Welcome to the 2021 U.S. Office of Personnel Management Combined Federal Campaign (CFC). You have completed the first big hurdle - applying and being accepted into this year's campaign. Now it is time to start thinking about how to make the most out of your participation. When it's ready, you can download the CFC Charity Engagement Guide as a resource and keep checking back here as more materials and resources are added throughout the campaign period. Here are five great ways to make the most out of being a part of the CFC:
1. Participate in the Virtual Charity Fair (VCF) 
As part of the continuing effort to connect federal employees and retirees to the impact they can through the CFC and to make CFC charities more visible to the federal community, the CFC hosts a Virtual Charity Fair (VCF) to include videos and stories/photos. Viewers can filter by charity name, cfc number, cause area, charity type (i.e., local, national, or international), and if local, by CFC zone.
- Submit your videos and/or stories and photos using our VCF Submission Portal. Read more instructions about how to submit in the CFC Charity Engagement Guide.
- For videos, you will need charity name, web address, 5-digit CFC number, your primary cause area, charity type, video title, video transcript, video thumbnail photo, and the video mp4 file (50MB max size). Videos must be 60-seconds or less, be captioned, and comply with the standards in section 508 of the Rehabilitiation Act. Read more about Video Compliance. Don't have a video yet? Learn how to create a compelling CFC Video using just a Smartphone.
- For stories, you will need charity name, web address, 5-digit CFC number, primary cause area, charity type, photo title, photo file (hi-res, 300 dpi), photo caption, photo credit, story title, story body (limit 750 words).
2. Encourage Volunteering 
Research has shown that donors who volunteer and make a monetary gift through the CFC give more than those who only make a monetary gift. Here are a few ideas on how you can help spark the volunteer spirit through the CFC:
- Prepare a flyer or other materials that outline volunteer opportunities within your organization to provide to federal employees when you participate in CFC events.
- Reach out to those who pledged volunteer hours the previous year (and released their contact information) and coordinate with them to fulfill their volunteer commitment. You can get this information from the CFC Charity Administration Center.
- Consider hosting a volunteer activity or day of service for campaign workers or members of a federal agency.
3. Accept CFC Event Invitations
As we come out of the challenges of 2020, many charities still face financial hardships, and we want this year's campaign to be as successful as possible. One of the ways to do that is through your commitment to attend as many campaign events as possible. Attending campaign events puts your name and mission in front of federal employees and can boost your own organization’s donations. At the same time, you are helping to promote the campaign overall and making sure the agency charity events are well-staffed – nothing is more disappointing than a charity fair with empty tables.
The CFC is committed to creating a fair and equitable system for inviting charities to attend locally held events. You will work with your local CFC zone Outreach Coordinator to attend their Charity Engagement Briefing to learn how to register for events, receive event invitation, and participate in local CFC events.
4. Promote Yourself and the CFC
- Use the CFC logo, You Can Be The Face of Change theme mark, and the CFC 60th anniversary mark to co-brand with the CFC on your materials and social media. You can also utilize our Seasonal Graphics in your own social media posts or email signature:
- Put the QR code to the CFC online pledge portal on posters and displays you are using at CFC events to encourage donations.
- If you are interested in aligning with the 2021 CFC theme, check out our Identity Guidelines and Messaging Document.
- Every year, the CFC assigns a charitable cause to each week of the campaign to engage donors and highlight the important work of the CFC charities. We encourage you to find the week or multiple weeks that pertain to your charity and follow along as we promote on social media and our zone websites. Check out the Cause Week Calendar to follow along. And use the collateral in the Cause Week Toolkit to help us promote your cause of the week.
- #GivingTuesday, the first Tuesday after Thanksgiving, marks the beginning of the holiday giving season. Use the Giving Tuesday Toolkit to make Nov. 30 the most successful online giving day of the campaign.
- Connect with the CFC through social media. Like, follow, comment on, and share our posts. Be sure to follow the national CFC accounts (Facebook and Twitter) and those of any local CFC zones in which you are located.
- Get a feel for how we are implementing this year’s theme and how you might be able to do something complementary by reviewing some of our campaign materials:
- Use any of our promotional materials in your own newsletters, websites, social media, communications, etc
- Advertisements: Print Ads, Digital Ads
- Promotional Video
- Advertorials: Why the CFC, Real CFC Stories, Celebrate60, Ways to Join, Giving for a Cause
5. Track your Campaign Progress
Learn more about how the CFC Charity Administration Center is a charity's best friend and what information you can access through your dashboard by watching this short video.
6. Apply for the 2022 Combined Federal Campaign
The Combined Federal Campaign invites you to apply to be part of one of the largest workplace giving campaigns in the world, reaching over 9 million potential donors across the country and around the world! Complete and submit your 2020 CFC application through the Charity Application Portal: open from Dec 1, 2021, through Feb 26, 2022 (extended deadline!).
- Read the OPM memo announcing the new application and fee schedule.
- Access the Charity Application Training Videos to find out more about how to apply to be in the 2022 CFC.
- Watch the 2022 charity participation video.
For more information, please visit the CFC Charity Administration Center.