How To Contribute

There are many ways to build community through the wonderful non-profit organizations participating in the CFC. Federal employees or contractors on payroll can contribute via payroll deduction, cash or check. Retirees, contractors not on payroll or even non-federal employees can contribute by cash or check. Participating charities also need your time and talents as a volunteer. See below to learn more about how you can donate, educate and volunteer!

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Donate:

Finding a Charity to Support

You've got over 2,000 non-profits to choose from, so there's bound to be one that interests you. Look through a printed charity list, search the online directory or review the Acrobat PDF version of the contributor's guide below to find the organization(s) serving causes that you care about. Then fill out the pledge form, submit it to your CFC coordinator or mail it to the CFC office, and you've helped build your community!

During the national campaign period (Sept. 1 - Dec. 15), payroll deduction, cash or check contributions can be accepted. During the non-campaign season, only cash and check contributions can be accepted.

• 2008 CFC Online Charity Directory
• 2008 CFC Charity List (PDF)
• Cross reference directory of new 5-digit codes and previous 4-digit codes.  Simply download the Excel spreadsheet for National/International or Local Agencies and use the "Find" feature in the "Edit" menu to search for the charity's 4-digit code or name.  You will then be able to see the new 5-digit code.  

    National/International Charities

    Local Charities

Pledge Form

If you are a federal employee, retiree, contract worker or even non-federal employee, you can contribute to the CFC any time during the campaign season. Below is a PDF file of the pledge form, provided two on a page. You may fill it out and mail it with your check to the CFC Office address shown on the form. Keep a copy or the second version on the page for your records.  Remember, you can only make contributions to charities listed in the CFC charity list or Online Searchable Directory, and you must use the charity's new five digit code.

• 2008 Pledge Form (PDF)

The Impact of Your Donation

Each contribution to the CFC accomplishes important work through our charity partners.  Below please find some examples of what your gift can do.  Remember, these are only a few of the many options you have to make an impact!

$1 a paycheck...
Provides financial training to a low-income person working to purchase his or her first home.

$3 a paycheck…
Buys books for a year for a classroom of daycare children whose parents care for veterans.

$5 a paycheck…
Buys 30 native plants for fifth graders restoring their neighborhood forest.

$10 a paycheck...
Allows a child to attend residential summer camp focused on community service and character-building for one week.

$15 a paycheck…
Helps keep a family on its feet so they don’t have to choose between heating, medicine, or food.

$20 a paycheck...
Provides an isolated older person with day treatment services in the community that promotes continued independence.

$25 a paycheck…
Provides laboratory blood panel tests for 15 wildlife patients.

$40 a paycheck…
Funds the transplant of a cornea, restoring a person’s vision and life.

$50 a paycheck…
Sponsors six months of regular group therapy for an addicted mother to battle her addictions, address deep-seated issues and work out a plan for her family’s future.

See more examples of your contribution at work.

Retirees

As a former federal employee, you know from experience that the CFC is a trustworthy and convenient way to give to charity.  What you might not be aware of is that as a federal retiree you can still participate in the CFC.  You will receive the same benefits in retirement as you did as a federal employee: you will know that the charities you give to have been carefully screened by a team of federal employees, your pledge will be processed quickly and accurately, and your name will not be released to charities unless you request it.  

Although CFC regulations do not allow the equivalent of a payroll deduciton pledge for retirees, you can make a cash or check pledge.  Please contact your former federal agency to get information about their campaign and receive campaign materials, or contact Leslie Morrison at lesliem@unitedway-pdx.org or 503.226.9557 to receive a charity list and pledge form.  

Our Thanks to You

Every donor should receive this handsome CFC pen from their campaign coordinator as a thank you for his or her contribution. Get your quantities from the CFC office or your CFC Specialist.

 

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Educate:

1. Find out more about the participating charities by searching for them in our Online Searchable Charity Directory and checking out their web sites. 
   
2. Encourage a meeting at your office to promote the CFC that includes speakers from participating charities. They can share with your colleagues the types of services they provide for the community. Or go on a tour of or volunteer at a local charity to experience first-hand the valuable work that they do. 
   
   Below is a list of CFC charities in the area that offer speakers who will come to your agency and talk about their organization, or have offered tours of their organization. Introducing your employees first-hand to the important work charities do is a great way to generate interest and participation. 
   
   
2008 Speakers Bureau 

Volunteer:

We could not run a successful Combined Federal Campaign without the help of literally hundreds of volunteer Leadership Team members, CFC Specialists, Campaign Coordinators, and Keyworkers.  By volunteering with the CFC you are helping both our member charities and your fellow employees.  Talk to your agency head or contact Leslie Morrison at lesliem@unitedway-pdx.org if you are interested in volunteering with the campaign.

You can also volunteer with one of our member charities.  Most charitable organizations cannot survive without the support of many volunteers. Look through the pages of the 2008 CFC Charity List or search the Online Searchable Charity Directory to find an organization that you care about. Contact them to learn more about their volunteer opportunities, and contribute your skills or goods to a cause that interests you. Your time, talents and resources are needed!  Click here to learn about organizing a volunteer activity for your agency.

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