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Frequently Asked Questions
Special Solicitations During Emergencies and Disasters
| Q. |
What is a special solicitation? |
| A. |
Federal regulations, set forth at 5 CFR §950.102, state that
the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) is the only authorized solicitation
of employees in the Federal workplace on behalf of charitable organizations.
Under an exception in this regulation, the Director of the Office
of Personnel Management (OPM) may grant permission for special solicitations
of Federal employees, outside of the CFC, in support of victims
in cases of emergencies and disasters. All requests must be made
in writing and sent to:
The Honorable Kay Coles James
Director
U.S. Office of Personnel Management
1900 E. Street, NW, Room 5450
Washington, DC 20415
|
| Q. |
What information should the request
contain? |
| A. |
At a minimum, the request should include the following:
- background on the emergency or disaster that is being addressed
by the special solicitation;
- information on the agency(ies) and location(s) where the special
solicitation will be conducted;
- dates on which the special solicitation will be conducted, and;
- information on the charitable organization(s) that will be the
recipient of special solicitation funds.
To expedite the request, OPM recommends that the requesting department,
agency, or component fax it to 202/606-5056. OPM urges departments
and agencies to contact OPM's Office of CFC Operations at 202/606-2564
or cfc@opm.gov for assistance in
the development and implementation of any special solicitation.
|
| Q. |
May a special solicitation be
conducted during the regular CFC season (September 1 - December 15)? |
| A. |
The Director will approve requests for special solicitations during
the CFC solicitation period only upon the showing of extraordinary
circumstances.
|
| Q. |
How does a special solicitation
affect the way a local campaign is conducted? Should receipts from
the special solicitation be combined with those from the regular campaign? |
| A. |
A special solicitation is, by definition, not part of
the CFC. Receipts from the special solicitation cannot be combined
with CFC donations. |
| Q. |
Who conducts the special solicitation? |
| A. |
Because the special solicitation is outside of the CFC,
the Federal department, agency, or component conducting the solicitation
is responsible for the oversight and administration of the collection
of contributions. The Local Federal Coordinating Committee (LFCC)
can be contacted for assistance. OPM recommends that Federal departments
and agencies holding a special solicitation request that the charities
receiving funds from the solicitation be responsible for the collection
and substantiation of all contributions. |
| Q. |
Can employees use a CFC pledge
card to contribute during a special solicitation? |
| A. |
No. The special solicitation is not part of the CFC.
Employees should receive instructions on how to make a special solicitation
pledge by the Federal department or agency overseeing the solicitation. |
| Q. |
Are the CFC fiscal agents known
as Principal Combined Fund Organizations (PCFO) required to maintain
records of special solicitations conducted by Federal departments
and agencies in their campaign areas? |
| A. |
No. Federal agencies and charities receiving the funds
from the solicitation are responsible for maintaining records of the
special solicitation. However, the LFCCs that are responsible for
oversight of the local CFC in their area and the PCFOs are encouraged
to cooperate with Federal agencies within their campaign borders to
provide assistance for special solicitation efforts. |
| Q. |
I can give more to the special
solicitation if I use payroll deduction. Is payroll deduction available
for a special solicitation? |
| A. |
No. Special solicitations are conducted outside of the
CFC procedures. In addition, special solicitations are intended to
provide immediate financial assistance to organizations involved in
immediate relief efforts for disasters and emergencies. The fastest,
most direct way to process special solicitation contributions is in
the form of cash or check payable to the recipient charity. |
| Q. |
What if a department or agency
wants to help a non-CFC participating charity involved in disaster
relief services? |
| A. |
If a Federal agency wants to solicit funds for a charity
not listed in the CFC brochure it may do so in a special solicitation.
Again, this collection effort is conducted outside of the CFC through
a special solicitation. The CFC has no mechanisms for tracking donations
to agencies not identified by a CFC number. |
| Q. |
Do we still need to obtain OPM
permission if the recipient charity is a participating CFC charity? |
| A. |
Yes. All special solicitations must be approved by the
Director of OPM, regardless of whether or not the recipient charity
participates in the CFC. |
| Q. |
Our department or agency has
employees that were directly affected by a disaster. Do we need to
seek authorization to collect funds from Federal employees to be given
directly to these employees and/or their surviving family members? |
| A. |
A request for donations under either the CFC or a special
solicitation is made on behalf of charities that are tax-exempt under
section 501(c)(3) of Internal Revenue Service regulations. The CFC
regulations do not cover workplace solicitations made on behalf of
individuals or their families. As a result, your department or agency
does not need OPM's authorization for a solicitation to permit collection
of funds for this purpose. However, Federal employees only may solicit
funds for fellow employees in need subject to established ethics requirements
and non-CFC solicitation requests affecting Federal buildings. We
strongly encourage you to contact your agency's ethics counsel or
General Counsel if you are planning such an activity. |
| Q. |
Does the special solicitation
permit Federal employees to collect food, medical supplies or other
kinds of non-cash donations? |
| A. |
CFC regulations permit Federal employees to solicit
'in-kind' contributions, such as food or toys, by placing donation
receptacles in common areas. No special solicitation authority is
required to do this, but is subject to the authority of the agency
head. Again, we encourage you to contact your ethics counsel or General
Counsel for guidance. |
| Q. |
The CFC in my area is currently
ongoing. Is it permissible to highlight charitable agencies assisting
in the disaster relief effort within the regular campaign effort? |
| A. |
Yes. Key Workers, PCFO staff and others assisting with
the CFC may identify those CFC agencies involved in disaster relief
in response to requests from donors. However, no Federal employee
or campaign staff may make a request for funds on behalf of any specific
CFC agency. |
| Q. |
Can a donor specify on the pledge
card that the CFC contribution should be used specifically for the
charity's relief efforts as opposed to other ongoing programs of that
charity? |
| A. |
No. Donors may not use the CFC pledge card to direct
their contributions to special solicitation efforts. This can lead
to confusion and ultimately the CFC does not have the authority to
designate that a specific program within an organization receive the
funds. |
CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS
| Q.
|
Does the campaign run for
a specific time period? |
| A. |
Yes, the campaign is conducted
during a 6-week period as determined by the local CFC Oversight Committee,
which will occur between September 1-December 15 at every Federal
agency in the campaign community.
|
| Q.
|
Where do organizations apply?
|
| A. |
Visit the CFC website (www.opm.gov/cfc)
periodically for updated information on “how to apply.”
|
| Q.
|
If we have questions about
our participation in campaigns locally, who do we contact?
|
| A. |
Questions should be directed
to your local campaign office.
A complete listing of local campaign contacts can be found
on the Office of CFC Operations website at www.opm.gov/cfc
under “Local Campaign Information”.
Or, call the CFC office at (202) 606-2564.
|
| Q.
|
What is the local campaign
application deadline? |
| A. |
You will need to contact your
local campaign office for this information.
However, most local campaigns accept applications between March
15-April 15. You may also
refer to the CFC Calendar of Events found on our website for key dates
and deadlines.
|
| Q.
|
How many campaigns am I eligible
to apply to? |
| A. |
It depends on the geographic
areas your services cover and the number of adjacent campaigns to
your local service area. Additional information can be found in the
CFC regulations at 5 CFR 950. 204 found at
www.opm.gov/cfc.
|
| Q.
|
Is there a limit on how much
in contributions an organization can receive? |
| A. |
Donors can designate any amount they wish to an organization. There
is no limit to the amount an organization can receive.
|
| Q.
|
In what form will payments
be received by my organization (i.e., electronic transfers, checks,
etc.)? |
| A. |
The vast majority of payments
are made in the form of checks, although efforts are being made to
increase the use of electronic transfers.
|
| Q.
|
Are donor contributions received
throughout the year? |
| A. |
Contributions are administered
by a local non-profit fiscal agent known as the Principle Combined
Fund Organization (PCFO). Disbursement
cycles depend on the size of the campaign. Campaigns with total receipts
exceeding $500,000 must disburse contributions monthly.
Campaigns under $500,000 must disburse contributions quarterly.
However, the PCFO may send one-time checks to organizations
that received very small amounts in contributions.
|
| Q.
|
Does inclusion in the listing
of “National/International Organizations” carry with it any description
of the organization’s purpose or goals? |
| A. |
Yes, all CFC brochures include
a 25-word statement that is crafted by the applicant and submitted
to OPM. However, those
campaigns that receive less than $100,000 do not have to list the
25-word statement.
|
| Q.
|
Will we receive the names
of donors who have contributed to our organization? How?
|
| A. |
It is the responsibility of
the local CFC office to forward the names and addresses of donors
who wish to have their names released to the recipient organization
directly. If the organization
is a member of a federation, the federation will receive the donor
name and relay it to the participating charity. The PCFO may not make
any other use of donors’ names and addresses.
|
| Q.
|
Is it necessary for an organization
to submit an application annually? |
| A. |
Yes, all CFC applicants are
required to submit a new application annually. (Please visit www.opm.gov/cfc
for specific deadlines).
|
| Q.
|
We are a new organization,
is it possible to estimate how much might we expect to receive in
contributions the first year? |
| A. |
It is difficult to estimate
how much you will receive in any given year as the CFC, like all workplace
giving, is subject to influences that may affect giving (i.e., fluctuations
in the Federal labor force).
After participating for a number of years, it may be possible
to establish an estimated range for the amount to be received.
We suggest that organizations contact similar charities which
participate in the CFC to inquire about their experiences.
|
| Q.
|
Will we get an opportunity
to participate in meetings, charity exhibits and other events hosted
by Federal agencies? |
| A. |
Yes.
Participating organizations wishing to be involved in campaign
events should contact their local CFC office in writing and request
a copy of their calendar of CFC events.
|
| Q.
|
I have misplaced the application
we submitted to you, is it possible you can send me a copy? |
| A. |
You must submit a request
in writing to:
Director, Office of CFC Operations
1900 E Street, NW - Room 5450
Washington, DC 20415
|
| Q.
|
If we have questions regarding
the CFC to whom should they be addressed? |
| A. |
Contact the Office of CFC
Operations at (202) 606-2564 (Mon.-Fri. 8:00am-5:30pm ) or cfc@opm.gov
for questions/concerns regarding the campaign.
|
CAMPAIGN EVENTS/MATERIALS
| Q.
| Can a PCFO hold a fundraiser
where part of the cost goes to the base cost and the remainder to the
CFC (i.e. a golf tournament where the entry fee is $50 with $30 to base
cost of the event and $20 to CFC)? |
| A. |
950.602 states, "…all
approved fundraising events the donor must have the option of designating
to a specific participating organization or federation or be advised
that the donation will be counted as an undesignated contribution and
distributed according to these regulations. Therefore, a golf tournament
like the above mentioned one would have to be an open to the entire
general (not just government employees) public with the proceeds going
to undesignated.
|
| Q.
| Can a fundraiser for a charity
be permitted outside of the federal agency's 6 week campaign?
|
| A. |
NO. The CFC time frame is September 1 through December 15 annually.
However, we have established that acceptance for special solicitations
on Military Installations must meet the following criteria: 1) The
request to OPM must come directly from the Commander of the base or
a designated representative of the Commander. Requests from charitable
organizations are not acceptable. 2) All requests must adhere to the
scope of the CFC as defined in 5 CFR 950.102 which states that The
CFC is the only authorized solicitation of employees in the Federal
workplace on behalf of charitable organizations. . . Except as provided
in this section, no other solicitation on behalf of charitable organizations
may be conducted in the Federal workplace. Upon written request, the
Director may grant permission for solicitations of Federal employees,
outside the CFC, in support of victims in cases of emergencies and
disasters. These emergencies and disasters are defined by the Federal
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). 3) The CFC regulations do allow
for the following activities, as outlined in 5 CFR 950 102(b): The
collection of gifts-in-kind, such as food, clothing and toys or to
the solicitation of Federal employees outside of the Federal workplace
as defined by the applicable Agency Head consistent with General Services
Administration regulations and any other applicable laws or regulations.
Within these acceptable activities, the Office of Personnel Management
(OPM) does include the act of volunteering time and services. (Solicitation
is clearly defined in 5 CFR 950.101 as any action requesting money,
either by cash, check or payroll deduction, on behalf charitable organizations.
4) We expect that the Base Commander define in the letter to OPM,
the nature of the activity and whether or not, it will occur in the
Federal workplace, as defined by the Base Commander. What is considered
Federal workplace is the interpretation of the Commander. His/her
approval or denial of the activity must also be indicated.
If the activity does NOT occur in the Federal workplace, as defined
by the Commander or applicable Agency Head, and is consistent with
any other applicable laws or regulations, OPM will concur with the
Commander's decision.
|
| Q.
| Can CFC events be underwritten
by a private sector entity? |
| A. |
All CFC events should be budgeted
for in CFC expenses. If an agency wishes to sponsor an event they must
do so in compliance with their own Office of General Council and Ethics
Office. The CFC is not permitted to publicly endorse any entity due
to underwriting. No one organization is permitted to benefit from any
underwriting of events.
|
| Q.
| Is it possible to make the
donor brochure available electronically? Have any campaigns done this?
|
| A. |
All local CFC's are urged
to provide the brochure electronically as a complement to the hard copy
which must be produced and distributed to all federal employees annually.
(E.g.: Denver , CO
) The national list is on the OPM CFC home page at www.opm.gov/cfc.
A group of federal employees called Employee Express is working towards
automating the entire campaign.
|
| Q.
| Can a PCFO change the way
agencies are listed in the brochure? |
| A. |
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 must be decided
by random drawing. The order of organizations within each federation
will be determined by that federation. The order within the national
and local unaffiliated groups will be alphabetical. For more information
see Part 950.401(g)(2). Nor can these components be produced as separate
brochures. OPM will require brochures to be reprinted if sections are
separately printed.
|
| Q.
| Are there any uniform internal
regulations for special events? |
| A. |
Special events held in conjunction
with the CFC are permitted during the six week period if approved by
the appropriate agency head or government official, consistent with
agency ethics regulations. However, in all approved fundraising events
the donor must have the option of designating his/her contribution to
a specific organization or federation or be advised the contribution
will be counted as an undesignated contribution. For more information
see Part 950.602. Because of the complexity of ethics and/or state laws,
CFC special events must be addressed on a case by case basis.
|
DONORS
| Q.
| Many donors only contribute
1 dollar per pay period. Has OPM considered a nationwide pledge minimum
of 2, 3, or 5 dollars to increase revenue? |
| A. |
Part 950.901(e)(1) states,
The minimum amount of the allotment will be determined by the LFCC but
will not be less than $1 per payday, with no restriction in the size
of the increment above that minimum. OPM does not plan to change the
regulatory minimum since the LFCC can determine its own minimum for
their specific CFC.
|
| Q.
| Can a federal employee donate
to a local agency in a neighboring CFC campaign area? |
| A. |
No. As stated in 950.103(h),
a federal employee may participate in a particular CFC only if that
employee's official duty station is located within the geographic boundaries
of that CFC. Campaign boundaries are strictly determined and approved
by OPM. (See web page at http://www.opm.gov/cfc
for a listing.)
|
| Q.
| Can CFC donors who
give above a certain level be listed in a PCFO publication or recognition
ceremony? Do we have to get permission from all of the donors? Is it
a breach of confidentiality? |
| A. |
NO. If the federal employee
indicates he/she would like an acknowledgment from the charitable organization
to which they designated his/her gift, the PCFO must forward those names
and addresses to the recipient organizations. The amount of the contribution
SHOULD NOT be released at any time. The PCFO may not use donor information
for any other purpose. For more information see Part 950.601.
|
| Q.
| Can new hires be asked to
give when they join a federal agency even if it is not during the campaign?
|
| A. |
NO. Federal employees may
be solicited to give only during the CFC campaign period.
|
| Q.
| Is there any problem with
extending the 6 week period for large agencies? |
| A. |
Any extensions on campaigns
past the six week period may be authorized by the LFCC. No campaign
may be extended beyond December 15 for any reason. |
ELIGIBILITY
| Q.
| Is an LFCC required to advertise
for the local application period or keep any type of data base and mail
applications to charities annually? |
| A. |
YES. Per guidance provided
by OPM in OPM Memorandum 89-3, LFCC's must ensure that local agency's
are given adequate notice of the application period and process.
LFCC's can provide such notice through various public service announcements
which include but are not limited to local newspapers, radio and television
stations, etc. The LFCC should also ensure the PCFO maintains
a mailing list of local agencies that have requested information.
|
| Q.
| Why is a “dba” (Doing business
as) required from the IRS for a name change? Can a State-issued “dba”
be used instead of the IRS “dba”? |
| A. |
OPM will accept a “dba”
issued by the IRS or the State. If a nonprofit organization elects
to do business under a name different from the one on their IRS Form
990, they must obtain a “dba” through either the IRS or the State and
submit it with their application. While a charity's eligibility
status will not be decided based on the name, the name by which it is
listed in the CFC brochure, should it be found eligible, will depend
on official documentation from the IRS or State sources. Additionally,
ALL charities are required to include their Employee Identification
Number (EIN) in their 25-word statement regardless of whether they are
listed under their legal name or a "dba".
|
| Q.
| What is considered a "complete"
IRS Form 990? |
| A. |
A completed IRS Form 990 will
include the entire Form 990 itself, and all applicable supplemental/supporting
statements. It must also contain all appropriate signatures.
|
| Q.
| Is a local agency required
to have all independent eligibility information or is it allowed to
use national or regional materials, especially if it is a chapter of
a national organization or a site of a regional office?
|
| A. |
Regardless or weather the
agency is a chapter or not, it must apply with information pertaining
to that particular office. This includes an independent audit,
IRS Form 990, 501(c)(3) letter, annual report, etc. National and
regional information is not permitted for local entities.
|
| Q.
| Can an applicant provide an
audit on appeal if it isn't ready by the application deadline?
|
| A. |
NO. The required certifications
and documentation must have been completed and submitted prior to the
application filing deadline. Applications received that are incomplete
may not be perfected during the appeal process.
|
| Q.
| If an agency is a state chapter
of a national agency is that considered statewide presence?
|
| A. |
No. An organization
applying for statewide presence must prove that it provides or conducts
REAL services, benefits, assistance or program activities covering 30
percent of a state’s geographic boundaries or conducting real services,
benefits, assistance or program activities affecting 30 percent of the
state's population. This cannot be met solely on the basis of services
provided through an "800" telephone number or the US Postal
service.
|
| Q.
| State-wide presence vs. Local
presence... please define. |
| A. |
Local presence is defined
as a staffed facility, office or portion of a residence dedicated exclusively
to that organization, available to members of the public seeking its
services or benefits. The facility must be open at least 15 hours a
week and have a telephone dedicated exclusively to the organization.
State wide presence is acquired when an organization proves it provides
or conducts real services, benefits, assistance or program activities
covering 30 percent of a state's geographic boundaries or affecting
30 percent of a state's population. For more information, see 5 CFR
Part 950.204. (The strongest case for state-wide and local presence
should be made to the LFCC. OPM prefers that this assessment be appropriately
decided at the local level; however, applicants still have the right
to appeal if necessary.)
|
| Q.
| How does the contiguous rule
differ from the state-wide? |
| A. |
Contiguous rule is when a
charitable organization provides services in a geographical area which
expands into two or more CFC geographical boundaries. That organization
would then meet local presence requirements in both CFC areas. Statewide
presence is when a charitable organization provides real services, benefits,
assistance or program activities covering 30 percent of a state's geographic
boundaries or affecting 30 percent of a state's population.
|
FEDERATION
| Q.
| If a charitable organization
lists with a federation during a campaign, is that federation required
to complete the cycle of distribution. If the Charitable organization
signed up with another Federation can the new federation take over distribution
payments before the cycle ends? |
| A. |
When a charitable organization
joins a federation it must allow that federation to complete one full
campaign cycle involving distribution payments. 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 join another
federation during 2000 but it may not take the distribution away from
the original federation.
|
| Q.
| Can a local federation participate
in more than one campaign... particularly neighboring campaigns?
|
| A. |
Yes. However, it must separately
apply to all CFC's and meet the local presence or statewide presence
requirements.
|
| Q.
| Can a federation apply for
inclusion in the CFC brochure without including its member organizations?
|
| A. |
Not as a federation. It can
be listed as an unaffiliated if it meets all required criteria.
|
| Q.
| Since a local or regional
federation can be in more than one CFC, if one CFC accepts the federation
can the neighboring campaign accept the application without having to
review all the applications of all its members? |
| A. |
NO. Each LFCC must fully review
any and all charitable organizations applying for eligibility regardless
of their status in other campaign areas. |
| Q.
| Can you have a local federation
with less than 15 eligible member organizations? What if they have 15
eligible member organizations but one member organization elects to
list with another federation taking them to 14 agencies?
|
| A. |
A federation must have 15
qualifying member organizations to be deemed eligible for participation
in any CFC. In cases where federations have the same organizations eligible,
the organization must write a letter to the PCFO determining which federation
they want to be listed under during the campaign. Federations
are only listed if they have 15 eligible members on their listing. If
a federation falls to 14 or fewer member organizations, they should
request the member organizations be listed as unaffiliated.
|
FINANCE
| Q.
| Who can the PCFO call to get
answers to questions regarding checks from the
US treasury when the check
only has a number to identify the payroll office and not a name?
|
| A. |
OPM provided a list
of payroll centers on the web page for download by all PCFOs. If the
PCFO has made every attempt and is unable to locate the correct payroll
office they may call OPM for assistance. DO NOT FORWARD CHECKS TO THE
OPM/CFC OFFICE.
|
| Q.
| When will Electronic
Funds Transfer (EFT) be required by the government? |
| A. |
Initially, federal payments
were required to be made by EFT as of
January 2, 1999 in compliance with the Debt Collection Improvement
Act of 1996. While this deadline has been extended, we fully anticipate
it going into action at any time. OPM has provided a listing of
federal payroll offices to all PCFO's, including EFT information.
|
| Q.
| Is there a limit on the amount
that can be paid in a one time disbursement? |
| A. |
The LFCC determines the amount.
|
| Q.
| Who is required to complete
a compliance assessment guide for CFC? |
| A. |
The compliance assessment
guide, located on the Office of CFC Operations website under “Regulations,
Memos, and Guidance”, must be completed by the LFCC and the PCFO and
signed by a certifying official of the LFCC. The financial
report must be completed by a certified public accountant or CPA firm,
must be conducted in accordance with generally Accepted Accounting Standards
and must end in conformity with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.
However, the compliance assessment guide is intended as an internal
document and should not be part of the CPA audit. OPM will request
a copy of the compliance assessment guide from time to time.
|
| Q.
| Who is the proper person to
approve and sign a compliance audit for CFC? |
| A. |
The compliance audit must
be signed by a certifying member of the LFCC.
|
| Q.
| How will FASB 116 and 117
impact the CFC? |
| A. |
The CFC will continue to use
the IRS Form 990 as verification of the administrative costs. The FASB
application must be handled at the organization management level.
|
| Q.
| Can the PCFO charge the current
rate of interest to the CFC for dollars that the PCFO lends to it for
the campaign expenses? |
| A. |
If the PCFO obtains a commercial
loan to pay for costs associated with running the campaign, the amount
of a reasonable rate of interest is an allowable campaign expense, subject
to the approval of the LFCC when the PCFO budget is submitted. For more
information see Part 950.106.
|
| Q.
| What is required by OPM when
a recipient agency does not cash their CFC check(s)? |
| A. |
The PCFO must make every attempt
to contact the charitable organization and determine if it is still
viable. If the charitable organization no longer exists, the PCFO must
consider the funds undesignated. |
LOANED EXECUTIVES
| Q.
| What is the role of a Loaned
Executive and how was the program initiated? |
| A. |
The Loaned Executive program
was initiated in 1971 by Presidential Order. A Loaned Executive is a
Federal Employee that is "loaned" by their agency to work
on the CFC. The Loaned Executive is usually relieved of all work
duties for the period they are working on the CFC. The role of
a Loaned Executive is to conduct all solicitations among the federal
employees in a campaign area. They are usually trained by the
PCFO and work out of the PCFO for about a 2 - 3 month period.
|
| Q.
| Is there any regulatory reason
why Loaned Executives are rotated every year? |
| A. |
No. The agreement must be
between the Loaned Executive and his/her supervisor. This issue must
be addressed at the LFCC level.
|
| Q.
| Can a federal retiree be asked
to serve as a Loaned Executive? |
| A. |
No. A retiree can volunteer
to help on the campaign but cannot represent any government entity or
solicit federal employees.
|
| Q.
| Can Loaned Executives serve
part time on CFC and part time on PCFO work? |
| A. |
NO. Federal employees acting
as Loaned Executives for the CFC are prohibited from working on any
other campaigns.
|
| Q.
| Which part of Loaned Executive
training can be done in conjunction with the PCFO? |
| A. |
General training which does
not include any detailed information on the PCFO, its agencies or solicitation
practices on its behalf. |
LOCAL FEDERAL COORDINATING COMMITTEE (LFCC) and PRINCIPAL
COMBINED FUND ORGANIZATION (PCFO)
| Q.
| Can the CFC announce/set an
annual financial goal? |
| A. |
The overall national CFC does
not set a financial goal. Locally, the LFCC can set a financial goal
for that CFC area. Each federal agency
may also set a financial goal.
|
| Q.
| Are LFCC's required to hold
public meetings to announce local eligibility decisions?
|
| A. |
No. Local organizations which
meet all criteria and are eligible must be notified via facsimile or
US Postal Service within 15 business days after the closing date of
the application period. Denial of the application by the LFCC must be
sent via US Postal Service certified or registered mail with a return
receipt
|
| Q.
| Is it permissible to have
your own CFC logo? |
| A. |
No.
|
| Q.
| Can a PCFO charge CFC the
interest lost for paying campaign expenses? |
| A. |
A PCFO may ONLY charge interest
to CFC if the PCFO obtained a commercial loan. Any loaned obtained
by the PCFO must first be approved by the LFCC.
|
| Q.
| If a federation is accepted
by the LFCC one year with all of its member organizations can the federation
just re-certify the member's organization without filling out the application
even if they go above 25% administrative costs? |
| A. |
A federation must apply on
an annual basis to the CFC and, after the first year, all of its existing
member organizations application should be kept on file at the federation.
The LFCC can request any or all of these applications at any time. If
an existing member does not meet the eligibility criteria the federation
must include that information in their annual application. The LFCC
may also request the full application of any new member organizations
be submitted with the federation application. |
| Q.
| Can the LFCC waive and/or
redefine OPM regulations? |
| A. |
NO. An appeal and/or waiver
(whichever is appropriate) must be specifically addressed to OPM.
|
| Q.
| Do CFC Managers also handle
PCFO accounts? |
| A. |
Some CFC Managers also manage
other accounts for the PCFO. However, all expenses related to work done
on behalf of the PCFO must be separate from the CFC budget. This includes
the salary of the CFC Manager and all related expenses.
|
| Q.
| As an LFCC member, should
the travel, per diem, and registration fee related to this workshop
be paid out of CFC funds or by my employing agency? |
| A. |
Travel on CFC business should
be budgeted for when the LFCC approves the PCFO annual budget.
|
PARTICIPATION
| Q.
| Can an Agency Head not allow
his/her agency to be involved because they themselves do not believe
in CFC? |
| A. |
The Combined Federal Campaign
was established by Presidential Order. Once a campaign has been established,
agency heads may not discontinue solicitation of federal Employees within
their agency without the written approval of the Director of OPM.
|
SPEAKERS/TOURS
| Q.
| Can agencies (local)
speak about their programs at CFC events? |
| A. |
Yes.
Agencies should contact their local CFC office for information
on CFC events. |
CFC Homepage
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