§2556.740. May VISTAs participate in political fundraising activities?
45 C.F.R. § 2556.740
Provided that paragraphs (b) through (d) of this section are fully adhered to, and in accordance with the prohibitions set forth in § 2556.710, a VISTA may:
Make a political contribution to a political party, political group, campaign committee of a candidate for public office in a partisan election;
Attend a political fundraiser; and
Solicit, accept, or receive uncompensated volunteer services for a political campaign from any individual.
A VISTA may participate in fundraising activities as long as such participation:
Does not interfere with the performance of, or availability to perform, their assigned VISTA project duties;
Does not interfere with the provision of service in the VISTA program;
Does not involve any use of VISTA assistance, resources or funds;
Would not result in the identification of the VISTA as being a participant in or otherwise associated with the VISTA program;
Is not conducted during scheduled VISTA service hours; and
Does not interfere with the full-time commitment to remain available for VISTA service without regard to regular working hours, at all times during periods of service, except for authorized periods of leave.
A VISTA may not knowingly:
Personally solicit, accept, or receive a political contribution from another individual;
Personally solicit political contributions in a speech or keynote address given at a fundraiser;
Allow their perceived or actual affiliation with the VISTA program, or their official title as a VISTA, to be used in connection with fundraising activities; or
Solicit, accept, or receive uncompensated individual volunteer services from a subordinate (e.g., a leader may not solicit, accept or receive a political contribution from a VISTA).
Except for VISTAs who reside in municipalities or political subdivisions designated under 5 CFR part 733, no VISTA may accept or receive a political contribution on behalf of an individual who is a candidate for local partisan political office and who represents a political party.
Notes, amendments, and revision history
Authority
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 4951-4953; 5 CFR part 734, 42 U.S.C. 4953(a), (f), 4954(b), (e), 4955(b), 4956, 5043(a)-(c), 5044(a)-(c), (e), 5046, 5052, 5056, and 5057; 42 U.S.C. 12651b (g)(10); 42 U.S.C. 12651c(c); E.O. 13279, 67 FR 77141, 3 CFR, 2002 Comp., p. 2156, 42 U.S.C. 4954(a), (b), (d), 4955, 5044(e), 5055, and 5059; 42 U.S.C. 12602(c), 42 U.S.C. 4953(b), (c), (f), and 5044(e).
Source
Source: 88 FR 31180, May 16, 2023, unless otherwise noted.