OPM Kicks Off Annual Charity Drive

The Office of Personnel Management has kicked off the 2009 Combined Federal Campaign, the world's largest workplace giving campaign. OPM Director John Berry on Friday sent a letter to the Chief Human Capital Officers Council, stressing the importance of supporting the CFC as a means to show the American people who federal workers really are.

"For over three decades, federal workers have been denigrated and maligned," Berry wrote. "These attacks have hurt recruitment, they've hurt retention, and ultimately, they impair our ability to serve the American people."

Last fall, I wrote about how the CFC is adopting new technologies to appeal to the younger generation of federal workers, better facilitate giving among teleworkers and federal retirees and lower the administrative costs of running the campaign. The CFC in Suncoast, Fla., for example, is piloting two electronic payment systems simultaneously for two years to determine which is better. Some federal agencies also have established electronic pledge systems through Employee Express, an online tool for changing payroll and personnel information.

Visit OPM's Web site for more information on CFC charities or volunteer opportunities.