CFC Info Center

Federal employees are a generous bunch. They gave nearly $276 million of their hard-earned pay to those in need through the government’s Combined Federal Campaign last year, just as the economy began to tank. That is up from the $273 million they donated in 2007.

Since CFC’s inception in 1961, feds have contributed more than $6 billion to the campaign’s charities. Federal employees are “making more money each year and, in turn, they increase their contributions to the CFC because they understand that there are others out there who need help and that they can make a positive difference by contributing to a CFC charity,” said Mark Lambert, the Office of Personnel Management’s CFC director.

“I don’t think federal employees are immune to current economic challenges … but employees see the CFC as part of their federal service. That’s why they gave more last year.”

Among the biggest beneficiaries of federal employees’ generosity are health charities. The top recipient of CFC donations in 2008 was Community Health Charities, which organizes workplace fundraising drives for charities such as the American Cancer Society, the March of Dimes Foundation and St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. The association netted $21 million in CFC donations last year.

The Military, Veterans and Patriotic Service Organizations of America, which represents groups such as Disabled American Veterans and the Veterans of Foreign Wars, was a distant second with $12 million in donations. Feds are also conscious of providing aid and relief to the poor at home and abroad. They donated nearly $11 million to Global Impact, an association of organizations providing relief abroad, and another $11 million to Christian Services Charities, an association of religious organizations providing relief around the world.

Animals and children were also top priorities for feds, who set aside $10 million for Animal Charities of America and $9 million for Children’s Charities of America.

While feds generously help others in need, there are also charities that let feds help feds. More than 20 organizations supporting feds receive funding through CFC. Among them are groups such as the Asian American Government Executives Network and Blacks in Government, which provide scholarships to increase the diversity of the federal workforce.

Other groups, such as the American Foreign Service Association Scholarship Fund and the Federal Employee Education and Assistance Fund, foster continued education of feds. Charitable arms of institutions such as the Pentagon Federal Credit Union Foundation support military personnel and their families. And nonprofits such as Diplotots Inc., the group that runs the State Department’s child care facility, seek CFC donations to assist department employees who cannot afford day care.

New to the group this year is Young Government Leaders, an organization promoting the development of early career government professionals through mentorship programs, networking opportunities, training and community service events. CFC donations will go to a scholarship fund the organization is standing up to help young feds continue their education, said David Wycinsky, spokesman for Young Government Leaders.

“Our mission is to build the leaders of the next generation,” Wycinsky said. CFC donations to the group’s scholarship fund could help the organization do just that, he said.