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Return to Article: Federal charity drive reaches out to young donors

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  The dirty little secret about CFC is the almost 10% that goes into CFC administrative costs (read, promotional materials, rewards, trophies, etc.) and so the donor is only really donating 90% of the funds he/she thinks they are. I have never given to CFC and instead donate directly to the charity so that they receive a full 100% of my donation. The charity has their own overhead and I can't see a reason to pay the CFC an additional 10% on top of that. Naturally, the 10% figure is buried deep into the CFC booklet in very small print. Be warned and be wise!

  James Corbin Posted November 5, 2009 10:35 PM
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  It's sad to see people badmouthing this outstanding program that provides millions of dollars annually to thousands of wonderful human service & welfare organizations based on false, misleading and inaccurate information.

  CFC is a vehicle to enable individual federal employees to make their own, personal choices about where they want to give, and how they want go give. CFC does not make value judgments about non-profit organization; if they meet the criteria for entry, then legally they must be admitted into the campaign. There is NO allotment or quota that says any charity must receive at least X amount of dollars from CFC. That is a myth. CFC does NOT have allotments or quotas for how much money goes to specific organizations. As long as you designate 100% of your pledge, then your pledge goes to the organization you designate to, and NOWHERE else.

  CFC, of itself, does not give "aid or comfort" to ANY organization -- YOU and your co-workers do that by the charitable selections you make. Would you refuse to give food to a foodbank because it happens to be located right next to an adult video store? Of course not -- no one is forcing you into the video store. But that's the line of reasoning one commentator has employed to boycott the CFC.

  I'm not saying CFC is the only way to give, or that it's the best way for everyone -- of course each person is free to make his/her own choices and no one should feel coerced. But please base your decision on facts, not fiction.

  B Jacobs Posted November 5, 2009 2:26 PM
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  "I do not give via CFC, never have and never will. I give a reasonable amount to those specific charities that I am interested in. Remember, even though you are told that you can specify where your money goes, it still goes against the amount that was to go to that charity to begin with."

  Gary is way off base; and that was an EXCELLENT response, B Jacobs. As a matter of fact, please note the following from the CFC material.

  "What If I Choose Not To Specify An Organization Or Federation To Receive My CFC Contribution? All funds contributed to the CFC that are not designated to a specific organization or federation will be treated as undesignated funds and distributed to all organizations listed in the CFC Charity List in the same proportion as they received designations.

  Organizations that do not receive designated dollars cannot receive any portion of the undesignated distribution." In the common vernacular, if your organization gets no DESIGNATED DOLLARS they receive NO MONEY AT ALL.

  Additionally, "I refused to give to the CFC as it involves many organizations I oppose on moral grounds" I, too, have found several "charities" I find objectionable. That is why I have several local, low administrative cost organizations that I specify. But I always remember that if I don't specify them on my form, they MAY NOT get a share in the pot at all!

  "CFC is organized extortion by the government to its employees." I wonder how that can be if I have to track down our representatives every year to insure I have an opportunity to contribute. Not to knock our military brethren, but they often don't think we civilians participate and therefore, don't ask us. And after some of the comments I've seen here, I don't really blame them.

  Advocacy groups vs. charities: "curley" you may have a point there but specific contribution designation may draw some of the undesignated funds from those less favorable to your favorite charities. Think about it, if you give more... your groups may get more!

  Tip off Posted November 5, 2009 2:25 PM
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  Wow - - what causes such anger based on so much misinformation and unsubstantiated accusations! It isn't rocket science. You designate the organization that YOU want to support and that entire amount (minus VERY small admin fees)is sent to that charity at the end of the year. I like it that the charities have to prove themselves as a bonafide charity to CFC before they can be included in the booklet, and we are even given suggested website links by which we can do our own charity research. I, for one, am made aware of charities in my interest range that I probably would not have known about if not for CFC. And because of payroll deduction, I am able to give more over a consistent span of time. Nobody's holding a gun to anybody's head, so try to get a grip and re-join reality.

  bmk Posted November 5, 2009 1:58 PM
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  I refused to give to the CFC as it involves many organizations I oppose on moral grounds. Grops like abortion agencies, (Planned parenthood, Summit Women's Center, ect) abortion rights organizations, gay and lesbian advocacy groups. As to the argument that you can designate to the agency you want, I say that I do not want to be involved in any way with anything that gives aid andc comfort to these immoral organizations. Also, even organizations I agree with, like gun rights organizations, should be supported by their members and not by funds that would otherwise go to the truly needy and less fortunate, and not to advocacy groups. As another writer mentioned, if you designate to a specific organization, this comes off of the allotment that would go to them anyway, leaving that much more available for groups I don't agree with. Whatever I would have given to the CFC, I used to increase my donation to the Bishop's appeal in my diocese. Also, our union contract had specific clauses prohibiting any pressure direct or indirect (example, competition of participation among groups or divisions) for participation in the CFC, bond drives, blood drives, or direct deposit of salary. However, in other organizations with no union, I would not be surprised if this extortion took place.

  p curley Posted November 4, 2009 10:44 PM
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  Gary,

  Maybe you won't come back to this article and so you'll maybe you'll never see this rebuttal... but for anyone else who reads this, please know that Gary's comment is WAY off the mark. When you decide where to designate your pledge, that is exactly where your pledge goes. There is no government-designated amount or quota that certain charities are supposed to receive from CFC contributions. I don't know where Gary gets his information, but he needs to check his facts. I know first-hand how the CFC operates because I direct one of the CFC campaigns. Your pledge goes where you want it to go, and we're audited every year to make sure of it. (That is one of the "expenses" of CFC, and it's worth every penny.)

  Gary, you claim there is theft in the CFC, but you offer no evidence to substantiate that claim. MY evidence that there is NO theft lies the annual independent audit we are required to undergo EVERY year. It would be extremely difficult to steal campaign money (for one thing, 95% or more is payroll deduction, and how to you steal that?) and not get caught and go to jail for it. I'm not saying it's never happened or couldn't happen, but you seem to think it's a foregone conclusion that it is happening yet you offer no substantiation. Why so skeptical?

  Yes, there are some administrative expenses to the CFC, but they are generally very LOW and payroll deduction enables most employees to give far more to a charity than they otherwise could via a one-time contribution -- which more than makes up for those admin expenses. In addition, because charities don't have to market to federal employees (CFC does it for them), they are spared additional administrative costs of their own... CFC actually LOWERS the charities' own overhead.

  Just say YES to CFC and know that your contributions DO make a difference. And that's a fact.

  B Jacobs Posted November 4, 2009 6:04 PM
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  CFC is organized extortion by the government to it's employees. I do not give via CFC, never have and never will. I give a reasonable amount to those specific charities that I am interested in. Remember, even though you are told that you can specify where your money goes, it still goes against the amount that was to go to that charity to begin with. It does not get added on top of the regularly scheduled amount. Also there is the little problem over the years of theft from the Fund by the staff, not to mention their expenses which come off the top.

  Give to your favorite charity directly, just say NO to CFC.

  Gary Faeth Posted November 4, 2009 1:58 PM
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  I started giving to CFC more than 20 years ago with $5 a pay period. Each year I have increased it by $5 per pay period. You do the math. I don't even miss it and I have the satisfaction of knowing that I am sharing what God has given me. When I was first in the job market, I never dreamed I would be earning the salary I get now, and I am very willing to share it!

  Teresa Floore Posted November 4, 2009 10:43 AM