Accepting Gifts

Gifts from Non-Federal Domestic Sources

As a general rule National Park Service employees may not, directly or indirectly, solicit or accept a gift:

  1. from a prohibited source which is defined as any person or organization that:
    - Has business with the employee's agency;
    - Is seeking to do business with the employee's agency ;
    - Conducts operations that are regulated by the employee's agency; or
    - Has interests that may be substantially affected by the performance or nonperformance of the employee's official duties.
  2. if it is given because of the employee's official position. Exceptions to this rule include:
    1. Employees may accept gifts (from anyone) having a market value of $20 or less per occasion, provided that the aggregate market value of individual gifts received from any one person does not exceed $50 in a calendar year. It is important to note that if the market value of a gift exceeds $20, employees may not pay the difference (the amount over $20) in order to accept the gift. This exception does not apply to gifts of cash, gift certificates, or of investment interests such as stock, bonds, or certificates of deposit.
    2. Employees may accept gifts given under circumstances which make it clear that the gift is motivated by a family relationship or personal friendship rather than the position of the employee. Such gifts may not be paid for by a prohibited source.
    3. Employees may, in most cases, accept discounts, or other promotional benefits for participation in commercial or private activities that are offered to all Government employees.
    4. Employees may accept outside awards that are given for achievements and meritorious public service. For some awards, approval to accept may have to be obtained from the Designated NPS Ethics Official.
    5. Employees assigned to participate as a speaker or panel participant or to present information on behalf of the agency at a widely attended event, may accept free attendance at the event on the day of the presentation when provided by the sponsor of the event.
    6. Employees may accept a sponsor's unsolicited gift of free attendance at a widely attended gathering of mutual interest when there has been a determination that the employee's attendance at the gathering is in the interest of the NPS because it will further NPS programs or operations.

For more information on these and other exceptions, refer to 5 CFR 2635.204.

Important! All NPS employees may accept gifts offered to them by representatives of domestic and foreign organizations when refusal to accept such gifts would be likely to cause offense or embarrassment or otherwise adversely affect relations with the United States. All gifts received are subject to the $20 standard for gifts from domestic sources, and $260 for gifts from foreign governments.

Gifts from Foreign Sources

NPS employees who receive gifts from foreign companies or organizations must use the rules that apply to acceptance of gifts from domestic sources. If the gift is offered from a component of a foreign government, the employee may personally accept the gift if its market value is $260 or less. If the market value of the gift exceeds $260, the employee may accept the gift on behalf of the United States. For further information on this provisions, refer to 5 U.S.C. 7342.

Questions regarding any of these provisions and their applications should be directed to your servicing ethics counselor.

More information on ethics may be found at http://www.doi.gov/ethics/