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Answers to Frequently Asked Donor Questions:
WHY DO PEOPLE GIVE THROUGH
THE CFC?
 | They have received help
from an agency supported through the CFC. |
| They know someone who has
been helped. |
| They want to help others. |
| CFC is a convenient way
to make a charitable contribution. |
| Their activity supports
the CFC. |
| They feel good knowing
their contribution will make a difference. |
WHY SHOULD YOU GIVE
THROUGH THE CFC?
| Because each agency has
been screened by a committee of Federal Employees, ensuring its legitimacy. |
| Charities can count on
gifts given through the CFC. They are notified early in the year of what
their revenue will be from CFC and can plan their programs accordingly.
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| Payroll deduction is
available only through CFC. |
| Your gift through CFC has
a greater impact, because it is combined with contributions from other Federal
employees. |
| You will receive
recognition from the CFC. |
| CFC protects the Federal
Employee from year-round, in-the-workplace solicitation by charitable
agencies. |
WHY ISN'T MY FAVORITE
CHARITY A MEMBER OF THE CFC?
| All charities listed in
this year's Donor brochure applied to be part of the CFC, either nationally at
the Office of Personnel Management or locally to the Local Federal
Coordinating Committee. All applications are reviewed by a committee of
federal employees for their compliance with the regulations. In order to be
eligible, an agency must meet the following criteria: |
*
Demonstrate that it is eligible to receive tax- exempt donations.
*
Provide services that affect human health and welfare.
*
Have an active volunteer board of directors.
* Have overhead costs of 25% or less, or
provide an adequate explanation and a plan for reducing its overhead.
*
Receive an annual audit by an independent CPA if its revenues are over
$100,000 annually.
*
Produce an annual report and IRS 990 report which are available to the
public.
* Demonstrate it has substantial
presence in our campaign area or in a campaign area that is contiguous to our
region. If your favorite agency is not listed, it may not have applied or
it was turned down for lack of compliance.
WHY SHOULD I SUPPORT A
CAMPAIGN THAT INCLUDES ORGANIZATIONS I DON'T LIKE?
o
CFC does not make any political judgment as to the worth of an
organization. That is up to you. CFC is a donor choice campaign: You decide
where your money goes. Choice is the foundation of the CFC.
WHO DETERMINES HOW MY
CONTRIBUTION WILL BE USED?
| THE DONOR DOES!
By designating a gift to an
agency(ies) you ensure only that agency will receive the money. |
HOW DO I KNOW THAT MY
MONEY REALLY GETS TO THE AGENCY I DESIGNATE?
| All designations are
honored by regulation and each year the administrative agency (PCFO) undergoes
two separate audits - a financial audit is conducted by an independent
accounting firm and a compliance audit is conducted by the LFCC. Both audits
include a review of designations to be sure they have been honored.
Additionally, if you complete the "Release of Name" section on the pledge
form, your name will be forwarded to the charities you designate. They will
generally write to you acknowledging your pledge. |
WHAT IF I DON'T
DESIGNATE?
o
Undesignated funds are distributed in the same proportion that
agencies received designations. Consequently, organizations that did not
receive any designations in this campaign area will not receive any undesignated
money either, which means they receive nothing from this campaign. Because
undesignated funds do mirror designations made by federal employees, it is
possible that your contribution, if undesignated would go to support causes with
which you disagree. To be sure that your money supports only those agencies
that complement your views, we strongly encourage you to designate your
contribution.
WHAT IF I CAN'T AFFORD TO
GIVE RIGHT NOW?
| You don't have to.
Pledge your gift through payroll deduction and spread small payments
throughout the year. Deductions don't begin until January, 2012.
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IS A CONTRIBUTION TAX
DEDUCTIBLE?
| YES!
100% of a contribution to any CFC agency is tax deductible when an individual
itemizes. The third part of the traditional pledge form qualifies with
the IRS as the donors receipt for cash and check donations. For
payroll deductions, the year-end LES statement is the satisfactory
documentation for a charity contribution. |
WHAT IF I KNOW I WILL NOT
BE IN MY JOB FOR AN ENTIRE YEAR?
| You can give through
payroll deduction if you know you will be in your job for at least three
months. |
WHAT IF I TRANSFER TO
ANOTHER AREA?
| If you transfer, the
payroll deduction authorization you give here will follow you. |
WHY SHOULD I CONTRIBUTE
WHEN I DON'T USE THE SERVICES OF ANY OF THE AGENCIES?
o
You most likely have had contact
with at least one CFC agency. From swimming lessons at the "Y" to Red Cross CPR
to cheering on the U.S. Olympic Team to shopping at Goodwill retail stores.
Your father may have had heart disease, a brother may have had a child with
hearing loss, or your relatives may have been in one of the floods, fires or
hurricanes which have struck our country in recent years.
| Even if we have no direct
involvement with a CFC agency, each of us benefits from living in a community
and a country that cares for those in need. Moreover, experience and recent
events teach us that we each may be just one step away from needing the help
of a CFC agency. |
WHAT DOES THE PERCENTAGE
LISTED WITH EACH AGENCY MEAN?
| The number you see
represents the fundraising and administrative costs for that organization.
CFC regulations require that charities keep these costs below 25 per cent,
unless there are extenuating and justifiable circumstances. This assures that
the maximum possible funding goes into programs. It is important to remember
that, in most cases, a well managed agency must spend some part of its money
on overhead. |
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