Combined Federal Campaign Again Under Threat
The Combined Federal Campaign (CFC), which has raised more than $8.7 billion for charity via federal workplace giving campaigns since its inception in 1961, is again under threat of being shut down. An orchestrated effort by nonprofits this past September was able to save it for the 2025 campaign.
A message was sent this past Friday to the roughly 4,000 charities participating in the CFC campaign, which is run by the federal Office of Personnel Management (OPM), stating: “We are writing to inform you that the CFC Charity Portal is scheduled to be decommissioned and will go offline as soon as Wednesday, March 4.”
Historical data not downloaded by March 4 might no longer be accessible to the charities, according to the memo. “We highly recommend retrieving your data as soon as possible to avoid any last-minute technical delays,” according to the memo. The challenge is that the 2025 campaign ended January 31 and organizations are still waiting for final data and disbursements.
“The Nonprofit Alliance was disappointed to learn that the Combined Federal Campaign Charity Portal will be decommissioned as soon as March 4, 2026. This portal needs to remain open until all 2025 campaign contributions are dispersed according to the donors’ intent,” said Ann Hollingsworth, vice president, Government Affairs, of the Nonprofit Alliance.
“Furthermore, the portal is funded with the nonprofit organizations’ campaign participation fees. Today’s abrupt notification should raise questions for charities who participate and federal workers who have contributed,” said Hollingsworth.
The amount raised via the 2025 CFC campaign was not immediately available. The CFC had raised nearly $8.7 billion for charities since its formal inception during the administration of President John F. Kennedy, although some type of federal employee giving has been in place since the 1940s. The CFC raised more than $66 million during 2024, with the average pledge increasing to nearly $1,000, CFC data shows.
The CFC sends money monthly to charities designated by federal employees, retirees, and contractors with donations made through payroll deductions. The number of designated charities declined from 7,515 in 2017 to 4,400 in 2023. The value of volunteer hours from 2017 to 2023 ranged from $1.9 million to $3.04 million, which is added to the reported donation figure.
The OPM issued a Stop Work Order on the portal in late August 2025 but lifted it in early September, well after charities had paid fees and spent to prepare for the 2025 launch. The Nonprofit Alliance, the National Council of Nonprofits, and United Way Worldwide led the pressure campaign.
“The attempts by OPM to dismantle the Combined Federal Campaign are concerning and put vulnerable communities at risk,” said Diane Yentel, president and CEO of the National Council of Nonprofits. “The CFC is an important source of funding for many smaller and rural nonprofits that depend on this campaign to support essential services — from food banks and housing support to disaster relief. With more than 4,400 charitable organizations counting on these contributions, preserving the CFC is important. Federal employees’ long-standing commitment to giving back strengthens communities across the nation, and we must ensure that this vital source of funding endures.”