CFC is in full swing. Are you doing these 6 things to have a successful campaign?

The Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) reaches nearly 10 million potential donors — active and retired federal and military employees and contractors. This year’s campaign is underway. Is your organization taking these important steps to make this year a success?

The Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) is one of the world’s largest and most successful annual workplace charity campaigns. The mission of Combined Federal Campaign (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.

Organizations that wish to make the most of access to these 10 million potential donors need to maximize their efforts to receive the greatest return.

Every organization should take this one action today.

Email is the single most cost and time effective outreach method for nonprofit organizations. If you only have time for one action this campaign season, send an email.

Nonprofits should send an email to all current supporters who give through CFC. CHC partners can find donor information in the CHC portal and pull .gov or .mil addresses from your database for those eligible to participate in CFC. Ask your CHC nonprofit team representative for help.

Always include your CFC giving number, and a link to the CFC giving portal at cfcgiving.opm.gov/welcome.

Pivot to virtual platforms and reach more people.

Many employees continue to work remotely or are spending fewer hours physically in the office. Flyers, in-person events, and print ads that may have reached donors in the past are no longer as effective. In addition to email marketing, nonprofits can leverage online assets – such as social media, websites, and digital ads. Digital marketing, such as social media and email, are easier to measure in real-time and ensure eligible donors see your message.

Ask your CHC nonprofit team about our Combined Federal Campaign marketing toolkit and other partner resources to help you identify the best strategies for organic and targeted paid social media marketing on platforms like LinkedIn and Facebook.

Promote new ways to give.

The number of donors using paper pledge forms continues to decline with only 13% of donations in 2021 brought in via paper forms. Additionally, online pledges typically result in larger gifts – Federal  employees’ average gift was $883 online and $518 on paper in 2021. Always include the pledge site at https://cfcgiving.opm.gov in your outreach.

The CFC Giving Mobile App is also available in the Android and iOS app stores. The mobile app allows donors to have the same giving options as the online pledge experience. Donors can donate to their charities by making recurring or onetime pledges using payroll, bank account, or credit card information. Employee pledges of volunteer hours can also be made to charities that have volunteer opportunities (identified with hand icons). The app supports Touch ID and Face ID for easy and secure access to giving accounts.

New for 2022, donors can now text-to-give their pledges by sending “DONATE” to 978-487-5678. Two links will be sent to their mobile device. The first link is for donors that want to make a one-time credit card donation. The second link will direct the donor to the mobile version of the online giving site. Donors will be able to set up or log into an account and make one-time ACH or credit card donations, reoccurring payroll pledges, and commitments of volunteer time to their favorite charities. opportunities (identified with hand icons). The app supports Touch ID and Face ID for easy and secure access to giving accounts.

Lead by example.

If you have an employee champion within the federal or military agency who will share why they support your organization, that is the best marketing asset you can have. Leaders set the example, can serve as pacesetter donors, and can significantly influence CFC giving and generosity.

Real stories hit home.

Following the global coronavirus pandemic and changes in giving trends, messaging will be more important than ever before. Show your current, timely impact to break through the many asks that your donors may receive. Describe the increased demand for your services or increased needs from those you support.

Share personal, real stories – such as a real headline, photo, or narrative – that show your impact, especially if it relates to federal and military employees and families. If possible, show you donor a tangible gift for what a certain dollar figure per pay period can accomplish.

Stay the course.

A strong start to the CFC season can help create the momentum you need to have a successful fundraising year, but many donors may need reminders to take those steps to complete their pledge. If possible, communicate more than once – early in the CFC season, towards the middle (or around holidays such as #GivingTuesday or Veterans’ Day), and prior to the campaign closing.

Although the CFC pledge season ends in January, the gifts that your donors give you will support your mission throughout the year. Stay connected by sending stewardship emails and updates on the impact of these gifts. Thanking donors for their generosity can result in greater returns in future campaigns.

Interested in becoming a partner? Connect with us today to find out more about the benefits of working with CHC.

CFC opens on September 1, 2022, and runs through January 14, 2023. Federal civilian, postal and military donors can support eligible nonprofit organizations during campaign season (September to January). Pledge your support today on the CFC pledge site. Find nonprofit CFC numbers for our nonprofit partners here. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has more background information on the campaign. View OPM FAQ’s  for additional information

CHC was a founding partner when CFC was established in 1961. We have extensive understanding of this complex and bureaucratic campaign as well as competitive intelligence, data, and benchmarking on nonprofit CFC performance.

We also work closely with OPM and the Outreach Coordinators who manage the CFC zones. CHC is the single largest recipient of CFC dollars and represents nonprofit partners such as St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Doctors Without Borders, American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, and Alzheimer’s Association. For more information about how we can help your organization reach your goals, connect with us at info@chcimpact.org.