CFC "overhead" costs fall into 2 categories - the amount of money used by individual charities for administration and fundraising expenses and the amount used to run the CFC campaign in an individual community.  

The administrative and fundraising rate for each CFC charity is listed (as a percentage of gross revenue) in your brochure. This is the percentage figure that appears with the 25-word description beside the name of each charity in the brochure. The administrative rate for a local CFC is calculated by subtracting the funds used to audit the local campaign and pay for other administrative and fundraising costs from the total amount donated. Local campaigns are not required to publish this information in their brochures, but most do.  

No donated funds are used to pay any other costs for CFC. Federal employees working in the campaign are either volunteers or work for CFC in the course of their regular Federal employment. 

No, to both questions. The Federal regulation addressing these questions

(5 CFR §950.402(c)) states: "An employee may not make a designation to an organization not listed in the brochure. In addition, an employee may not make a CFC contribution to an organization listed in the brochure of a campaign covering a geographic location different from the campaign where the employee works. Designations made to organizations not listed in the brochure are not invalid, but will be treated as undesignated funds and distributed accordingly."

Yes. There is no limit to the number of charitable agencies a Federal employee may designate. If more than 5 are chosen, the employee should staple the additional pledge card(s) to the first card - only the first card should show the total amount of the annual pledge and the attached cards should be numbered.

We encourage Federal donors to recognize that one or two larger gifts often have more impact than many smaller ones. But, if the Federal donor wants to make more than 5 designations, we provide the opportunity.  

Yes. CFC's regulations (at 5 CFR Part 905.103(g)) state that Federal contractors may not be solicited (that is, asked) to contribute to CFC. But, if contract employees working at a Federal facility become aware of the campaign and want to participate, they may voluntarily make a one-time cash or check contribution. There is no provision for payroll deduction for contractors.  

The Office of CFC Operations does not set a financial goal for the nationwide campaign. An LFCC can set a financial goal for that CFC area . Each Federal agency may also set a financial goal. However, it is not permissible for agency heads or supervisors to set giving goals for individuals or for smaller administrative units.  

No. The national and international lists must be a faithful reproduction of the list provided by OPM. The order of the listing within each part of the brochure is decided by random drawing. The order of organizations appearing within each federation's listing is determined by that federation. The order of listing of national and local unaffiliated groups is alphabetical. For more information see 5 CFR § 950.401(g)(2). All listings must appear in a single brochure - they cannot be produced as separate brochures. OPM may require brochures to be reprinted if sections are prepared improperly. 

Every federation, national or local, must apply to participate in CFC annually. New federations are required to provide their own applications as well as complete applications for each of its members. After the first year, complete applications for each member should be kept on file at the federation's offices, but complete member applications do not have to be submitted to the Office of CFC Operations or the LFCC. The LFCC or Office of CFC Operations can request these applications at any time. If a federation member agency does not meet all eligibility criteria in a subsequent year, the federation must include that information in their annual application. The LFCC or Office of CFC Operations may also request that the full application of any new federation member be submitted with the federation's application.  

Yes. Per guidance provided by OPM in OPM Memorandum 89-3, LFCC's must ensure that local agencies are given adequate notice of the application period and process. LFCC's can provide this notice using local newspapers, charitable newsletters, posting bulletins in public places, or by placing public service announcements on radio or television stations. The LFCC should also ensure that the PCFO maintains a mailing list of local agencies that have requested information.  

When a charitable organization joins a federation it must allow that federation to complete one full campaign cycle. This does not prevent the charitable organization from signing with a new federation, but the original federation must complete the distribution cycle. For example, a member organization of a federation in the 1999 CFC must allow that federation to complete its distribution for that member through January 2001. The member organization is permitted to sign with another federation during 2000, but it may not take the 1999 distribution away from the original federation.  

The compliance assessment guide should be completed by the LFCC and the PCFO and signed by a certifying official of the LFCC. The audit must be conducted by a certified public accounting firm in accordance with Generally Accepted Auditing Principles. The compliance assessment guide is intended as an internal document and is not intended to replace the CPA's auditing standards.