FAQ
Q. What does Global Impact do?
Global Impact raises funds to meet critical humanitarian needs around the world. It supports an alliance of nearly 70 U.S.-based international charities through partnerships and employee giving programs. Global Impact manages the two largest workplace giving campaigns in the world: the CFC-Overseas and the CFCNCA. The organization also handles charitable giving donations for eight Fortune 500 companies.
Since 1956, Global Impact has generated more than $1.5 billion, touching the lives of millions through disaster relief, education, health training and economic programs that promote self-sufficiency and build stronger communities.
Q. What is the Combined Federal Campaign? (CFC)
The CFC was established by Executive Order [12353 and 12404] to provide a convenient way for Federal employees to contribute to charitable causes while minimizing work place disruption and fundraising costs. It is regulated by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and overseen by a group of volunteer Federal employees who put out for competitive bidding the management of the campaign.
Q. What is Global Impact’s involvement with the CFCNCA?
Global Impact was appointed to manage the Combined Federal Campaign of the National Capital Area (CFCNCA) in 2003. The CFCNCA is one of more than 200 campaigns nationwide and distributes funds to more than 4,100 participating charities. It is the world’s largest workplace giving campaign serving the Washington, DC metropolitan region. Since beginning its management of the CFCNCA, revenue has risen steadily each year, from $47 million to $64 million in 2011.
Q. What are the criteria for management of the campaign?
Eligibility for management of the CFCNCA requires all organizations to meet a rigorous set of qualifications involving its auditing, governance and program functions . Global Impact’s program has consistently exceeded the criteria.
Q. What is the role of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) regarding the CFC?
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) oversees the campaign in more than 200 locations and ensures the campaigns are following regulations. It also accepts the charity certification provided by the LFCC. OPM selected Global Impact for its Best Practices in Fundraising Innovator Award for eight consecutive years.
Q. What entity is responsible for the CFCNCA?
The CFCNCA Local Federal Coordinating Committee (LFCC) is responsible for oversight of the CFCNCA. In conformance with CFC regulations and policies, the LFCC selected Global Impact in a competitive bid to manage the world’s largest workplace giving campaign serving the Washington, DC area. Global Impact was selected based on its reputation, financial accountability and solid record of accomplishment that has resulted in raising millions of dollars to meet critical humanitarian needs around the world.
Q. How is the campaign managed?
Global Impact handles its fiscal management of all of its programs including the CFCNCA with the utmost care and control and adheres to a rigorous set of controls that ensure sound governance, transparency, sound financial management and the accountability and integrity of our systems.
Global Impact has taken all of the necessary steps to ensure the integrity of its system and to raise the most funds possible each year for people and communities in need. As a result, revenue for the CFCNCA has risen steadily each year, from $47 million to $64 million in 2011.
Q. Why should donors or members of the public believe in the integrity of Global Impact’s financial systems?
Global Impact handles its fiscal management of all of its programs including the CFCNCA with the utmost care and control and adheres to a rigorous set of controls that ensure transparency, sound financial management and the accountability and integrity of our systems.
Most importantly, the CFCNCA is subject to:
- An annual independent program audit for each campaign;
- A comprehensive operational risk management program to ensure that Global Impact meets the highest standards of accountability and sound governance;
- Stringent financial and non-financial internal controls based on identified risks;
- Ongoing tests of the campaign’s financial controls by a dedicated financial quality assurance manager to ensure effectiveness and fine tuning of all necessary controls; and
- An annual program and compliance audit conducted by the CFCNCA Local Federal Coordinating Committee.
Q. What is Global Impact’s general response to the OIG Report?
Global Impact has been working with the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) for several months to clarify and reconcile differences of opinion regarding expenditures made on behalf of the Combined Federal Campaign of the National Capital Area (CFCNCA). We take our role as financial steward of the funds contributed through CFCNCA and the charities that receive funding very seriously. We plan to appeal the OPM’s findings regarding our campaign management practices.
The CFCNCA is the largest campaign among more than 200 campaigns nationwide and distributes funds to more than 4,100 participating charities. We have raised more than $260 million for the CFCNCA, reversing a downward trend in fundraising. The management of this campaign is a service we provide to the community for absolutely no compensation.
Since we have been managing the CFCNCA program, we have followed OPM’s published guidelines and our accounting practices and expenditures have been found to be in compliance every year by independent auditors and by LFCC. The LFCC is the group of Federal workers who volunteer and have Regulatory responsibility assigned by OPM to oversee our campaign management.
Global Impact records can demonstrate full compliance with accounting principles, OPM regulations and published guidelines. It is important to note that all campaign transactions/reimbursements were authorized by the LFCC.