Federal charity drive kicks off with innovations

New innovations are making it easier for federal employees and retirees to support their favorite charities through the annual Combined Federal Campaign.

This year, retired federal employees can designate contributions to be withheld from their pension annuities, thanks to a new retiree CFC online donation system. And some current employees will be able to use an automated system to make their contributions.

The CFC, which kicked off on Sept. 1 and runs through Dec. 15, is the only authorized solicitation for charities in the federal workplace. The CFC was formed in 1961 to pool informal solicitations into one large-scale charity drive.

Until this year, retirees were not able to participate in the campaign. "If they wanted to give to a charity they had to do it on their own," said Robyn Kehoe, who works with the Federal Employee Education and Assistance Fund. Earlier this month, Kehoe's boss, Steve Bauer, became the first federal retiree to use the new program.

The retiree access initiative is targeting 380,000 retirees in eight CFC regions, but is open to any retiree receiving an annuity who wishes to participate. The targeted areas are: Washington, Baltimore, Norfolk, Chicago, San Francisco, San Diego, Sacramento and Los Angeles. Participation in these areas will determine the future of the program.

Retirees can find more information about the program at www.cfcretiree.org or by calling 888-840-2848.

A second pilot implemented by the CFC this year allows federal employees to use an automated pledge card they can fill out either on a computer or at a kiosk. The public Web site for that program is not yet available.

"The innovations have to do with trying to integrate new technology in ways that will attract newer audiences to the campaign," said a senior Office of Personnel Management official.

The CFC is the largest workplace giving program in the world, according to OPM. Last year, 1.3 million federal employees participated, making donations totaling $218 million to 40,000 nonprofit organizations. Each campaign is run by a volunteer group of employees who work with experienced nonprofit executives in their communities to generate contributions and distribute them to eligible charities.

Secretary of Transportation Rodney E. Slater is chairing the 2000 Combined Federal Campaign of the National Capital Area, which raised $44 million last year.

"The value of workplace giving has to do with the relationship that it fosters with employees," the OPM official said. "It can add a lot of value to the environment in the workplace because it gives employees an outlet to pursue their personal interests. It can even be a vehicle for employees to develop skills in another area."