The Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) was once the crown jewel of workplace giving. Established by President John F. Kennedy in 1961, it streamlined the fragmented landscape of federal employee charitable contributions into a single, massive annual event. However, after six decades, the program is nearing its final chapter.
What is the CFC?
The Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) is the official workplace giving program for federal employees and retirees. Managed by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), it allows federal, postal, and military personnel to support nearly 20,000 local, national, and international charities through recurring payroll deductions, one-time gifts, or volunteer hour pledges.
Historical Giving Results (Annual Monetary Pledges)
The campaign’s trajectory shows a dramatic peak in the early 21st century followed by a steady decline as workplace habits and administrative structures shifted.
| Year | Amount Raised (Pledges) | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | $12.9M | Launch Year |
| 2000 | $223.1M | Pre-9/11 |
| 2001 | $241M | Post-9/11 Solidarity |
| 2009 | $282.6M | Historical Peak |
| 2016 | $167.0M | Pre-Reforms |
| 2017 | $101.7M | New Rules / Fees |
| 2018 | $90.5M | Post-Reform Decline |
| 2019 | $83.6M | Stability Search |
| 2020 | $81.6M | COVID-19 Shift |
| 2021 | $78.1M | Virtual Workplace |
| 2022 | $70.6M | Post-Pandemic |
| 2023 | $68.7M | Administrative Costs Rise |
| 2024 | $65.9M | Historical Low |
The Timeline of Decline
- 1961: President Kennedy issues Executive Order 10927, creating the CFC to stop the “free-for-all” of charitable solicitation in federal offices.
- 2001: September 11 attacks drive record giving, pushing the campaign to $241M.
- 2009: The CFC reaches its high-water mark of $282.6 million.
- 2017: Significant administrative changes were introduced, including application fees for non-profits and “Universal Giving.” This coincided with a 40% drop in contributions in a single year.
- 2024: The campaign hits its smallest monetary pool in its formal history.
For more details on the most recent 2024 results, you can download the official OPM tables here.
Why it’s Likely Ending
Administrative gravity is taking over. As total giving shrinks, managing the campaign—with its application fees, marketing, and processing requirements—takes an ever-larger byte out of the total pie.
With remote work and the rise of digital giving models, the centralized, payroll-deduction model of the CFC feels like an analog solution in a digital-speed world. For non-profits, the lesson is clear: don’t count on a legacy program that’s been in a steady decline for 15 years.
CFC Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is the CFC still accepting new charity applications for 2026?
No. As of early 2026, OPM has placed a freeze on new applications for the first time in its history. This is part of an ongoing review of the program’s long-term sustainability.
Who can donate through the CFC?
Currently, the program is available to federal employees, retirees, and annuitants.
What is “Universal Giving”?
Introduced in 2017, this feature allows federal employees to give to any participating local, national, or international charity from any zone in the country, regardless of their workstation location.
Why did participation drop so significantly after 2017?
While OPM attributes some decline to a naturally shrinking federal workforce, many nonprofit experts point to the 2017 introduction of application fees for charities and the move to a purely digital pledging system as major barriers to participation.
How can a charity research its past CFC checks?
Charities can log into the OPM/CFC Charity Portal to view historical donor pledge reports and disbursement summaries. Note that data is typically archived after seven years. https://givecfc.org/about
