One of the best ways for charities to raise money short of the church collection plate is workplace fundraising. The biggest workplace fundraising drive in the country is the federal government’s Combined Federal Campaign, which raised more than $80 million in 2020.
Through the "CFC," federal employees, military personnel and postal employees can give to a broad range of international, national and local charities. The Campaign takes place each fall, usually from mid-September until early January.
What makes workplace fund raising so effective is the magic of payroll deduction, which allows people to make large gifts by having a little deducted from every paycheck. A gift of $5 a week adds up to an annual donation of $260. In the DC CFC, for example, the average gift in 2019 was $907.
Unfortunately, after raising more than $282 million in 2009, the amount raised by the CFC has been declining, especially since 2017, when the CFC changed how the campaign is run, doing away with the local charities (mostly United Ways) that used to run the local campaigns. Donations in 2017 dropped 40%.
Here are our articles about the CFC and its history as well as how charities can become part of the CFC and raise more money through the CFC:
Does CFC Promotion Still Pay? The Make-A-Wish Foundation's Data
Combined Federal Campaign down in 2023, but average gift rises to $917
Combined Federal Campaign down in 2022, but not in DC
Why has the DC CFC done so much better than the overall CFC?
How to make sure your charity comes up in a Combined Federal Campaign online search
Does it still pay to do Combined Federal Campaign-focused Promotion?
How do you apply to the Combined Federal Campaign?
How do you document your charity's services and benefits?
Combined Federal Campaign giving down slightly in 2021 while average gift climbs to $808
2019 CFC Campaign: On Time, With Fewer Charities
How to navigate the new Combined Federal Campaign giving website
How did your charity do in the 2018 Combined Federal Campaign list order lottery?
What's being done to make the 2018 Combined Federal Campaign more successful?
2017 Combined Federal Campaign: What happened?
Big changes in the Combined Federal Campaign expected to lower costs and make giving easier
Campaigns Are Finally Underway as the New Combined Federal Campaign Giving Website Opens
How the Combined Federal Campaign's changes are being implemented for the fall 2017 campaign
How will the Combined Federal Campaign's big changes impact giving this fall?
Should you apply to this year's Combined Federal Campaign?
Big changes in the federal charity drive start this year
New CFC rules will finally be implemented in 2017
Analysis of CFC's 2013 proposed rules for the campaign
The CFC's 10 accountability standards for charities.
Should you give through the CFC?
How has the CFC changed over the years?
How will the new CFC rules change the campaign?
The CFC went down in 2014, but not for local charities.
New Search Engine in DC Campaign Should Help Many CFC Charities
How promotion impacts the CFC: the "Wounded Warrior" Phenomenon
How does promotion impact what charities receive through the CFC?