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CFC Frequently Asked Questions
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Why give through CFC ? (Click the bullet to get more question details!)
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Accountability in the CFC (Click the bullet to get more question details!)
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The CFC: Its Story and Mission
The mission of the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) is to support and to promote philanthropy through a program that is employee-focused, cost-efficient and effective in providing all Federal employees the opportunity to improve the quality of life for all.
Its tradition of commitment to the community through the selfless efforts of Federal employees has its roots in the many charitable campaigns of the early 1960s. Seeing a need to bring the diversity of fundraising efforts under one umbrella, Federal employees created the CFC—one campaign, once a year. By allowing employees to select the organizations of their choice from a single brochure and to make their contributions through payroll deductions, the CFC opened wide the door to more opportunities for generous giving to literally hundreds of worthy causes. An Executive Order made the CFC a reality, and turned an innovative idea into a uniquely effective way for Federal employees to help those in need across our community and throughout the world.
The CFC is the only authorized solicitation of employees in the Federal workplace on behalf of charitable organizations. It continues to be the largest and most successful workplace fundraising model in the world.
Visit the Office of Personnel Management’s CFC Homepage
For information about the CFC, visit the national OPM CFC Home Page at http://www.opm.gov/cfc
You Accomplish So Much With Your CFC Gift
This year, many local, national, and international voluntary agencies will benefit from your thoughtfulness and generosity. A few minutes of your time today can mean meals for hungry children, relief for families in need of counseling, further work on cures for diseases, comfort for the dying, access to water in the Third World, environmental protection, and better lives and renewed hope for millions of people in our global community.
Payroll Deduction Lets You Help All Year Long
Payroll deduction makes it convenient for you to give by letting you spread your contribution across the entire year. Last year, more than 90% of all CFC funds raised were given through payroll deduction. Payments on payroll deduction pledges begin on the first pay period in January. Because there is no simpler way for you to make good things happen for so many people, payroll deduction helps you care for your community and your world.
You Control Where Your Gift Will Go
All Federal employees have the right to contribute or not to contribute to the CFC. The choice is yours. Through your designation, you ensure that your donation goes to meet those needs that you feel are most important. You may designate to the organizations of your choice where indicated on your pledge card. Additional designations must be completed on a second pledge card. Except for documented expenses for the operation of the local CFCs and uncollected pledges, all contributions are distributed as designated. Every local campaign has a Local Federal Coordinating Committee, comprised of Federal employees, which must approve and monitor campaign expenses.
Please do not designate to an organization that is not listed in this brochure. Adding organizations not listed, or “write-in”, is prohibited and donations to such organizations cannot be accepted. If you prefer, you may donate to the CFC anonymously by placing your confidential gift in a sealed envelope. All funds contributed to the CFC that are not designated to a specific organization or federation will be distributed to all organizations listed in the CFC brochure in the same proportion as the contributions designated to them.
How do Charities Qualify for Listing in the CFC Brochure?
All charities listed applied for participation in the CFC either at the national or local level. Charities with documented programs in at least fifteen states or a foreign country applied directly to the Office of Personnel Management. Only those agencies certified by OPM are listed in this brochure in the “National/International Organizations” and the “International Organizations” sections.
The Local Federal Coordinating Committee (LFCC) is Your “Board of Directors”
Local charities that help residents in this area or in adjacent counties applied directly to the Local Federal Coordinating Committee (LFCC)—which serves as a “Board of Directors” of your campaign. The LFCC is composed of Federal employees and representatives of labor unions with Federal employees as members. Decisions regarding the inclusion of charities in local campaigns are made by the LFCC. LFCCs are also responsible for the oversight of your local CFC in conformance with the CFC regulations and policies established by OPM. The local charities listed under the heading “Local Organizations” have met OPM requirements for local eligibility. Click here for information about this year's LFCC members.
The Principal Combined Fund Organization (PCFO) Manages the CFC
Every year, the LFCC selects one of the voluntary organizations involved in the CFC to manage the campaign and serve as fiscal agent. OPM sets strict requirements for this role. Annual audits are required of the Principal Combined Fund Organization by an independent CPA.
A Proud Record of Low Fundraising Costs
Through the outstanding oversight efforts of the Federal employees on each LFCC, approximately 8% of the funds raised nationwide are spent on printing materials, training volunteers, and auditing contributions.
Because this cost is so low compared with other fundraising campaigns, every dollar you pledge goes a very long way toward helping others.
Contributions (less uncollected pledges and approved administrative costs) are distributed to each charity at regular intervals by the Principal Combined Fund Organization in accordance with CFC regulations.
The US Office of Personnel Management has the overall responsibility for the management of the CFC. It reviews and provides guidance and technical advice on regulations, and has the authority to conduct compliance audits on any CFC local campaign fiscal records.
If you would like more information about the finances, services, benefits or programs an organization provides, you may call the organization directly at the telephone number provided in the organization’s listing or visit their homepage, if available. Interested donors may also obtain information about a charity’s finances and compliance with charitable organization standards of accountability by contacting the following watchdog organization: Better Business Bureau’s–Wise Giving Alliance (www.give.org). For general information about trends in giving and volunteering or data on the nonprofit sector, donors may contact: Independent Sector (www.independentsector.org), the National Center for Charitable Statistics (www.nccs.urban.org) or the American Association of Fundraising Counsel (www.aafrc.org).
The Voluntary Spirit of Giving is Guaranteed
Remember, any contribution you make should be freely given. You have the right not to be improperly influenced in making your decision regarding the making or withholding of contributions in the CFC. Coercion is forbidden.
In order to guarantee this voluntary spirit, the Office of Personnel Management has identified several practices that are not permitted, including but not limited to: supervisory solicitation of employees supervised; setting of 100% participation goals; providing and using contributor lists for purposes other than the routine collection and forwarding of contributions and installment pledges; establishing personal dollar goals and quotas; developing and using lists of non-contributors.
Civilian employees who wish to register complaints about coercion should consult with their personnel offices; military personnel should contact their commanding officers.
Special Notice Regarding Donations of $250 or More
A Federal employee who makes a one-time (cash, check, or money order) contribution of $250 or more and those who make a payroll deduction contribution of $250 or more per pay period should contact the local Principal Combined Fund Organization (PCFO) or Agency Coordinator to determine if additional verification of the donation is required by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). This will not affect the tax-deductibility of the CFC contribution.
How Charity Information is Organized on this Website
This material is taken from the official Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) Donor Brochure. Charitable organizations appearing in the Donor Brochure and on this website have complied with regulations governing their participation in the CFC.
The Brochure consists of a National and International List of organizations, approved by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and a Local List of organizations, approved by the Local Federal Coordinating Committee (LFCC). Charitable organizations and federations eligible for the National List have elected to appear either in the National/International, International or Local section based on the scope of their programs.
Each organization entry includes the following information: organization’s name; statement of purpose; phone number; website address; legal name of the organization (if other than the name they use to do business); the employer identification number (“EIN”) and the percentage of fundraising and administrative costs as a percentage of total revenue. The EIN number has been added to provide donors another point of reference if you wish to obtain information about an organization’s finances from the IRS.
Please note that some organizations may be covered under an umbrella organization’s tax exemption status and may not list the EIN. Religious organizations are exempt from the requirement of having an EIN.
A federation is a group of voluntary charitable human health and welfare organizations established for purposes of supplying common fundraising, administrative, and management services to its members. Each federation is listed with its member organizations as the first organization.
If you wish to designate all or some portion of your contribution to a federation, please record that federation’s corresponding 4-digit code number on your pledge card. Contributions designated to a federation will be shared in accordance with the federation’s policy. If you wish to designate all or some portion of your contribution to a federation member organization, please record that organization’s corresponding 4-digit code number on your pledge card.
You may wish to designate to a specific organization or organizations not affiliated with a federation (unaffiliated organizations). If you wish to designate all or some portion of your contribution to an unaffiliated organization, please record that organization’s corresponding 4-digit code number on your pledge card.
International General Designation Option
If you wish your contribution to be distributed proportionately to all international organizations that received designated gifts, you may do so by recording the code letters identified below on your pledge card.
I request that my gift be shared by all international organizations listed in the “International Section” of the “Agency Listing” in the same proportion that international organizations received designations.
Even if you choose not to designate to a specific agency or federation, your contribution will still be accepted. Funds contributed to the CFC, but not designated to a specific organization or federation, will be distributed to all organizations in the CFC brochure in the same proportion as they received in designations. Organizations which do not receive designated dollars cannot receive any donations.