About the Combined Federal Campaign

The Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) is the annual fund-raising drive conducted by federal employees in their workplace each fall. Each year, federal employees and military personnel raise millions of dollars through the CFC that benefits thousands of non-profit charities.

The CFC was created by President Kennedy in 1961 as an annual workplace charitable giving campaign for all federal civilian, military and postal employees. The CFC for Greater New Orleans Area covers federal workers in 14 parishes: Assumption, Jefferson, Lafourche, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. James, St. John the Baptist, St. Mary, Tangipahoa, St. Tammany, Terrebonne, and Washington.

If you would like more information about the Combined Federal Campaign in New Orleans, please send an e-mail to lindas@unitedwaynola.org.

The Office of CFC Operations at the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is responsible for oversight of the CFC. The Office of CFC Operations is located at 1900 “E” Street NW, Room 5450, Washington, DC 20415. You can contact the Office by phone 202-606-2564, fax 202-606-5056 or email CFC@opm.gov.

CFC Mission

To promote and support 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.

CFC Operations Vision

A government that encourages and enables active employee participation in the community and that fosters collaboration with business and the nonprofit sector to achieve this goal.

What is the CFC?

The CFC is the only authorized solicitation of employees in the Federal workplace on behalf of charitable organizations. It continues to be the largest and most successful workplace fund-raising model in the world. With a tradition of commitment to the community through the selfless efforts of Federal employees, the CFC has its roots in the many charitable campaigns of the early 1960’s. Seeing a need to bring the diversity of fund-raising efforts under one umbrella, Federal employees created the CFC – one campaign, once a year. Over the last 50 years, Federal workers have donated more than $6 billion to the Combined Federal Campaign, making them one of the most powerful philanthropic forces in the world.

Structure of the CFC

The CFC is made up of local CFCs that raise funds in federal workplaces across the country. Local charities that serve the local area or adjacent counties apply directly to the Local Federal Coordinating Committee (LFCC) – which serves as a “Board of Directors” of the local LFCC.  In the Greater New Orleans Area, the LFCC is composed of members of the Federal Executive Board. Decisions regarding the inclusion of charities in the local campaigns are made by the LFCC. LFCCs are also responsible for the oversight of the local CFC in conformance with the CFC regulations and policies established by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM). Local charities admitted to a CFC by the LFCC have met OPM requirements for local eligibility.

The LFCC selects a voluntary organization to serve as the Principal Combined Fund Organization (PCFO), whose job is to manage the campaign and serve as fiscal agent. OPM sets strict requirements for this role. Annual audits are required of the PCFO by a independent CPA.

United Way for the Greater New Orleans Area has been the contracted manager for the Combined Federal Campaign since 1971.

OPM is responsible for regulating the CFC and providing guidance and oversight nationwide. It reviews and provides guidance and technical advice on regulations, and has the authority to conduct compliance audits on any CFC local campaign fiscal records.

Regulations and Guidelines

The Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) Regulations govern all aspects of the CFC. Executive Orders 12353 and 12404 authorize the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to prescribe rules and regulations to facilitate fund-raising on behalf of charitable organizations through on-the-job solicitation of Federal employees and military personnel, and to ensure that recipient agencies are responsible in the use of the funds raised. CFC Regulations can be found in Title 5, Part 950 of the Code of Federal Regulations maintained at most regional and university libraries.