Definitions
Nonprofit means no part of the organization’s income is distributed to its members, directors, or officers.
Nonpartisan means the organization may not attempt to influence legislation as a substantial part of its activities and it may not participate in any campaign activity for any particular political candidates, groups, or issues.
501(c)(3) means organizations (commonly referred to as charitable organizations), which are organized and operated exclusively for religious, charitable, scientific, educational, literary, testing for public safety, or other specified purposes and that are tax exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Can I use paid time off for volunteering for religiously affiliated activities?
It depends. Paid time off for volunteering cannot be used for serving as a worship leader, proselytizing, or raising funds for religious activities.
Paid time off for volunteering may, however, be taken for charitable activities occurring under the auspices of a religious organization (e.g., a synagogue serving homeless people in Operation Deep Freeze, or a church group participating in a Habitat for Humanity build).
Why can’t I use paid time off for volunteering to work for a political candidate?
Arizona State Statute (A.R.S.) section 15-1633 prohibits the use of any University resources “for the purpose of influencing the outcomes of elections or to advocate support for or opposition to pending or proposed legislation.” See Arizona Board of Regents (ABOR) Policy 6-905 for permitted activities.
Do I need to disclose my volunteer activity as an outside commitment with the Office of Responsible Outside Interests?
If the activity meets the disclosure requirements of the Conflicts of Commitment and Interests Policy, disclosing the activity is required. You may review the Outside Commitment Decision Tree for guidance and contact the Office of Responsible Outside Interests for assistance.
Can I use paid time off for volunteering at University events (e.g. Commencement, Homecoming)?
Yes, paid time off for volunteering may be used for this purpose as long as the work being performed is not a requirement or duty of your University employment.
Can I use paid time off for volunteering if my position is grant funded?
In most cases, yes, you can use paid time off for volunteering. However, each grant has guidelines on how the award may be used. Contact Sponsored Projects Services for assistance.
How do I record time taken as paid time off for volunteering?
A specific reporting code for employees to record paid time off for volunteering will be available in the UAccess time reporting system. In the comments section, indicate the name of the organization you volunteered for and the volunteer service you provided.