Private Organizations (POs) are self-sustaining, special interest groups set up by people acting exclusively outside the scope of any official capacity as officers, employees, or agents of the federal government. POs are not Federal entities and are not to be treated as such.

They are not Nonappropriated Fund (NAF) instrumentalities, nor are they entitled to the sovereign immunities and privileges enjoyed by NAFIs or the Air Force.

They operate on Air Force installations with the written consent of the installation commander.

Unofficial activities/organizations are small groups of individuals, which are not required to be formally established as POs because their current assets (including cash, investments, inventory, and receivables) do not exceed a monthly average of $1,000 over a 3-month period. Examples of unofficial activities/organizations are unit coffee funds, flower funds, sunshine funds, and other small non-resale operations.

When an unofficial activity/organization’s current monthly assets (which include cash, inventories, receivables, and investments) exceed a monthly average of $1,000 over a 3-month period, the activity/organization MUST become a PO, discontinue on-base operations, or reduce its current assets.

AFI 34-223, Private Organization Program, is the governing policy for establishing POs and contains guidance on their operation. For an application packet, please contact the private organization monitor at smw.orgs@losangeles.af.mil