News from Our Partners: CFC Giving Can Continue into Retirement

As the largest workplace giving campaign in the world, federal employees and now retirees pledged more than $8.5 billion to their favorite local, national, and international causes in the last 60 years.

“Once a campaign exclusively for Federal employees, thanks to an executive order in 2016, civilian and military retirees can now continue their give through CFC with the ability to make a direct deduction to CFC right from their annuity,” explained Keith Willingham, director of the OPM Office of the Combined Federal Campaign.  Last year, giving through CFC topped $83.5 million. 

“CFC and the charities in this campaign are so appreciative of the generosity of retirees.  We could not do what we do without retires who voluntarily support the annual campaign,” said Mr. Willingham.

“Thank you for providing me with the information on how to give through the CFC again. I trust the CFC and its charities to be excellent stewards of my donations. I’ve been retired for 29 years and appreciate how convenient it will be to give again through DFAS and the CFC," remarked Lt. Gen Charles A. May Jr. (USAF, ret.), former Assistant Vice Chief of Staff, USAF.  He lives in Virginia with his wife Bobbie, a civilian retiree who also donates to the CFC.

Currently, OPM is preparing for the next fall 2021 solicitation period that will run from September through January 15. Federal employees and retirees are pouring over CFC applications to assure that charities meet all the CFC criteria. One of the charity reviewers is Senior Chief Petty Officer Robert Jennings (USN, ret.).

“While the annual CFC pledge season runs from September through early January, anyone who becomes a retiree even outside that window can open or move their account to be paid through their annuity,” explained Mr. Jennings, who is reviewing applications from charities in the Cascadia CFC Zone.    

“Throughout my military and civilian careers, CFC has enabled me to be more generous. Spreading out my donation via payroll deduction let me turn the $5, $10, or $20 per payday donation into a more meaningful amount than I could afford if I had to take it all from a single paycheck. Being able to continue donating into my retirement is a great benefit that lets me keep giving in the way that works best for me,” said Jennings, an IT Specialist now living on the Olympic Peninsula, near Seattle, WA.

If you previously supported CFC charities in a former military career, you could transfer that gift to your annuity by updating your CFC profile in the Donation Portal.  If not, you can enter a new pledge.  For anyone who does not want to use the e-Giving systems, CFC will still process pledges mailed in using the special Retiree Form you can get at https://cfcnca.givecfc.org/sites/cfcnca/files/2020-11/508%202020%20CFC%20Retiree%20Pledge%20Form.pdf

Visit www.givecfc.org to learn more about the campaign, participating charities, and opportunities.  If you have questions, then call the CFC Help Center 1-800-797-0098 (8 a.m. - 6 p.m. CST) or visit: cfcgiving.opm.gov/contact.


 

Page updated June 16, 2021