Regulations last checked for updates: Nov 24, 2024

Title 25 - Indians last revised: Mar 22, 2024
§ 48.201 - To whom does this subpart apply?

This subpart applies to employees that fundraise for a Bureau-operated school. This subpart does not apply to students who fundraise.

§ 48.202 - May employees fundraise?

(a) Employees may fundraise for school purposes as part of their official duties using their official title, position and authority, so long as:

(1) The Director or the Director's designee or the Head of the School approves the fundraising in advance and certifies that it complies with this subpart; and

(2) The employees ensure the fundraising conforms to the requirements of this subpart.

(b) Nothing in this part allows participation in political or other activities prohibited by law.

§ 48.203 - How much time may employees spend fundraising?

Each authorized employee may spend no more than a reasonable portion of his or her official duty time as an employee in any calendar year fundraising.

§ 48.204 - For what school purposes may employees fundraise?

Employees may fundraise for school purposes as defined in § 48.3.

§ 48.205 - What are the limitations on fundraising?

(a) Fundraising may not include any gaming or gambling activity.

(b) Fundraising may not violate, or create an appearance of violating, any applicable ethics statutes or regulations.

(c) Donations from fundraising must maintain the integrity of the Bureau-operated school programs and operations, including but not limited to the following considerations:

(1) The donation may not, and may not appear, to be an attempt to influence the exercise of any regulatory or other authority of the Bureau;

(2) The donation may not require commitment of current or future funding that is not planned or available;

(3) The donation must be consistent with, and may not otherwise circumvent, law, regulation, or policy;

(4) The Bureau-operated school must be able to properly utilize or manage any donated real or personal property within policy, programmatic, and management goals;

(5) Any conditions on the donation must be consistent with authorized school purposes and any relevant policy or planning documents;

(6) The donation may not be used by the donor to state or imply endorsement by the Bureau or Bureau-operated school of the donor or the donor's products or services;

(7) The donation, if it consists of personnel or funding to hire personnel, must be structured such that the donated or funded personnel do not inappropriately influence any Bureau regulatory action or other significant decision.

(d) The fundraising and donation must maintain the impartiality, and appearance of impartiality, of the Bureau, Bureau-operated school, and its employees, including but not limited to the following considerations:

(1) The proposed donation may be only in an amount that would not influence or appear to influence any pending Bureau decision or action involving the donor's interests;

(2) There may be no actual or implied commitment to take an action favorable to the donor in exchange for the donation;

(3) The donor may not obtain or appear to obtain special treatment dealing with the Bureau or Bureau-operated school.

(e) The fundraising and donation must maintain public confidence in the Bureau and Bureau-operated school, its programs, and its personnel, including but not limited to the following considerations:

(1) The fundraising and acceptance of the donation would not likely result in public controversy;

(2) Any conditions on donations must be consistent with the Bureau and Bureau-operated school's policy, goals, and programs; and

(3) The fundraising and donation may not involve any inappropriate goods or services.

(f) Participation in fundraising is voluntary. No student, community member, or organization shall be forced, coerced or otherwise unduly pressured to participate in fundraising. No criticism nor any retaliatory action may be taken against, any student, community member, or organization for failure to participate or succeed in fundraising.

§ 48.206 - What approvals are necessary to accept a donation under this subpart?

Prior to accepting a donation valued at $5,000 or more under this subpart, the Director's designee must approve the acceptance and certify that it complies with this subpart, including the considerations of § 48.205, Departmental policy, and any applicable statute or regulation.

§ 48.207 - How may donations solicited under this subpart be used?

(a) The Bureau-operated school must first use the funds to pay documented costs of the fundraising activity and must use the remaining funds in accordance with paragraph (b) of this section.

(b) Funds and in-kind donations solicited under this subpart may be used for the school purposes identified in the solicitation. If the solicitation did not identify the school purposes, the funds and in-kind donations may be used for any school purposes defined in § 48.3 of this part.

§ 48.208 - How does a Bureau-operated school process donated funds?

The Bureau will deposit all funds received as donations into the designated Treasury account. Once the Bureau deposits the funds, the Bureau will work with the Bureau-operated school to make the funds available for school purposes.

§ 48.209 - How must the Bureau-operated school report donations?

Each Bureau-operated school that has received donations must submit an annual report to the Director containing the following information:

(a) A list of donors, donation amounts, and estimated values of donated goods and services;

(b) An accounting of all costs of fundraising activities;

(c) Supporting documentation showing the donations were used for school purposes; and

(d) A report of the results achieved by use of donations.

authority: 5 U.S.C. 301; 25 U.S.C. 2,9; Pub. L. 112-74; Pub. L. 113-235; Pub. L. 114-113
source: 86 FR 34947, July 1, 2021, unless otherwise noted.
cite as: 25 CFR 48.201