Choosing a charitable cause to support is a deeply personal decision. The CFC provides several resources to get the community thinking and talking about charitable causes. One way is through the Cause of the Week program. Causes are selected to represent all 25 National Taxonomy of Exempt Entities (NTEE) code areas in the CFC, coincide with some national awareness days and holidays when possible, and represent the interests of the CFC donor base.
Each week during the 2023 CFC, the campaign highlights a charitable cause area and some of its sub-causes. Click through each cause to find more information about that cause as well as tools and resources to support that cause area.
Food & Nutrition
Week of Sept. 25
Cause areas: Food & Nutrition; Nutrition Programs; Agriculture;
Health & Lifestyle; Education; Food Supply Chain;
Food Banks; Faith-Based Support; Clean Water
![Woman raises her hand in class and text "GIVE HAPPY so students like Tanya can earn the degree of their dreams"]()
Education
Week of Oct.2
Cause areas: Education; STEM; Early Education;
Colleges & Universities; Continuing Education;
Vocational Training; Educational Infrastructure & Facilities;
Educator Training; Special Education;
Study Abroad Programs; Social Sciences / Cultural Studies
![Firefighter and text "GIVE HAPPY so first responders like Andre can have the equipment they need to save lives"]()
Disaster & Crisis Response
Week of Oct. 9
Cause areas: Disaster & Crisis Response;
Public Safety; Fire Prevention; Search & Rescue;
Natural Disasters; First Responders; Women & Girls;
Human Trafficking; Refugees; Clean Water;
Food & Nutrition; Faith-Based Support; Animal Control;
Poison Control
![Woman stand in the doorway of her shop. Text: "Give happy so entrepreneurs like Mei can open their own small businesses."]()
End Poverty
Week of Oct. 16
Cause Areas: End Poverty; Economic
Development; Community Improvement;
Refugees; Infrastructure Improvement;
Women & Girls; Human Trafficking; Refugees;
Clean Water; Food & Nutrition
![Girl fingerpainting Text: "Give happy so creative young artists like Chloe can develop their talents."]()
Arts & Humanities
Week of Oct. 23
Cause Areas: Arts & Humanities; Libraries;
Social Sciences / Cultural Studies;
Preservation (Historical, Landmark, Cultural);
Media (Public Broadcasting);
Museums (Art, History, Children’s);
Performing Arts; International Exchange
![Man holding a cat. Text: "Give happy so animal lovers like Evan can find companionship through rescue."]()
Animal Welfare
Week of Oct. 30
Cause Areas: Animal Welfare; Pet Adoption;
Wildlife Preservation; Endangered Species;
Fisheries; Zoos; Aquariums; Animal Rescue;
Animal Shelters; Ocean Cleanup
![Military member holding little girl and flag. Text: "Give happy so military families like the Reeds can stay connected during deployments."]()
Military & Veterans Services
Week of Nov. 6
Cause Areas: Military & Veteran Services;
Active-Duty Member Support; Veterans;
Military Families; Rehabilitation; Counseling;
Medical Services; Job Training / Workforce Reentry
![Children in a garden holding vegetables. Text: "Give happy so neighborhoods can plant their own community gardens."]()
Community Improvement
Week of Nov. 13
Cause Areas: Community Improvement;
Disaster Relief; First Responders; Legal Aid;
Crime Prevention; Transitional Housing;
Faith-Based Support; Rehabilitation Programs;
Places of Worship; Mission Services; Support Groups
![Woman in a wheelchair going up a ramp. Text: "Give happy so wounded warriors like Jennifer can live in accessible homes."]()
Housing & Shelter
Week of Nov. 20
Cause Areas: Housing & Shelter;
Temporary Shelter; Disaster Relief;
Senior Care; Safe House; Refugees;
Home Accessibility & Improvement;
Family Shelters; Faith-Based Support;
Sanitation Services
![Woman holding up her fist. Text: "Give happy so voices like Cheyenne's can be heard."]()
Human Rights
Week of Dec. 4
Cause Areas: Human Rights;
Social Justice; Human Trafficking;
LGBTQIA; Women & Girls; Legal Aid;
Crime Prevention; Persons with Disabilities
![Child's silhouette in front of an aquarium with sharks. Text "Give happy so our next generation can enjoy vibrant sea life for years to come."]()
Environmental Protection
Week of Dec. 11
Cause Areas: Environmental Protection;
Wildlife Preservation; Animal Welfare;
Natural Resources; Agriculture; Sustainable Energy;
Parks & Recreation Areas; Recycling;
Conservation (Forest, Ocean, Wetland);
Education; Climate Change
![A doctor and an elderly man. Text: Give happy so patients like John can hear, "You're in remission!"]()
Global Health & Research
Week of Dec. 18
Cause Areas: Global Health & Research;
Cancer Awareness & Treatment;
Disease Eradication, Prevention & Treatment
(Auto Immune, Blood, Degenerative, Diabetes, Heart);
Health & Lifestyle Education; Persons with Disabilities;
Vaccine Research, Development & Administration;
Refugees; Rehabilitation Programs
![Family looking at a folder. Text "Give happy so couples like the Lees can expand their family through adoption"]()
Children & Family Support
Week of Dec. 25
Cause Areas: Children & Family Support;
Youth Development; Adoption; Foster Care;
Single Parent Services; Counseling (Child, Family, Couple);
Family Shelters; Child Care; Family Caregivers;
Military Spouses / Children; Intervention Services;
Human Trafficking
![Boy kissing a dog on the nose. Text: Give happy so kids like Riley can receive the emotional support they need.]()
Mental Wellness
Week of Jan. 1
Cause Areas: Mental Wellness; Counseling Services;
Rehabilitation Programs; Health & Lifestyle Education;
Victim Services; Community Centers; Hotline Services;
Disaster Relief; Intervention Programs; Persons with Disabilities
