Intermountain CFC Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC)?2. What is the CFC mission?
3. Why have a CFC?
4. Who decides how to spend my donations?
5. What about undesignated funds? Don’t they go to all charities in the CFC brochure?
6. How efficient is the CFC?
7. Why should I not give directly to a charitable agency and save the administrative cost?
8. I already give a lot to my church. Why should I also give through the CFC?
9. My taxes go to support the poor, so why should I give through the CFC?
10. Why isn’t my favorite agency a member of CFC?
11. There is a CFC agency I don’t like. I will have nothing to do with CFC because of this.
12. Why should I give to the CFC?
13. What if I can’t afford to give right now?
14. What if I lose my job?
15. Are labor and management both behind the CFC campaign?
16. What if I work seasonally or on a temporary basis?
17. Who checks on the money to make sure it is properly spent?
18. How do I know my money really gets to the agency I designate?
19. What happens when I fill out the optional address & contact information under “Recognition Options” on my pledge form?
20. How can an organization get listed in the CFC brochure?
21. Can I get help from a CFC campaign participant?
22. What is the benefit of payroll deduction?
23. How do federal agencies benefit from participation in the CFC?
24. What are the boundaries of our local (Intermountain CFC) campaign?
25. Who serves on the CFC Board of Directors?
26. How do I know the charities participating in the CFC are legitimate?
27. What is a Federation?
28. When is the CFC campaign?
29. I don't work in the Intermountain Area. How may I contact the CFC in my area?
30. What is the relationship between CFC and United Way?
1. What is the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC)? The CFC is the only authorized solicitation of employees in the federal workplace on behalf of charitable organizations.
(return to top)
2. What is the CFC mission? To support and 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.
The mission of the Intermountain CFC is to create a positive charitable giving climate that empowers federal employees to improve their community through an efficient, engaging and personally relevant campaign.
(return to top)
3. Why have a CFC? The annual fundraising campaign helps to support a variety of health, human, and other services provided by more than 1,800 charitable agencies. This single campaign is the most cost-efficient fundraising method. It succeeds because volunteers from the federal workforce combine their resources for one coordinated appeal.
(return to top)
4. Who decides how to spend my donations? You! Each donor designates their dollars to meet their interests. You may pick a single cause— or several causes— and apportion your contribution among them in any way you like.
(return to top)
5. What about undesignated funds? Don’t they go to all charities in the CFC brochure? No. Any undesignated funds are distributed among all listed charities proportional to the amount that those charities received in designations. The best way to ensure your gift goes to a charity you support is to designate your gift by writing down the five-digit code of your favorite charity(ies) in the appropriate place on the pledge form.
(return to top)
6. How efficient is the CFC? Campaign efficiency results in more than 92 cents of every dollar collected being distributed directly to CFC charities. The Intermountain CFC’s net costs (about 7.6%) are among the lowest of all charitable groups. We’re also among the largest and most efficient CFCs in the nation – by comparison the national average for CFC costs is 10%. This efficiency is achieved through volunteer involvement and the consolidated fundraising concept.
(return to top)
7. Why should I not give directly to a charitable agency and save the administrative cost? Giving through CFC offers you the following benefits:
-
Ease & convenience of payroll deduction. This is not only easier on the budget but in most cases allows you to give more than you could in one lump sum – maximizing the benefit to the charities you support.
-
Ease of giving to multiple charities. You won’t have to write separate checks or keep track of multiple receipts.
-
Confidence. Every CFC charity is screened by a committee of Federal employees. The PCFO is also audited annually to ensure that donations are handled properly.
-
Benefit to the charity. Since charities spend $0.00 to apply to CFC or be listed, giving through CFC actually lowers their own overhead. With CFC, charities do not have to spend extra money processing many individual donations.
(return to top)
8. I already
give a lot to my church. Why should I also give through the CFC? Supporting
your church organization is a wonderful cause. By giving to your
church and the CFC, you can support both your faith and the many
local charitable organizations that directly improve the quality
of life in your local community.
(return
to top)
9. My taxes go to support
the poor, so why should I give through the CFC? Many
CFC agencies provide job training, recreation for youth, and rehabilitation
programs that help people to be self-sufficient and prevent more serious
problems from occurring. Without CFC-supported programs, many more
people would need public assistance, which could actually drive up
your taxes.Many of the CFC agencies primarily focus on services
for working families. Visiting nurses, family counseling, drug and alcohol
abuse treatment programs, scouting programs, and Red Cross programs are
used by all of us. The services of CFC agencies are available to everyone
in our community, as well as nationally and overseas.
(return
to top)
10. Why isn’t
my favorite agency a member of CFC? The Office of Personnel
Management in Washington, DC regulates the CFC. Prior to 1988 there
was a "write-in" option but it was being abused, causing
administrative costs to increase, so the regulations were changed.
Now volunteers from Federal agencies review applications for their
compliance with the regulations. All charitable agencies must demonstrate
that they manage their funds appropriately (according to generally
accepted accounting principles – GAAP), deliver real human health & welfare
services and have a non-compensated Board of Directors to whom they
report. See "How can an organization get listed in the CFC
Brochure.
(return to top)
11. There
is an agency in the CFC brochure I don’t like. I will have
nothing to do with CFC because of this. It’s true that a wide spectrum
of organizations is represented because of the varied interest of the
Federal workforce. However, by designating where your funds
go, you can be assured that only the charities of your
choice receive your gift. Many worthy organizations need
your support—lack of participation in the CFC makes it more difficult
for them to provide the needed help. Remember, CFC has established
stringent guidelines to ensure that member organizations are serving
needs, are financially responsible, and are operated by a Board
of Directors.
(return to top)
12. Why
should I give through the CFC? Choice. Convenience. Confidence.
Care.
Choice. The CFC is your campaign.
You choose the designation amount, which organization(s) (among
over 1800) receive your gift, and how you give.
Convenience. With the
CFC you can give via payroll deduction and have the ability to
automatically support the causes of your choice year-round. Or
you can give via cash or check. Your gift is tax-deductible.
Confidence. All charities
in the CFC are screened by federal employees who serve as volunteers.
Local charities are screened by local volunteers. National and
international charities are screened by a national CFC committee.
Care. Your
gift improves the quality of life for you and your neighbors. You
have access throughout your lifetime to the thousands of vital
health and social services not supplied, or only partially covered,
by government sources. These services stabilize lives, arrest social
problems, encourage productivity, and increase the resources and
prosperity of the entire community, our nation, and overseas.
(return
to top)
13. What if I can’t afford
to give right now? You don’t have to! Pledge your
gift though payroll deduction and spread small payments throughout
the year. CFC charities need your year-around support. Deductions
don’t begin until January.
(return
to top)
14. What if
I lose my job? You will not be expected to continue
your pledge payments during your period of unemployment, nor are
you responsible for your remaining balance.
(return to top)
15. Are labor and
management both behind CFC? Yes, labor organizations
and members work with management to make the campaign a success.
(return
to top)
16. What if I work
seasonally or on a temporary basis? You may still
contribute to the CFC. Of course, if you use payroll deductions
it will only be deducted during the period you receive your paycheck.
(return
to top)
17. Who checks
on the money to make sure it is properly spent? Every
CFC is controlled by a Local Federal Coordinating Committee (or
Executive Board). The Board is comprised of volunteer Federal
personnel. Under their direction, an Eligibility Committee
of Federal volunteers reviews charitable agencies for compliance
with the criteria stipulated in the CFC regulations; i.e.,
ensuring they are nonprofit, audited annually, etc. No additional
review of an agency’s budget is made, thus you must be familiar
with the agency you designate. The Combined Federal Campaign
PCFO (principal combined fund organization) is audited annually by
an independent auditor to ensure that designations have been honored.
The PCFO also provides independent confirmation of designations
to independent auditors on behalf of CFC agencies and federations
as requested.
(return
to top)
18. How do I know
my money really gets to the agency I designate? By
regulation, all designations must be honored. A yearly independent
audit is performed to verify this. In addition, you can request
to be acknowledged for your pledge by your designated charity.
(return
to top)
19. What happens
when I fill out the optional address & contact information
under “Recognition Options” on my pledge form? If
you complete the “Recognition Options” section on the pledge
form, you authorize your name and address to be forwarded to
the agency(cies) you designate. Many times they acknowledge
your contribution and add your name to their mailing list.
It is up to the federation or agency to acknowledge your gift.
(return
to top)
20. How can an
organization get listed in the CFC brochure? If
the organization serves the local area, they should call the
CFC Headquarters in February at (801) 399-5584 to request an
application for that year. They can also check the Website
under “Charity Info.” If the organization is national or international,
they should call the Office of Personnel Management at (202)
606-2564 for an application.
(return
to top)
21. Can I get
help from a CFC campaign participant? Yes. The
services of CFC campaign participants are available to anyone
who needs them, including federal employees. Call 211 for information
about which charitable organization can assist you with your
specific need.
(return
to top)
22. What is the
benefit of payroll deduction? Through payroll
deduction, a donor-specified amount is withheld every payday
and continues throughout the year. This is convenient and easier
on the budget. Payroll gifts often makes a crucial difference
in campaign results as they are usually more substantial than
cash gifts.
(return to top)
23. How do federal
agencies benefit from participation in the CFC? Participation
in the CFC creates added community visibility for federal employees
and the agencies for which they work. Federal employees are viewed
by the community as good neighbors, concerned with the welfare
of others.
Federal employees benefit from an improvement in the
quality of life in the Intermountain region. Participation in the
CFC assures that services will be available to federal employees
when their own personal situations arise. The campaign affects
everyone, including the lives of a federal agency’s employees.
Participation in a single, efficient, annual campaign offers individuals
the opportunity to meet their civic responsibility to the community.
(return to top)
24. What
are the boundaries of our local (Intermountain CFC) campaign? The
Intermountain CFC covers all of Utah, western Colorado, southeastern
Idaho and most of Wyoming. Click here to see
the map.
(return
to top)
25. Who serves
on the CFC Board of Directors? Federal employees
from Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, and Colorado serve on the Local
Federal Coordinating Committee (Executive Board), which
oversees all functions of the campaign. Click
here to see our Executive Board.
(return to top)
26. How do I know
the charities participating in the CFC are legitimate? Federal
employees throughout the Intermountain region volunteer to serve
on the Eligibility Committee, which evaluates each charity
applying to become eligible to receive designations from local
CFC contributors. Each local charitable agency must meet the
following requirements, as defined in federal law and OPM rules
and regulations:
-
Organizations must certify that they provide or conducts real human health and welfare services, benefits, assistance or program activities
-
Organizations must provide a letter from the Internal Revenue Service recognizing them as tax-exempt under 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3)
-
Organizations must provide a completed copy of their IRS Form 990
-
Organizations must demonstrate that they have a substantial local or statewide presence, which must include a staffed facility or office available to the public seeking their services
-
An organization's local facility must be open at least 15 hours per week and have a telephone number exclusively dedicated to the organization
-
Organizations with an annual budget in excess of $100,000 must submit an audit report in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards
-
Organizations must be directed by an active and responsible governing body whose members have no conflict of interest and a majority of which serve without compensation
(return to top)
27. 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.
(return to top)
28. When is the CFC campaign? The campaign is conducted each Fall, usually during a six-week period between late September and early December.
(return to top)
29. I don't work in the Intermountain Area. How may I contact the CFC in my area? Locate information about your local CFC at the Office of Personnel Management website www.opm.gov/cfc. Caution: DO NOT use the information or charitable codes found on this web site to fill out your pledge card unless you work within the campaign boundaries of the Intermountain CFC.
(return to top)
30. What is the relationship between CFC and United Way? CFC needs a professional organization to plan, promote and carry out its goals. CFC regulations require that every local campaign be managed by a non-profit agency, under a contract period from one to three years. United Way applies to the Intermountain CFC Executive Board at the conclusion of every contract period to serve as the Principal Combined Fundraising Organization (PCFO). United Way is not paid a fee to run the campaign; it only receives reimbursements for approved CFC expenditures through the annual budget approved by the Executive Board. United Way and its partner agencies must also apply independently to participate in the campaign and become eligible to receive donations.
(return to top)