COMBINED FEDERAL CAMPAIGN

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 from a single guide making 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.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

ABOUT THE CFC

 1.         What is the administrative cost of the Combined Federal Campaign?
Last year the total administrative and fund-raising expense for the CFC was 7.6% of dollars raised from the campaign.

2.         May I designate to a charitable agency not on the eligible charitable agency list?
The Federal Register, 950.402(c), prohibits making a designation to a charitable agency not on the list. Write-ins cannot be honored. If you designate to a charitable agency not on the list, your contribution will be considered undesignated.

3.         What is the duration of my payroll deduction and when does it begin?
Deductions will be for one year and begin the first pay period in January of the year following the pledge.

4.         Are contributions tax deductible?
For one-time donations under $250 and payroll deductions pledges under $3,000, your payroll stub or canceled check is acceptable to the IRS. For one-time cash/check donations over $250, you must have a receipt from the CFC headquarters, which will automatically be mailed to you.

5.         Who determines how my contributions will be used?
When you designate your gift, YOU DO! The funds will be provided to the charitable agency(ies) of your choice.

6.         Why should I support the CFC?
Because each agency has been certified by a committee of federal employees, ensuring its legitimacy. They can give continuously, throughout the year. A unified CFC campaign can raise more funds for charitable agencies than can be raised through unorganized direct giving. CFC protects the federal employee from year-round in-the-workplace solicitation by charitable agencies.

7.         Why not just give directly to the agencies?
There are several reasons that the CFC is among the best ways to give to charity. All agencies and federations are carefully screened and meet strict but fair requirements. Giving through the CFC allows you to use payroll deduction, thus increasing the amount of money you can afford to give to your favorite charity. Undesignated money is distributed according to the percentage of money designated to the agencies. Therefore, your designated gift allows your favorite agency to receive a percentage of the undesignated money. The fact is that most of us are too busy to research charities and make contribution. CFC makes it easy for you.

8.         Are we allowed to hold special events to raise money for the CFC?
Yes! The new OPM regulations allow us to hold fundraising events as long as the participants are aware that the money will be distributed as undesignated funds. However, use caution when doing these events so as not to encourage the donors' participation in lieu of their monthly payroll deduction gift. No event can raise more money than an effective workplace campaign.

9.         I never use agency services, so why should I give?
You never know when you, a member of your family, or a neighbor may need a CFC service. Job loss, loss of a loved one, illness, disabilities, family problems, mental disorders and the problems of growing up and growing old know no boundaries. Your gift helps ensure that CFC services are available when they're needed. Anyone who has been involved in Scouting, taken a Red Cross first aid course, learned to swim at the YMCA, or benefited from cleaner air has been served by a CFC agency.

10.       What is the relationship between the CFC and United Way?
The CFC needs an organization to plan, promote, and carry out its goals. United Way of Otero County applies every year to the Federal Executive Board to be granted the one year contract. United Way designated an impartial CFC Director to act in the best interest of the CFC and never to promote the United Way. The United Way does not get paid to run the campaign, but does get its costs reimbursed by the participating charities. The United Way then applies separately to be an eligible 501(c) 3 to receive donations.

THE ANNUAL DONOR GUIDE of

CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS 

Charitable organizations appearing in the annual directory have complied with regulations governing admission to the CFC. The one directory section is composed of a National List, approved by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and a Local List, 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 section of the National List or in the International section of the National List based on the scope of their programs.

What is a Federation?
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 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 code number on your pledge card.

Unaffiliated Organizations
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.

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.

IIII - 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.

Undesignated Funds
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.

INSTRUCTIONS ON COMPLETING

THE CFC PLEDGE FORM

 Be sure to use a ballpoint pen and print legibly.

Front Cover -- List your name, federal agency you work for, work address, work phone and social security number.

Payroll giving -- If donating by payroll deduction, tell us how much you want deducted each pay and multiply by 12 (military) or by 26 (civilian) and write the total annual gift.

Sign and date the portion of your pledge card to authorize payroll deduction.

All payroll deductions previously authorized in the Fall campaign will automatically terminate the last pay period in December of the following year. Payroll deductions authorized in the upcoming Fall campaign will begin the first pay period in January of the following year and will automatically terminate with the last pay period in December.

Cash or Check -- If donating by cash or check, simply list your total gift.

Designate the agency or agencies of your choice.
– Refer to your CFC 2002 Donor Guide to find an agency and its code
-- List the four-digit code of each charitable group you are designating and the annual amount to that group.
-- All designations must add up to the total annual gift.

Release of name, home address or E-mail address -- Signify whether or not you want your name released to the charitable groups you designated.

Detached Copy #3 (pink) -- from the pledge card and keep this copy for your record/tax purposes.

Deliver to your keyperson -- Always submit cover page if you qualify for donor recognition items, and copy #2 (yellow) of your pledge card. Also submit copy #1 (white) if you gave by payroll deduction.

Confidential Donations -- Simply place the cover page if you qualify for donor recognition items, and copy #2 (yellow) of your pledge card. Also submit copy #1 (white) if you gave by payroll deduction in a sealed envelope and return to your keyperson.

HOW TO APPLY TO PARTICIPATE

IN THE CFC CAMPAIGN

Any private, voluntary charitable organization may apply to participate in the local campaign. To obtain a copy of the application, submit a written request on your organization's letterhead to:

Local Federal Coordinating Committee
Chairperson
Southeastern New Mexico Combined Federal Campaign

P. O. Box 14

Alamogordo, NM   88310

A request may also may be faxed to 505-437-8409. A copy of the local, unaffiliated application may be obtained through the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) web site at www.opm.gov/cfc.