Combined Federal Campaign (CFC)

The mission of the CFC is to support and to promote philanthropy through a voluntary program that is employee-focused, cost-efficient and effective in providing all Federal employees the opportunity to improve the quality of life for all.

What is the CFC?

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. With a tradition of commitment to the community through the selfless efforts of Federal employees, the CFC has its roots in the many charitable campaigns of the early 1960’s. Seeing a need to bring the diversity of fundraising efforts under one umbrella, the CFC was created – one campaign, once a year. In 2005, Federal employees around the world raised more than $268 million for charitable causes.

Structure of the CFC

The CFC is made up of local campaigns that raise funds in Federal workplaces across the country and around the world. Local charities that serve the local area or adjacent counties apply directly to a Local Federal Coordinating Committee (LFCC) – which serves as a “Board of Directors” of the local CFC. The LFCC is composed of Federal employees and representatives of labor unions with Federal employees as members. Decisions regarding the inclusion of charities in the local campaigns are made by the LFCC. LFCCs are also responsible for the oversight of the local CFC in conformance with the CFC regulations and policies promulgated by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). All organizations participating in the campaigns must meet strict public accountability criteria set forth in OPM regulations.

Every year, the LFCC selects one of the voluntary organizations involved in the local CFC to serve as the Principal Combined Fund Organization (PCFO), whose job it is to manage the campaign and serve as fiscal agent. OPM sets strict requirements for this role. Annual audits are required of the PCFO by an independent CPA.

OPM is responsible for regulating the CFC, providing guidance and oversight nationwide, and also has the authority to conduct compliance audits on any CFC local campaign fiscal records.

The CFC Brochure

This brochure consists of National, International, and Local organizations. National and International organizations are approved by OPM, and Local organizations are approved by the LFCC’s.

Each organization’s brochure information includes the following: CFC code, organization name, legal name of the organization in parentheses if it is doing business under another name, phone number, website address, the employer identification number (EIN), statement of purpose, fundraising and administrative expenses as a percentage of total support and revenue, and a service classification or taxonomy code.

The EIN provides donors a point of reference for obtaining additional information about an organization from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) (877-829-5500). Please note that some organizations may be covered under an umbrella organization’s tax exemption status and EIN or may not be required to have an EIN.

Under OPM regulations, if an organization’s administrative and fundraising expenses exceed 25 percent of total support and revenue, it must certify that the expenses are reasonable under the circumstances and include a formal plan to reduce such expenses below 25 percent. Organizations with an asterisk following their administrative and fund-raising rate have expenses above the 25 percent level, and have provided OPM with a satisfactory explanation as to why the amount of expenses is reasonable under the circumstances and a plan to reduce these expenses below 25 percent. Because many circumstances can affect this rate, donors who may have questions are urged to contact the organization.

Making an Informed Choice

In order to participate in the CFC, organizations must demonstrate that they meet the eligibility and public accountability standards set forth in CFC regulations at 5 CFR Part 950. Donors are also encouraged to contact the charity to which they wish to contribute as well as industry oversight organizations that may provide additional information about a charity’s financial status, its service record, and governance. For more information, please visit the OPM website at www.opm.gov/cfc/Donors/Giving.asp.

Taxonomy of Services

Each organization has identified up to three taxonomy codes, in priority order, which most closely identify the type of mission, services, and activities it provides. The codes appear at the end of each charity’s listing. Categories are derived from the National Taxonomy of Exempt Entities (NTEE) classification system developed by the National Center for Charitable Statistics. The 26 categories are:

1. Arts, Culture, and Humanities

2. Educational Institutions & Related Activities

3. Envir. Quality, Protection & Beautification

4. Animal Related

5. Health – General and Rehabilitative

6. Mental Health, Crisis Intervention

7. Disease, Disorders, Medicinal Disciplines

8. Medical Research

9. Crime, Legal Related

10. Employment, Job Related

11. Food, Agriculture, and Nutrition

12. Housing, Shelter

13. Public Safety, Disaster Preparedness & Relief

14. Recreation, Sports, Leisure, Athletics

15. Youth Development

16. Human Services – Multipurpose and Other

17. International, Foreign Affairs, National Security

18. Civil Rights, Social Action, Advocacy

19. Community Improvement, Capacity Building

20. Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Foundations

21. Science & Technology Research Institutes, Services

22. Social Science Research Institutes, Services

23. Public, Social Benefit: Multipurpose, Other

24. Religion Related, Spiritual Development

25. Mutual/Membership Benefit Orgs., Other

26. Other

Types of Organizations Listed

Organizations listed in the CFC brochure are either affiliated with a federation or are “unaffiliated”. Federations are established for purposes of supplying common fundraising, administrative, and management services to its member organizations. Charitable organizations participating in the CFC as a member of a federation may pay dues or fees to that federation as a service charge. For additional information on a particular federation and any dues/fees paid by its members, either contact the federation, its members, or review the federation’s annual report.

If you would like more information about the finances, services, benefits or programs an organization provides, you may contact the organization directly using the information provided with their listing in this brochure.

What are the costs of the campaign?

Last year, approximately 9.6% of the funds raised nationwide were spent on printing materials, training volunteers, auditing contributions, and other administrative expenses. All local campaign costs are reviewed and approved by the LFCC governing the local campaign. On average, this cost is low compared with other fundraising campaigns; therefore, every dollar you pledge goes a very long way toward helping others.

What is the payroll deduction option?

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 beginning in January and conclude with the last pay period beginning in December. 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.

Can I specify which organization will receive my contribution?

By designating where your CFC contribution will go, you ensure that your donation goes to meet the needs that you feel are most important. You may designate 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.

You cannot designate an organization that is not listed in this brochure. Adding organizations not listed, or “write-ins”, is prohibited by CFC regulations and donations to such organizations will be treated as undesignated funds.

How do I designate a federation, or alternatively, one of its members, to receive my contribution?

If you wish to designate all or some portion of your contribution to a federation, please record that federation’s corresponding code number on your pledge card. The federation name will be listed at the top of the list of the federation’s member organizations. 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 code number on your pledge card.

How do I designate an unaffiliated organization to receive my contribution?

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 code number on your pledge card.

What if I choose not to specify an organization to receive my CFC contribution?

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 they received designations. Organizations that do not receive designated dollars cannot receive any donations.

International General Designation Option

If you wish to have your contribution distributed proportionately among all international organizations that received designated gifts, you may do so by recording the letters IIII on your pledge card.

Do I have to give through the CFC?

No. Participation in the CFC is strictly voluntary.

Coercion is forbidden. You have the right not to be improperly influenced regarding your decision to give or not to give through the CFC. Practices not permitted include, but are 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, and developing and using lists of non-contributors. If you prefer, you may donate to the CFC anonymously by placing your confidential gift in a sealed envelope. Civilian employees may register complaints about coercion with the LFCC and contact their personnel offices; military personnel should contact their commanding officers.

Will I receive a receipt for my contribution?

Donors may keep a copy of their pledge card as a receipt of their pledge. 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 to a single organization in the CFC should consult a tax adviser to determine if additional verification of the donation is required by the IRS. Such verification can be obtained by contacting the local CFC office.

Visit the CFC Homepage

For information about the CFC, including details on the public accountability standards for participating charities, visit the CFC Home Page at www.opm.gov/cfc.