Sarah Ford | April 11, 2014

Charities Will Now Have to Pay a Fee to Participate in the Annual Federal Giving Drive

Federal employees鈥 annual charity drive will receive a major makeover in 2016, the Office of Personnel Management announced Friday.

The overhaul marks the culmination of three years of research into how to reform the Combined Federal Campaign, sparked by a report commissioned on the 50th anniversary of the drive. After soliciting comments from various agencies and stakeholders, OPM — which administers CFC — rejected many of its original suggestions spelled out in its听听one year ago.

In its final rule, which will enter the听Federal Register听in the coming days, OPM opted not to expand the donation solicitation period as it originally planned. Instead, the OPM director will decide each year when to open and close the giving period, but the dates must fall between Sept. 1 and Jan. 15.

The CFC will maintain local federal coordinating committees to oversee campaigns at the local levels, instead of eliminating them as OPM originally suggested. At a July 2013 congressional hearing, charities and lawmakers听听the elimination of the coordinating committees, saying a local touch was a key factor in soliciting donations.

Witnesses at the hearing also criticized a proposal to eliminate cash and check donations. OPM ultimately compromised on the issue, allowing feds to continue to donate with checks but not cash. The agency said less than 10 percent of donations in 2012 were given in cash and said the change would reduce overhead costs. Most feds donate to the campaign through deductions from their paychecks.

To help pay for outstanding administrative costs, OPM will begin charging charities an application fee and may charge an additional 鈥渓isting fee鈥 for approved organizations. Opponents of the fee said at the hearing the fee would increase charities鈥 overhead and disincentivize donations, but OPM declined to change its proposal.

Get Resources and Insights Straight To Your Inbox

Explore More Articles

February is Marfan Awareness Month!

February 3, 2025

Marfan syndrome affects an estimated 1 in 5,000 people regardless of race, ethnicity, or gender, and experts estimate听that nearly half the people who have Marfan…

Read Article

February is Cancer Prevention Month

February 3, 2025

A substantial proportion of cancers could be prevented, including all cancers caused by tobacco use and other unhealthy behaviors. Excluding non-melanoma skin cancer, at least…

Read Article

Celebrating the Agents of Change this Black History Month

February 3, 2025

During Black History Month, which takes place each year during the month of February, there is much to celebrate about the past achievements and impact…

Read Article

Get Resources and Insights Straight To Your Inbox

Receive our monthly/bi-monthly newsletter filled with information about causes, nonprofit impact, and topics important for corporate social responsibility and employee engagement professionals, including disaster response, workplace giving, matching gifts, employee assistance funds, volunteering, scholarship award program management, grantmaking, and other philanthropic initiatives.

newsletter-mock