“Recognizing the needs are greater than ever, OPM granted the Combined Federal Campaign of the National Capital Area . . . an extension of the campaign solicitation period to January 17, 2011. Federal employees can pledge funds to . . . [m]ore than 4,000 local, national and international charities.” 

What is the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC)?  It’s the federal government’s massive annual effort to encourage federal employees and military members to make payroll deductions to certain charitable organizations. 

“As always, CFC donations are tax deductible.”   

This is a substantial benefit to folks who cannot ordinarily make charitable contributions because they do not pay enough home mortgage interest to exceed the standard deduction and file a Schedule A with their IRS Form 1040 tax return which then enables tax deductible treatment of charitable gifts.

At least two of the charitable organizations on the CFC list this year fund gun rights initiatives.  The National Rifle Association’s Civil Rights Defense Fund (CFC #10006) and Gun Owners of America’s Gun Owner’s Foundation (CFC # 10042) exist to fund litigation to enforce and expand gun rights throughout the United States. 

How do I know that?  Because in 2004 both organizations helped me fund my civil lawsuit attacking Pennsylvania’s statutory requirement for citizens to both have and disclose their Social Security Numbers to buy guns or apply for licenses to carry concealed guns.  The litigation cost me almost $50,000 in legal fees and would not have been possible without NRA & GOA financial assistance.

Federal Judge Juan R. Sanchez ultimately entered judgment against Pennsylvania and struck down it's unlawful “SSN for your gun rights” scheme.  Judge Sanchez subsequently ordered Pennsylvania to pay all of my legal expenses.  The case has since served as a valuable gun owner privacy precedent.

Federal employees and military members can check find out more about the CFC and donate online here.