Combined Federal Campaign of South Hampton Roads

As a CFC Command coordinator you have lots to do. Lets go down the list.

Your CFC Team: If you are a small command of less than 100 people, you may only need a few more assistants or key workers to help you with getting out the pledge cards and making sure all your personnel are personally asked to considering giving to the CFC. The best ratio is about 1 to every 25 people, but also depends on how your command or activity is organized. Many coordinators just get one representative from each department or division....encourage large divisions over 50 to have more than one key worker.

Training: At a minimum you need to receive training if you have never done this before. If you are a returning "pro", make sure you get to one of the sessions where you can get updates for this year's campaign and move on quickly to getting your materials. Training is always done in early September, usually on the Naval Station, Norfolk Naval Shipyard and several sessions at the CFC headquarters located at 2515 Walmer Ave, Norfolk, VA

Training also includes picking up your materials. Training allows you to become familiar with how to ask for pledges, filling out the forms and collections envelopes, some of the most commonly asked questions, and if you haven't visited this page, how to get organized. If you know your team members before training begins, they are welcome to come and save you a step.

Campaign Time: You need to be in contact with your chain of command and let your leaders know how the campaign is doing, ask for their pledges, get their leadership involvement at presentations if you plan to do them, and keep them informed. One of the key elements is to pick a six week time-frame to run your campaign. You cannot solicit before 1 September nor after 15 December...although you may still be getting pledge cards well into January, the rules are very specific that you cannot ASK before or after these dates. This year we are shooting to complete the campaign by 15 November.

Once you have your dates established, you need to get your team prepared. If they haven't already received training, you are responsible for making sure they know as much as you do. It will make your job easier in the long run. Prepare a schedule that includes training, material distribution to your keyworkers, planning for events if you want to conduct them, turn in deadlines for your team, and making sure everyone gets asked. The best method is to fill out your pledge cards with the names of the people you are responsible for solicitating....one for every employee. If they choose not to give, they can return it blank or with a ZERO across it....you know you have contacted that employee.

In the middle of it all: Your team is trained, your materials are out, you know when, where and who....now you keep it energized by advertising to your command or activity how you are doing, why its important to give, and how easy it is to help all year round. This website offers other tools for presentations, emails and notices, and links to the Office of CFC Operations in DC. As you turn in your pledges at location sites or through the mail, keep track of your leadership givers (covered in detail in training), hand out leadership gifts as you receive them, keep track of your receipts, and try to wrap your campaign up on time and within your schedule.

Campaign wrap up: You have done everything!!! Congratulations!!! But don't be surprised that after you think you are done one of your command personnel shows up with a pledge card. Pledges can be processed as late as the end of February...however, if the gift is payroll deduction, the donor may find his totals coming out in larger amounts than one year cycle (10 months at 24 dollars vice 12 months at 20 dollars). Every payroll office is different.

We're here to Help!!! Really!!! CFC staff wants you to have a great time doing this wonderful volunteer work. Contact us any time...year-round at cfc@unitedwayshr.org or (757) 853-8500 x114