Although an outside entity may sometimes share the same goal as an official office or entity, all the rules for interacting with an outside entity still apply, including that the official entity may not promote or endorse the outside entity; promote, endorse, or do the work for an outside entity’s event or product; or use official resources on the entity or its event. An outside entity and a House entity should be sufficiently distinct to avoid any confusion of identities.
What kind of relationship may a Congressional Member Organization, a Congressional Staff Association, or Member office have with an affiliated private outside entity?
Is it permissible for a House office to co-host or co-sponsor an event with a private organization?
Maybe. A Member office may officially co-sponsor an event that qualifies as a “constituent service event” with one or more entities qualified under Internal Revenue Code § 170(c), but only in limited circumstances described in this guidance. If the event does not qualify for the co-sponsored constituent service event exception, the event must either be official or hosted by the private outside entity.
May the official office hold an event together with a government entity?
Members are free to cooperate in any event organized, financed, and conducted solely by another U.S. federal, state, or local government entity, even if it is not an official House event. Members and official entities may also accept unsolicited assistance with an official event from a U.S. federal, state, or local government entity.
A private entity is having an event in a House building. May the Member’s office send the invitations to the event?
No, although the official office may book a room in any House building for the private entity to use for an event, the rest of the event must be executed in the same way as any other event organized by an outside entity. In other words, the outside entity must still do all the work to put on the event, including planning, organizing, sending invitations, collecting RSVPs, and promoting the event. The Member’s office may send a follow up Dear Colleague after invitations have gone out.
I am interested in helping a charity raise funds. Is this OK?
Subject to certain restrictions, it is generally permissible for House Members and staff to solicit funds on behalf of a 501(c)(3) charitable organization in their personal capacity, which you can read more about in the Committee’s guidance on outside activity. An official office may not use official resources, including staff time, office space, official events, or official communications (including official letterhead, email, and social media) to solicit funds or collect donations for an outside entity.