***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.*

**New 5-digit CFC Codes For All CFC Charities**

**What is the CFC?**

The Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) is the only authorized solicitation
of Federal employees in their workplaces on behalf of approved
charitable organizations.

The CFC began in the early 1960's to coordinate the fundraising efforts
of various charitable organizations so that the Federal donor would only
be solicited once in the workplace and have the opportunity to make
charitable contributions through payroll deduction.

Federal employees continue to make the CFC the largest and most
successful workplace philanthropic fundraiser in the world. Continuing a
long-standing tradition of selfless giving, in 2006, Federal employees
raised over \$271 million dollars for charitable causes around the
world.

**Structure of the CFC**

The CFC is made up of local campaigns that organize the annual fund
raising effort in Federal workplaces in the United States and abroad.

Each local campaign is managed by a Local Federal Coordinating Committee
(LFCC), which serves as a "Board of Directors" for the local campaign.
The LFCC is comprised of Federal employees and representatives of labor
unions with Federal employees as members. The LFCC is responsible for
the oversight of the local CFC. In conformance with CFC regulations and
policies, the LFCC makes admission determinations for local charities
and selects a Principal Combined Fund Organization (PCFO) to administer
the day-to-day operations of the campaign and to serve as its fiscal
agent.

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) regulates the CFC and provides
guidance and oversight to the local campaigns (LFCCs and PCFOs).

**Public Accountability**

OPM is accountable for assuring Federal employees that their
designations are honored and distributed to the charitable organizations
of their choice. OPM achieves this in several ways.

OPM maintains strict eligibility and public accountability criteria that
all participating CFC charities must meet. For details, see CFC
Regulations in 5 CFR Part 950 at
<http://www.opm.gov/cfc/opmmemos/index.asp>.

OPM annually makes admission decisions for all national and
international charity applicants and it resolves local charity admission
appeals. OPM sets strict requirements and provides on-going guidance for
the activities and conduct of the LFCC and the PCFO. The fiscal
integrity of the campaign is verified by OPM compliance audits and the
annual review of local campaign audits that PCFOs are required to have
completed by an independent CPA.

**The CFC Charity List**

The Charity List is a paper or web-based display of national,
international, and local organizations that have met CFC eligibility
requirements. A sample charity listing is shown below with key elements
shown in italics. Key elements include: the organization's ***new
five-digit CFC code***, the legal name in parentheses shown if it is
"doing business as" under another name, the employer identification
number (EIN), a 25-word statement of purpose (except in abbreviated
listings), its administrative and fundraising expense rate (AFR), and
its Service Categories (Taxonomy Codes).

[Sample Charity Listing]{.underline}

***11405*** **ABC Charity** *(Alpha-Charity)* (800) 555-5555
www.abccharity.org *EIN#12-3456789* ABC Charity attacks the causes of
hunger and poverty by promoting effective and innovative community-based
solutions that create self-reliance, economic justice, and food
security. *15.8% P,S,K*

**Making Informed Giving Decisions**

The EIN, AFR, and the Service Categories are included to help donors
identify organizations that meet their interests and performance
standards.

[The EIN]{.underline} is issued by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
It can be used for obtaining additional information about an
organization from the IRS (877-829-5500). *Please Note:* Some
organizations may be covered under an umbrella organization's tax
exemption status and EIN or may not be required to have an EIN.

[The AFR]{.underline} represents the percentage of dollars spent on
administering the charity. It is calculated as a percentage of the
organization's total support and revenue. OPM, as well as the
philanthropic community at large, remains concerned about excessive AFR
levels. The philanthropic community generally considers an AFR in excess
of 35 percent to be problematic. Potential CFC donors should carefully
review the circumstances applicable to the potential charities of their
choice to be certain they fully understand and accept the AFR situations
for such charities before donating to them. Each situation is unique.
Donors may contact the charity directly and/or industry oversight
organizations in order to better to understand the financial status,
service delivery record, and governance policies of the charity before
donating. A listing of oversight organizations is available at
<http://www.opm.gov/cfc/Donors/Giving.asp>

[The Service Categories (Taxonomy Codes)]{.underline} categorize the
types of services that most charitable organizations offer. Charities
self-select up to three alpha-codes (shown below) for inclusion in the
CFC charity list. Charities that did not select at least one category
are assigned "Z" for the "Other" category.

The 26 service categories are derived from the National Taxonomy of
Exempt Entities (NTEE) classification system. This system, developed by
the National Center for Charitable Statistics, is widely used in the
non-profit community.

[SERVICE CATEGORIES (TAXONOMY)]{.underline}

A Arts, Culture, and Humanities

B Educational Institutions & Related Activities

C Envir. Quality, Protection & Beautification

D Animal Related

E Health -- General and Rehabilitative

F Mental Health, Crisis Intervention

G Disease, Disorders, Medicinal Disciplines

H Medical Research

I Crime, Legal Related

J Employment, Job Related

K Food, Agriculture, and Nutrition

L Housing, Shelter

M Public Safety, Disaster Preparedness & Relief

N Recreation, Sports, Leisure, Athletics

O Youth Development

P Human Services -- Multipurpose and Other

Q International, Foreign Affairs, National Security

R Civil Rights, Social Action, Advocacy

S Community Improvement, Capacity Building

T Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Foundations

U Science & Technology Research Institutes,

Services

V Social Science Research Institutes, Services

W Public, Social Benefit: Multipurpose, Other

X Religion Related, Spiritual Development

Y Mutual/Membership Benefit Orgs., Other

Z Other

For additional guidance on selecting charities, visit the CFC website at
<http://www.opm.gov/cfc/html/qfd.asp>[.]{.underline}

**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. Prohibited practices include, but are not limited
to: supervisors soliciting the employees they supervise; setting 100%
participation goals, providing and using donor 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-contributing employees.

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.

**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]{.underline} feel are most
important. You may designate the organizations of your choice where
indicated on your pledge form by entering the five-digit code and the
amount you wish to pledge. ***Additional designations may be completed
on a second pledge form.*** Except for documented expenses for the
operation of the local CFCs and uncollected pledges, all contributions
are distributed as designated.

*You cannot designate to an organization that is not listed in this
Charity List**.** Adding organizations not listed, or **"**write-ins",
or is prohibited by CFC regulations and donations to such organizations
will be treated as undesignated funds. In addition, pledges made using
the former four-digit codes cannot be honored and will be treated as
undesignated funds.*

**What Are Affiliated And Independent Organizations And Federations?**

Affiliated organizations receive services from a Federation that
supplies 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. Independent organizations are not members of a
federation and participate in the CFC on their own.

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.

**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 form. 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 an affiliated federation member organization, please
record that organization's corresponding code number on your pledge
form.

**How Do I Designate An Independent Organization To Receive My
Contribution?**

You may wish to designate to an independent organization that is not

affiliated with a Federation. Simply enter that organization's
five-digit code number on your pledge form.

**What If I Choose Not To Specify An Organization Or Federation To
Receive My CFC Contribution?**

All funds contributed to the CFC that are not designated to a specific
organization or federation will be treated as undesignated funds and
distributed to all organizations listed in the CFC Charity List in the
same proportion as they received designations. Organizations that do not
receive designated dollars *cannot* receive any portion of the
undesignated distribution.

**What Is The 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 entering five number ones: 11111 on your pledge form.

**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 made 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. There is no simpler way for you to make good
things happen for so many people than to contribute using payroll
deduction. Payroll deduction helps you care for your community and your
world.

**Will I Receive A Receipt For My Contribution?**

Donors should keep a copy of their pledge form, as well as their pay
statements, as a receipt of their pledge. A Federal employee who makes a
one-time (cash, check, or money order) contribution must maintain a bank
record or a written communication from the local campaign showing the
name of the organizations contributed to, the date of the contribution,
and the amount of the contribution. Every effort will be made by the
local campaign to provide a receipt to donors, but it is the
responsibility of the donor to request such a receipt from the local
campaign. Donors that do not receive a receipt should contact the local
campaign to obtain one. Local campaigns can be found using the Campaign
Locater search feature on the CFC website at
<http://www.opm.gov/cfc/Search/Locator.asp> Donors should consult a tax
adviser to determine if additional verification of the donation is
required by the IRS.

**What Are The Costs Of The Campaign?**

Historically, campaign costs nation-wide have averaged ten percent.
These funds 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 On-line Pledging or E-Giving?**

On-line pledging and e-giving, in general terms, means that donors have
the additional pledging tools of the charity list and pledge form
available to them "on-line" or on the internet or intranet. Currently,
several local campaigns are participating in pilot projects that offer
on-line charity lists and secure pledge transactions through the
Employee Express (EEX) HR System. Other campaigns have web-based charity
lists and downloadable pledge forms. If you would like to have access to
on-line giving tools such as these in your area, or have comments to
share, please contact OPM at <cfc@opm.gov>, Attn: Online Giving or your
local campaign. Local campaigns can be found using the Campaign Locater
search feature on the CFC website at
<http://www.opm.gov/cfc/Search/Locator.asp>

### 

### Visit the CFC Homepage

For more information about the CFC, including details on the public
accountability standards for participating charities, how to contact
your local CFC campaign, and more, visit the CFC Home Page at
**[www.opm.gov/cfc](http://www.opm.gov/cfc)[. ]{.underline}**