memorandum prohibits door-to-door solicitation, sales or fundraising of any kind in the villages on the installation. This includes the food, candy, and magazines sold by children for clubs and school. Fundraising is also prohibited in the work place, which the policy describes as areas like conference rooms and medical treatment facilities where employees perform their normal duties.

This does not include areas that employees do not use for performance of normal duties such as public lobbies, parking lots, picnic areas and break rooms. Fundraisers are also prohibited from competing with an organization allowing them to use space.

“Items sold may not compete with Exchange or concession merchandise, food or services,” Santee said. “In addition, because of liability and other concerns, general managers may not approve fundraising involving car washes, fueling vehicles or bagging customer merchandise.”

Violators of the installation’s fundraising policy will be told to stop, according to Belvoir Police Chief Timothy Wolfe.

“If we catch a violator and he or she has no affiliation with the garrison, then they have to leave the installation,” Wolfe said.

For more information visit www.nec.belvoir.army.mil/pubs/Belvoir/Pl/38.pdf.