About NIH CFC

The Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) of the National Capital Area is the annual fundraising drive conducted by Federal employees in their workplace each fall. Last year, Federal employees and military personnel raised $273.1 million through the CFC which benefits thousands of not-for-profit charities. CFC is organized into 240 independent geographic campaigns.

Mission
The mission of the CFC is to promote and support philanthropy through a program that is employee focused, cost-efficient, and effective in providing all Federal employees the opportunity to improve the quality of life for all.

Background
Federal workers have participated in a national workplace giving effort for over 40 years. President Kennedy initiated a formal national giving program for Federal workers in 1961. Since then, the CFC has evolved into the nation’s leading workplace giving program. No other annual employee-giving program raises as much money for charity.

CFCNCA Basic Facts

• CFCNCA is the largest of the 240 geographic campaigns, raising more than $62.7 million in 2008.
• The Federal government employs more than 349,000 military, civilian and postal workers in the National Capital Area.
• Of those employees, nearly 150,000 people gave to their favorite charities through CFCNCA last year. This 42.3 percent participation rate exceeds the national average of 28.1 percent.
• In 2008, eight percent of the total funds raised were used to manage the campaign. This ratio is lower than the average CFC fundraising costs nationwide of 10.5 percent and well below both the CFC-regulated and prevailing industry standard of 35 percent.
• Giving through the CFC reduces administrative overhead costs associated with soliciting and collecting donations. It also provides charitable organizations with a percentage of the undesignated contributions to the campaign. The e-Giving tools reduce administrative costs and increase efficiencies even further.
• Over the last five years, Federal employees and military personnel in the National Capital Area have contributed over $250 million through the CFC to thousands of worthy charities.
• The 2009 CFCNCA campaign goal is $64 million. We can achieve this goal only with your help.

DHHS and NIH CFC Results from 2008  

• The total for DHHS gifts to the CFC in 2008 was $5,000,000.
• The total for NIH gifts to the CFC in 2008 was $2,475,000. This is an all-time record for NIH and represents almost half of the total contributed from the Department of Health and Human Services.
• The participation rate at NIH was over 50 percent and 52 percent of gifts were by payroll deduction. The average total gift was $300.

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