PCC Management Insights

“Staying in the Know”

Fundraising Guidelines
October 2008

This summary of fundraising guidelines for Postal Customer Councils (“PCCs”) is qualified by and subject to the Program Policies and Rules set forth in Publication 286, available through the national PCC website at www.usps.com/pcc.

Sources of PCC Funds.  Sources of PCC funding include membership fees, sponsorship donations of cash, goods and services, and fees collected through educational seminars and vendor shows, subject to the rules outlined in Publication 286.

The following are highlights of some of the rules pertaining to PCC fundraising:

Solicitation.  Postal Service employees may not participate in the solicitation of cash, goods, services or any other gifts (a) on behalf of the PCCs or (b) in connection with any event held, sponsored or organized by the PCCs.
Membership fees.  PCCs may charge reasonable annual membership fees. Postal Service employees are not subject to membership fees. 
Related to PCC Mission.  PCCs are not intended to operate as profit-making organizations. Each PCC is to function on a break-even basis. PCC funds may be used only for activities directly related to the PCC Mission. All PCC activities must be approved by the PCC Executive Board in accordance with the bylaws.
Types of Events.  Acceptable types of events include:  educational workshops for local mailers, special event fund-raisers such as group outings or team sporting events connected to networking, and vendors shows where PCC members are invited to set up booths for a fee and display their products and services that have a relationship to Postal Service products and services and the PCC Mission.  Competitors may not be exhibitors or speakers at PCC events, shows and activities.
Prize Drawings, Raffles, etc.  Prize drawings and raffles may only be conducted if participants are not required to pay any sort of fee or amount to enter and, if conducted through the mail, must comply with postal lottery and sweepstakes laws, 18 U.S.C. §§1301-1302 and 39 U.S.C. §§ 3001, 3005. Postal employees who participate in PCC events are not eligible to receive awards, prizes, free admission, or other gifts unless such awards, prizes, etc. are paid for in their entirety with Postal Service funds.
No Contests or Gambling.  Contests, casino nights and any other forms of gambling are not permitted at PCC events and functions or as a fundraising mechanism for PCCs. 
Prohibited Use of PCC Funds.  A PCC may not use its funds or solicit cash or monetary contributions to fund charitable causes, scholarships, relief or assistance funds, insurance programs, hardship loans, political activities, gifts, or other causes or activities not directly related to the PCC Mission. 
Acceptance of Donations.  Industry members of the PCC may accept donations of cash, goods and services for the use of the PCC in fulfilling its Mission, if the donations are for the benefit of the PCC as a whole, are voluntarily offered, and if the donor receives no special consideration or favor in return for such donation.  However, donations and sponsorships to the PCC offered by competitors may not be accepted.   Because Postal Service employees are subject to the Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Executive Branch, they are not authorized to accept any gifts, donations or otherwise, on behalf of the PCC.
Acknowledgement of Sponsorships and Donations.  Acknowledgment of sponsorships and donations may take the form of a listing of business names and/or business logos, or individual names accompanied by basic contact information (physical address and mailing address, if different, general phone number, email address, and/or web site address) and must include the following statement:  “No endorsement by the Postal Service or the PCC is given or implied by this acknowledgement.”  Additionally, prior to publication of the acknowledgement, donors/sponsors must, in writing, confirm that the PCC has permission to use any trademark or logo, etc. and must warrant as to certain other matters.  The agreement is available through the PCC website.  Appropriate acknowledgment of donations or sponsorships may appear in PCC publications, mailings, materials or other communication media, including PCC event signage or individual PCC web sites.  
If you have any questions about these guidelines, please refer to Publication 286 or send an email to PCC@usps.gov.