The annual Combined Federal Campaign—the 50th anniversary of the initial drive in 1961—started Sept. 1, and OPM has sent a memo to agencies urging them to make employees available for the organizing work required.
OPM said that the drive has raised more than $280 million in each of the last two years from federal employees and military personnel, but that agencies should make renewed efforts to inform employees about the drive, particularly newer employees.
“I certainly understand that all of us are stretched for resources—so are many of the charities and families supported by CFC,” OPM director John Berry wrote in the memo. “For this and other reasons, I recommend allowing your employees to serve as CFC Loaned Executives, Coordinators, and Keyworkers to the extent possible during the campaign period as well as encouraging employees to serve on their Local Federal Coordinating Committee. These positions are often a great way to develop professional skills such as public speaking, financial accountability, and building public-private sector partnerships, among others. Since the CFC is a recognized Federal program, it is not appropriate to place these employees on leave or make employees take leave to administer the CFC within your agency,”
He encouraged agencies to send a message to that effect to senior executives, supervisors and managers at headquarters and at regional and field offices.
The announcement is here: http://www.chcoc.gov/transmittals/TransmittalDetails.aspx?TransmittalID=4259
