Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Can a federal employee donate to a local agency in a neighboring CFC campaign area?

• A. No. As stated in 950.103(h), a federal employee may participate in a particular CFC only if that employee's official duty station is located within the geographic boundaries of that CFC. Campaign boundaries are strictly determined and approved by OPM. See a listing here .

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Q. Can I specify which organization will receive my contribution?

• A. Yes. 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.
  
  Please do not designate an organization that is not listed in the Contributor's Guide . Adding organizations that are not listed or "write-ins" is prohibited. Donations to such organizations cannot be accepted by the CFC.

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Q. Do I have to give through the CFC?

• A. 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.

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

• A. You may wish to designate to a specific organization or organizations not affiliated with a federation. 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.

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

• A. 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.

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Q. How do I use the International General Designation option?

• A. 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.

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Q. Is it possible to make the Contributor's Guide available electronically?

• A. Yep. Here it is!

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

• A. 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 Contributor's Guide in the same proportion as they received designations.

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Q. What is the payroll deduction option?

• A. Payroll deduction makes it convenient for you to give by letting you to spread your contribution across an entire year. For the 2005 campaign, more than 91% of all CFC funds raised were given through payroll deduction. Payments on payroll deduction pledges begin with the first pay period in January and end with the last pay period 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.

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Q. What types of organizations are listed in the Contributor's Guide?

• A. Organizations listed in the Contributor's Guide 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 or fees paid by its members, either contact the federation, its members, or review the federation's annual report.
  

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Q. Will I receive a receipt for my contribution?

• A. 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.

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