2015 Combined Federal Campaign

CHARITY APPLICATION GUIDE

www.AtlanticCoastCFC.orgFor more info please contact (561) 375-6612 or CFC@AtlanticCoastCFC.org

CFC Mission

The mission of the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) is to support and to promote philanthropy through a voluntary program that is employee-focused, cost-efficient and effective in providing all Federal employees the opportunity to improve the quality of life for all.

The Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) is the only authorized solicitation of Federal employees in their workplaces on behalf of approved charitable organizations.

DISCLAIMER

The purpose of this guide is to assist you with the application process. This guide does not intend to replace the Application Instructions issued by OPM. For more detailed instructions and thorough information about the 2015 CFC Charity Application please see the complete 12 page application packet that is available at www.AtlanticCoastCFC.org and www.opm.gov/cfc.

CFC regulations

All aspects of the CFC, including the eligibility for participation, are strictly governed by Federal regulation.

The current CFC regulations can be viewed on OPM website at

www.opm.gov/cfc

To Obtain A 2015 CFC Application

Please go to www.AtlanticCoastCFC.org

Application Please review Pages 1-7. You will find the

answer to many questions in these pages. If you still have questions email them to Fran@AtlanticCoastCFC.org

Name of Organization (Page 8). Please fill out the name of your organization as it appears in the IRS Business Master File, 501(c)3 Determination Letter, IRS 990 and Audited Financial Statements.

DBA (Doing-Business-As) Name is acceptable only if you provide official documentation from the IRS or State government authorizing use of this name with EIN identical in all documents.

Local Presence A staffed facility, office or portion of a

residence dedicated exclusively to that organization

Physically accessible by the public seeking its services

Must be open at least 15 hours a week

Must have a telephone dedicated exclusively to the organization.

Electronic Funds Transfer

Please provide your Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) information.

Elimination of statewide and adjacent presence

Only organizations with a physical address in the following counties may apply to the Atlantic Coast CFC - Broward, Indian River, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Okeechobee, Palm Beach and St. Lucie Counties.  ALL other organizations may only apply to the CFC covering the county where the organization resides.  However, all approved local charities are available to all federal employees.

 

The 2014 Campaign piloted “Universal Giving” throughout the country.  This meant federal employees could designate their donation to any “approved” organization anywhere in the country regardless of the organizations location or listing in the CFC catalog.  For example, a federal employee living and working in California could donate to a local charity based in Miami, FL.  Universal Giving gives federal employees more options in giving and eliminates the need for statewide and adjacent presence criteria.

Application Form

Applicants MUST check the appropriate box in each of the first 12 certification statements.

Applicants must sign and date the Certifying Official statement at the end of the application.

Failure to provide a check mark will be considered a refusal to certify and will result in denial of the application

Attachment A Description of actual services, benefits,

assistance, or program activities provided by the organization in calendar year 2014

Organizations are encouraged to list the number of beneficiaries of each service and/or the value of financial assistance provided in each location in 2014.

Local presence can not be met on the basis of services provided solely through an “800” telephone number or dissemination of nformation through the U.S. Postal Service or the Internet.

Attachment B: 501(c)3 Status A Copy of the Most Recent IRS Determination

Letter is required.

If the Name of the organization differs on the IRS Determination Letter, IRS Form 990, audited financial statements, documentation from the IRS or state government authorizing this name change must accompany the application.

Organizations that are part of an IRS group exemption must provide a copy of the IRS letter granting the group exemption, as well as the current list of subordinates that are covered by the group exemption.

IRS

Each applicant’s 501(c)(3) status will be verified by OPM with the IRS.

If status can not be confirmed by the IRS, your application will be denied.

To verify your organizations’ current tax-exempt status please contact IRS at (877) 829-5500

Attachment C: Audit Organizations with $250,000 or more in annual

revenue, as reported on IRS Form 990, are required to submit an annual audit of fiscal operations by an independent certified public accountant in accordance with Generally Accepted Auditing Standards (GAAS).

Organization with total revenue of at least $100,000 but less than $250,000, must certify that the organization accounts for its fund in accordance with GAAP and has an audit of its fiscal operations completed annually by an independent certified accountant in accordance with GAAS.

Organization with total revenue of less than $100,000 must certify that the organization has controls in place to ensure funds are properly accounted for.

Audit and IRS Form 990

Prepared using the accrual method of accounting

Cover the same fiscal period

Ending on or after June 30, 2013

Attachment D: IRS Form 990 A Complete, Signed IRS Form 990 (ending on or

after June 30, 201) is required.

Organizations that file the IRS 990 electronically must also submit a signed copy of IRS Form 8879-EO or IRS Form 8453-EO in lieu of a signature on the IRS Form 990.

IRS Pro Forma

CFC regulation 5 CFR § 950.203(a)(3) requires an organization that is not required to prepare and submit an IRS Form 990 to the IRS to provide the CFC with certain portions of the IRS Form 990 as a pro-forma document.  IRS Forms 990EZ, 990PF, 990-N and comparable forms are not acceptable substitutes.  To prepare a pro forma IRS Form 990, an applicant must download a copy of the IRS Form 990 (long form) from the IRS website (www.irs.gov) and complete the following sections.

Items A-M on Page 1

Part I (Summary) – Lines 1-4 only

Part II (Signature Block) – the paid preparer’s signature is not acceptable in lieu of the signature of an officer

Part VII (Compensation of Officers, Directors, Trustees, Key Employees, Highest Compensated employees, and Independent Contractors) – Section A only

Part VIII (Statement of Revenue)

Part IX (Statement of Functional Expenses)

Part XII (Financial Statements and Reporting)

IRS Form 990 Voting Members CFC will compare the number of

voting members disclosed in Part !, Line 3 with Part VII, Column C.

If the number in Part I is more than the number in Part VII, the organization must provide an explanation for the difference.

Administrative and Fundraising Rate (AFR)

Computed from data on IRS Form 990

All percentages must be listed to the tenth of a percent

Attachment E: 25 words

25 words or less that describes the organization’s program activities.

Do not repeat the organization’s name in statement.

Use the Template on www.AtlanticCoastCFC.org

CFC Approval

The decision on your organization’s application is made by the LFCC (The Board of Director of the local CFC). The LFCC bases the decision on the very specific instructions issued by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM).

Appeal Process

Applicants may appeal the board’s decision to deny their application to participate by sending a letter requesting reconsideration and providing the reason(s) why they believe your decision was in error. Generally, requests for reconsideration must be filed no later than 7 business days after receipt of the denial letter.

If your appeal or request for reconsideration is denied again. You may appeal to OPM’s Director.

Deadline

The deadline for the 2015 Applications is March 6, 2015.

The CFC will not accept applications postmarked after March 6, 2015.

All applications must be signed, have the necessary attachments, and mailed to:

Atlantic Coast CFC

Attn: Fran Odonnell

PO Box 2546

Oldsmar, FL 34677-0048

2015 Atlantic Coast CFC

www.AtlanticCoastCFC.org

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For questions or comments please email cfc@AtlanticCoastCFC.org