December 12, 2011
Contributions & Donor Recognition Plans; Clarification of Construction Services as Contributions
As a follow-up to the 2008 "Contributions, Fundraising, and Recognition Reference Guide," the Partnership Advisory Committee has developed a sample template which can be used to develop project-level or district-level Contributions and Donor Recognition Plans. This sample plan has been reviewed and approved for use by HQUSACE Resource Management and Office of Counsel (see attached 12 October 2011 memo from OC). Further discussions between Operations, RM, RE, and OC led to the need for clarification on the issue of acceptance of "construction" services as a contribution. This resulted in the attached 21 November 2011 memo from OC and subsequent MFR from CECW-CO. The memos and sample plan will be posted on the NRM Gateway Contributions Program webpage: http://corpslakes.usace.army.mil/employees/contribute/contribute.cfm

The PAC team developed this sample to assist districts or projects that do not already have a plan in place. Projects/districts that already have a plan do not need to create a new version, unless there is an obvious conflict with Counsel's opinion. This is purely a tool to help with development; it is not a mandatory format, nor does it have to be copied word for word. In fact, each location that elects to use this sample should amend certain sections of the document to match their processes.

ER 1130-2-500, Chapter 11-2, (5)h. states "Each location that collects contributions shall have a contributions plan that describes the work that will be accomplished with any potential contributions." It is our goal that all districts shall have a Contributions and Recognition Plan in place by the end of this FY. To streamline the process, a district may select to develop one plan for all projects within the district, instead of each individual project developing a plan. This will meet the intent of the regulation and bring projects into compliance.

We would like to keep track of which projects/districts are in compliance with this ER. Please send your complete approved plans to Ms. Heather Burke as they are developed and she will post them on the Gateway with the others. As of today, we are only aware of two districts and 4 projects with Contributions Plans in place. Existing district and project-level plans are posted on the NRM Gateway at: http://corpslakes.usace.army.mil/employees/contribute/recog.cfm

If you have questions, please feel free to contact Ms. Burke or your Division PAC team member (Titus Hardiman-SWD, Allen Gwinn-NAD, Chad Eller-SAD, Chris Rapenchuk-LRD, Joel Miller-SPD, Jamie Gyolai-MVD, Alana Mesenbrink-NWD).

Thanks all.
Mike
Michael G. Ensch, SES

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