FAQ

Why were there new 5-digit charity codes in 2007?

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM), which oversees the CFC nationally, decided that beginning in campaign year 2007 a new 5-digit code would be issued to each charity in the CFC. OPM had various reasons for enacting this change. As more and more charities entered the CFC, the number of available 4-digit codes declined. Also, the codes were not permanently assigned to one organization, which meant that an organization's code could change from one year to the next. In addition, the same codes could be used in different campaigns, which had the potential to cause confusion.

The new 5-digit codes are permanent, and each code is assigned to only one charity. Although this year donors will need to be careful about looking up and recording the correct codes for their designated agencies, in the long run these new codes will lead to a more efficient and effective campaign. According to CFC regulations donors may not use a charity's former 4-digit code in the 2007 campaign.

The Pacific Northwest CFC is making every effort to inform donors of this change and to provide them with easy access to the new codes. The new codes will be listed in the Charity List in the same place where the 4-digit codes appeared, and the format of the list has not changed otherwise. The pledge card also contains reminders about the 5-digit codes.

According to OPM regulations donors must use the 5-digit codes to pledge during the current. Pledges made using the former 4-digit codes cannot be honored. The new codes 5-digit codes are completely different, so you cannot just add a zero to the beginning or end of the 4-digit code. To make sure that your pledge is processed correctly, please take the time to look up your agency's new 5-digit code in the print charity list, the Online Searchable Directory, or the cross-referenced database on this website.

Is my donation tax-deductible, and if so, what do I use as a receipt?

Yes, it is tax-deductible, and in most cases you can either use a copy of your pledge form as a receipt, a cancelled check, or if you gave by payroll deduction, your payroll stub from the end of the calendar year. Please be advised that the IRS recently changed its recordkeeping requirements for certain types of donations, and that it is a donor's responsibilty to request a receipt to substantiate their CFC contribution.

On January 8, 2008 the IRS issued Notice 2008-16 which established requirements for substantiating the tax deductibility of lump sum contributions (defined by the IRS as all non-payroll deduction contributions) made through the CFC in taxable years beginning after August 17, 2006. In the case of the CFC, a “lump sum contribution” will generally mean a cash or check contribution. These requirements apply to donations of $250 or more.

You can go to the IRS website (www.IRS.gov) to get the most recent version of these regulations and more information about your tax deduction. The Pacific Northwest CFC encourages all donors to consult their tax professionals with any quesitons about their charitable donations.

What is the operating overhead for the local CFC?

The Pacific Northwest CFC is committed to running an efficient campaign with a low overhead rate. We are happy to report that our 2007 overhead rate is projected to be 7.3%, among the lowest of any CFC in the country for a campaign of its size. This means that over 92 cents of every dollar donated goes directly to the charities of choice.

The overhead expense covers the cost to produce the charity list, pledge forms and other campaign materials, as well as to manage the pledge processing, donation distribution, auditing and other accounting functions. Because the CFC reaches so many people it also helps charities reduce their fundraising rates, because they do not need to do their own marketing to reach Federal employees.

Should I choose charities just based upon those with the lowest overhead rates?

Not necessarily. The overhead rate of a charitable organization should not be considered the primary indicator of an organization's efficiency or performance. It should only encourage a potential donor to contact the organization and/or investigate further if it appears to be unusually high.

The overhead rate is calculated based upon the expenses reported on an organization's IRS form 990 for management (line 14) and fundraising (line 15), divided by total revenue (line 12). The result can be influenced by a number of factors, such as:

Size of the organization - Small charities can have a higher overhead with even the smallest of staff and operating expenses. A charity raising $150,000 a year might have one full-time employee at a $30,000 annual salary, plus expenses for office space, equipment and supplies, and already be at 25% overhead. Other small organizations may be all-volunteer run, and thus reflect little to no overhead.
Type of service - Some organizations that are research-intensive may invest a great deal of money into generating funds for their research or for the start-up costs, well before any specific program expenses can be applied or results can be seen. These organizations will have a higher overhead in some years due to these types of expenses. Other organizations, such as charitable federations, are dedicated primarily to fundraising for their members, and thus have higher fundraising expenses than its member charities.
Gain of a large revenue source - Some organizations are fortunate enough to receive a large endowment gift or grant. They are therefore able to cover most or all of their operating expenses from that source. Thus, they may be allowed to report a very low to 0.0% overhead rate. A charity may also earn a large grant that will significantly increase revenue for the period of the grant and thus drive down the overhead rate.
Loss of a large revenue source - If an organization looses a regular large donor, or a grant comes to an end and is not renewed, revenue for that year can be adversely effected and result in a higher overhead rate. This is not necessarily and indication of long-term problems.
Economic conditions - many charities suffered from decreased contributions during the economic slump of 2001 - 2004, particularly local ones, as Oregon and Washington held the highest unemployment rates in the country. This was not necessarily a reflection of the poor performance of the organization, but just the reality of donors not having income to spare. Thus, overhead rates went up for these charities, and they've had to spend more in fundraising to try to restore their revenue.

In summary, it is important to learn more about the size, types of services provided and longer-term financial trends of an organization before drawing conclusions about its efficiency.

How can I find out more about participating CFC charities?

The following links have a variety of information about most of the charities that participate in the CFC:

Oregon Dept. of Justice Charitable Activities - basic financial data
Washington Secretary of State's Office on Charitable Organization s - basic financial data
CharityNavigator.org - evaluates and rates over 3,400 charities nationwide, primarily based upon financial performance.
Guidestar.org - requires registration, but has detailed information

You can also find links to the web sites of participating charities, if they have one, in the contributor's guide or through our Online Searchable Charity Directory.

What if a non-profit organization to whom I have contributed to in the past is not on the list of participating charities this year?

By regulation charities must apply to and qualify for the CFC each year. In some cases, charities do not apply every year, or they may have qualified in the past but not for the current campaign (for a variety of reasons). If you cannot find a charity in the contributor's guide to which you have contributed in the past, call the charity to encourage them to apply again for the next campaign or check with the Oregon Federal Executive Board office at 503.326.3030 to find out more.

Can I designate to a charity not listed in the book?

Unfortunately, no. All charities must apply annually to participate in the CFC, and are rigorously reviewed to ensure that they are financially responsible and are legitimately performing the services that they describe they do.

If there is a charity not in the book that you would like to see listed, please have them contact Jeff Sargent at jsargent@pcez.com or 503.326.3030 in February to be mailed an application, or have them check this web site.

Do I need to put my social security number on the pledge form?

Social Security numbers are not required by the local CFC to process the pledge forms. The box is there only if the federal agency payroll office requires the social security number to identify the employee. Check with your CFC Coordinator or payroll office, and if they don't require it then it can be left blank.

In addition, the yellow copy of the pledge form that goes to the local processing office ("Central Receipt Point"), has the social security number box blacked out. The copies on which it would appear should only be seen by a CFC Coordinator and an agency payroll office.

What is the CFC's Relationship with United Way?

By regulation every local CFC in the country must contract with a local non-profit organization to serve as the Principal Combined Fund Organization (PCFO). The PCFO is responsible for the fund collection, disbursement, and general management of the campaign, and reports to the Local Federal Coordinating Committee.

Any local charity can apply to The Pacific Northwest CFC to be the PCFO. The United Way of the Columbia-Willamette has won the bid to manage the local CFC for the past 20+ years. They are audited annually by an independent accounting firm and all CFC activities must be kept completely separate from their United Way activities.

In addition, the United Way of the Columbia-Willamette, as well as several other United Ways in Oregon and SW Washington, participates in the local CFC as an eligible charity. They must apply in this manner as well and meet the CFC's standards, just like every other charity that is part of the campaign.

Does United Way or the Oregon Federal Executive Board have any control over where a donation is designated?

Absolutely not. Wherever a donor designates his or her pledge, via the five-digit code on the pledge form, that's where the donation goes. The only difference is if a donation is undesignated. By CFC regulation such funds are distributed at the end of the campaign to all charities receiving donations through the local CFC, based upon the percentage of total designated donations each charity receives.

Some United Ways are no longer supporting local Boy Scouts of America chapters. Are the Boy Scouts still part of the CFC?

If a local Boy Scout chapter wants to apply to the CFC and it meets the criteria, it is eligible to participate. A United Way's decision with regard to what organizations it supports is completely separate from the CFC process. If a local United Way no longer funds an organization such as the Boy Scouts, that organization can apply to the CFC as an unaffiliated organization.

If you are concerned as to whether a local United Way still funds the Boy Scouts or not, check the CFC contributor's guide listing, and if a chapter is not shown, call your local United Way office and inquire. The absence of a particular charity listed in the CFC contributor's guide does not mean that it is no longer funded by a given federation. Just like all non-profits, United Ways can apply to the CFC as either a federation or an unaffiliated organization. If applying as a federation, they can include only the charities that meet the CFC standards as part of their federation. Not all of their members may qualify. If applying as an unaffiliated (because it does not meet the CFC federation criteria), the United Way does not have to submit a list of its member charities.

Can I cancel my donation?

Yes, for payroll deduction pledges. Just notify your payroll office in writing, and they will stop the distribution. Unfortunately, we cannot refund cash contributions.

What happens if I retire or leave my federal agency before the end of the year?

Your donation will be stopped by your payroll office.

This site has been reviewed and approved by the Pacific Northwest Local Federal Coordinating Committee for the 2008 CFC campaign.
This is the official Combined Federal Campaign website for the Pacific Northwest CFC.