Public Sector Workplace Campaigns
The U.S. government, most state governments, and many municipal governments administer fundraising campaigns that annually raise hundreds of millions of dollars. Thousands of eligible charities benefit.
These campaigns – the U.S. government’s version is called the Combined Federal Campaign – have certain standard features:
- Each fall, employees are handed a directory of approved groups from which they select one or more organizations they individually wish to support.
- Employee pledges convert into payroll deductions throughout the following calendar year. These donations are forwarded to the benefiting groups.
- Charities are screened before the fall solicitation. The deadline for each campaign varies but is usually in the preceding winter or spring.
- Campaign administrators require that groups submit various materials such as a copy of their 501(c)(3) tax exemption letter, a copy of their federal tax return, a copy of their most recent audit, and a description of their program activity. In some campaigns, certain requirements are waived for small groups.