2017 CFC Campaign Will Be Delayed By A Month

The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM), which administers the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC), has announced the workplace giving program for federal employees will begin later than usual this year, kicking off Oct. 2 and running through Jan. 12, 2018. The specific dates will be for this year only, allowing local campaign zones time to organize their engagement strategies in order to incorporate changes that took effect this year. To read more about this announcement, click here. 

What This Means For You & What You Can Do Now:

It’s hard to say how this delay will impact CFC giving, but the fact that it launches in October – a critical month for workplace giving – and will extend halfway into January is encouraging. While the CFC will be kicking off late, there are still several things your team should be doing to prepare for a successful 2017 workplace giving season, including:

1. Website: Make sure your website lists your CFC# and information about how to support your organization through workplace giving. We recommend listing your CFC# on your homepage and/or in the footer of your website alongside your GuideStar, Charity Navigator, or BBB Wising Giving accolades. We also encourage you to use the templates and sample copy from America’s Charities’ Member Toolkit (see page 10).
2. Publicity and Donor Cultivation: Make sure your organization is top of mind BEFORE donors decide who to support. For ideas and templates, see page 13 of America’s Charities’ Member Toolkit. 
3. Matching Gifts: If you haven’t already done so, take advantage of our partnership with Double the Donation and leverage matching gifts tools that can maximize your fundraising results. Each year, approximately $10 billion of corporate matching gift money goes unclaimed, which represents about $20 billion to nonprofits. The reason this money goes unclaimed is a lack of awareness. By embedding Double the Donation’s matching gift toolbar on your website, donors can instantly see if their employer matches gifts and take advantage of the offer. Click here to learn more about our partnership with Double the Donation and exclusive discounts available to our members. To see Double the Donation’s matching gift tools in action, watch the video below.