The 2008 Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) is underway. The CFC is the largest charitable campaign in the world and is the one approved method for federal employees to donate via payroll deduction to charities. The Southwest Colorado CFC covers federal employees who work in Montezuma, La Plata and Archuleta Counties. USFS, BLM, BIA, BOR, USPS, Social Security, National Park Service, and other federal agencies participate each year.

Federal employees have many options for any charitable donation they make. Donations can be directed to international nonprofit groups, national organizations, regional and even local nonprofits. Environmental causes, human service groups, health organizations and many others are qualified for this year’s CFC. At each federal agency, hard copy books are available that list all the nonprofit organizations a federal employee can support. The book lists the local nonprofits first, then national organizations, then international.

You can download an electronic version of this book that is easier to search by clicking here. Once the file has downloaded and is open on your computer, hit Control F to search the document. Enter terms like youth, homeless, or green for environmental causes, to find the organizations and causes that you want to support. You will find information on each organization here, including their website, a brief description of their work, and their overhead rate.

When you find an organization you want to direct your gift to, simply enter that group’s five-digit code on your pledge form. Turn in your pledge form to your CFC keyworker at your agency and that’s all you have to do! Donations made through payroll deduction will begin to be withheld from your paycheck starting in January 2009 and will continue through the last pay period of that year.

United Way of Southwest Colorado serves as fiscal agent for our local CFC. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call us at 247-9444, or speak with the CFC keyworker at your federal agency. Last year, federal employees in Southwest Colorado pledged over $17,000! This year the goal is to raise $20,000. Please consider making your donation today.

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