CFC 2014 broadens number, location of charities feds can donate to

Workforce

CFC 2014 broadens number, location of charities feds can donate to

The Combined Federal Campaign kicked off Sept. 1, with the new universal giving program, which lets employees give money to any of the 24,000 charities nationwide.

Jason Miller@jmillerWFED

September 10, 2014 3:24 pm

2 min read

The National Combined Federal Campaign is looking to rebound from a tough 2013 fundraising season by broadening the charities to which federal employees can donate.

Katherine Archuleta, the director of the Office of Personnel Management, said for the first time federal employees can give to any one of the 24,000 charities under the CFC outside of their local list under the new universal giving program.

“In the Washington, D.C., area, employees who previously access to 4,000 CFC charities, now have access to over 24,000 charities nationwide allowing them to give donations to previous and new charities alike,” Archuleta said during a press conference with reporters Wednesday. “Donors can also use the new online search feature to find charities by looking up their names, keywords or tax codes.”

The 2014 CFC kicked off Sept. 1 and runs to Dec. 15.

This year the universal giving is one of several ways the organization is trying to bounce back from a 2013 giving season that saw a 19 percent decrease in donations as compared to 2012.

Archuleta said more than 800,000 federal employees donated more than $209 million to the CFC last year.

Campaign	Total Pledges	Number of CFCs	Number Solicited	Number of Contributors
2013	$209,660,540.00	163	4,014,838	650,142
2012	$258,253,361.00	184	4,034,370	848,150
2011	$272,679,277.00	197	4,063,945	959,210
2010	$281,518,167.00	209	4,120,968	1,017,772
2009	$282,620,150.00	226	4,059,098	1,097,535

Keith Willingham, OPM’s program director of the CFC, said the agency doesn’t establish an overall goal for the government, and each of the 151 individual areas across the government decides on its goal.

The goal for the national capital region, for example, is $52 million for 2014.

In addition to universal giving, OPM approved several other pilot programs, some of the ideas came from the CFC 50 panel.

The national capital region is testing a bulletin board listing volunteer opportunities with charities. Willingham said if federal employees can’t afford to donate money, or wish to donate time instead of or in addition to money, the bulletin board will help connect the charity with the employee.

Willingham said OPM is preparing the implementation of the final rule that came from CFC 50 recommendations. OPM published the final rule in April and it becomes effective in 2016.

“I would like to thank the federal employees who contribute their hard earned money to ensure the continuity and success of the program,” Archuleta said. “I would also like to thank the CFC and its charities for providing new and innovative ways for federal employees to contribute to important programs in our communities.”

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