Peterson, the mayor's spokesman, said Dixon's office does not track which employees raise the funds. The mayor's office does not employ a fundraiser, and Dixon has not solicited for the foundation since becoming mayor, he said.
City ethics rules prohibit employees from soliciting private donations from anyone who "does or seeks to do business" with the employee's agency or whose business is regulated by the agency. Since 2004, however, the Board of Ethics can grant exemptions in cases where the funds would benefit an official government program or activity or a city-endorsed charitable activity.
According to records provided by the ethics board, only 10 such requests for exemptions have come before it. Of those, two involved the Baltimore City Foundation, and both were from Fire Department employees.
Some employees who have been involved in fundraising say they had little, if any, awareness of the ethics rules.
City records show a $500 deposit to the foundation in 2006 from Shemin Nurseries of Burtonsville. Foundation records identified the Recreation and Parks official who delivered the check as Jennifer Morgan.
Morgan, the department's former director of partnerships, recalled raising money for Believe in a Greener Baltimore but said she did not remember who contributed. Jeff Waters, general manager of Shemin Nurseries, said the firm has done business with the city, including Recreation and Parks, for about 30 years. He could not confirm whether it was doing so in 2006, and neither could a Recreation and Parks spokeswoman.
Morgan said she may have occasionally raised funds from companies doing business with the department but was unaware of any restrictions on fundraising or any requirement to seek approval from the Board of Ethics.
"I was never given any guidelines," she said.
Reginald Scriber, the city's deputy housing commissioner, mentioned two housing employees who raise money for the agency's several accounts with the foundation and said employees at community centers also pitch in to raise cash.
But Scriber said he doesn't check whether employees do any fundraising for the Baltimore City Foundation that would require approval from the Board of Ethics.
"I don't think it is something we pay attention to in terms of somebody going to be dishonest," he said. "I don't usually try to differentiate between who and what as long as the check is written to the Baltimore City Foundation for the purpose we are working for, which is to help the needy."
