UW COMBINED FUND DRIVE
ABOUT THE CAMPAIGN
What is the CFD?
The Combined Fund Drive (CFD) is the state's workplace giving campaign which provides faculty and staff the opportunity to give to their favorite charities through payroll deduction or a one-time gift. Established in 1984, the CFD offers convenience, choice, and confidentiality.
Employees can support the causes they are most passionate about by choosing from over 3,400 charities in the official state charity guide or by suggesting their own. UW employees generously contributed more than $2 million last year to local, national, and international charities supporting programs in the arts, environment, health, education, disaster relief, and human services.
The CFD is allowed by state law to deduct reasonable administrative costs* from the campaign contributions to run the campaign (WAC 357-55). Administrative costs pay for:
- Volunteer coordinator training and recognition.
- Printing of campaign materials, development of the CFD video, postage, supplies.
- Technology support.
- Staff salaries and travel.
- Contracted professional support.
Administrative costs are critical because they provide the support needed to coordinate a large campaign like the CFD. Millions are raised every year for thousands of charities. Administrative work ensures the money goes to the appropriate charity.
The difficult economy and recent budget reductions have impacted every agency and higher education institution in the state including the Combined Fund Drive. The state CFD office in Olympia is making every effort to reduce those costs including garnering corporate sponsorships and advertisers. Please read a message from Secretary of State Sam Reed concerning the increased administrative costs.
Each of the charities share in the administrative expenses proportionate to the funds raised for their organization during the campaign. Charities participate in the Combined Fund Drive and other workplace giving programs because it is one of the most inexpensive forms of fundraising for charities. It lowers their own administrative costs because they receive one consolidated check from the CFD each quarter which reduces their accounting expenses.
How Funds Are Collected and Distributed
Contributions are collected from employees each pay period and deposited to the CFD account with the State Treasurer to earn interest. Employees have the choice of giving directly to a specific charity and/or to the CFD's "non-specified" fund. Before each quarterly distribution of donations, the CFD deducts administrative expenses from the total of the specified and non-specified donations and interest. The remaining total is sent to the charities.
Donations to Specific Charities + Donations to the "Non-specified" Fund + Interest - Administrative Costs = Charity Distribution
Example: 2010 CFD campaign
Administrative expenses for 2010 were 8.26%*
| Dollars | |
|---|---|
| Donations to Specific Charities & CFD General Fund | $ 5,565,715.49 |
| Interest Earned | $22,037.12 |
| Total Raised | $5,587,752.61 |
| Less Admin Costs | - $461,222.09 |
| Distributed to Charities | $5,126,530.52 |
See fund distributions from previous years.
* National studies show that fundraising costs less than 25% are considered to be "reasonable". Source: Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance, The American Institute of Philanthropy, The Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University.
** Donations made to this fund are distributed to all charities receiving donations and are disbursed on a pro rata basis.
