Frequently Asked Questions
1) What is Diabetes Charities of America?
Diabetes Charities of America (DCA) is a federation approved by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to participate in the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) on a national and international level. We are a nonprofit organization that includes many national mission-similar member charities. Each of these national charities is the recipient of generous donations raised through the CFC. We provide fundraising, fiscal management, marketing, strategic positioning, and administrative support to our member charities. CFC donations are passed through to our beneficiary charities, less a small overhead percentage that supports the operation of the federation.
2) What is the mission of Diabetes Charities of America?
Diabetes Charities of America is dedicated to helping nonprofit organizations raise transformational funds for life-saving research, treatment and support for those impacted by diabetes and related diseases, disorders and conditions.
3) What specific services will the Diabetes Charities of America federation provide?
One of our most important roles is to strategically position, market, and brand our member charities to be as successful as possible in the CFC campaign. We also assist our member organizations in completing the CFC application and meeting all OPM requirements for participation in the campaign. Once approved by the CFC, the federation and our member charities will be represented in all 150 CFC campaigns across the country in the campaign each year. We provide fiscal agent services for all these campaigns, tracking and recording all pledges, and disbursing the donations. In addition to our admissions support and fiscal agent services, we provide continued guidance on marketing each member for maximum exposure and success in the campaign.
4) How does the federation help charities raise more money?
Diabetes is a major public health issue, and diabetes charities were among the highest-ranking organizations in donations received in the CFC campaign last year. A diabetes-specific federation makes it easy for donors to find those organizations working to prevent, treat, and cure this disease. First-hand experience from past campaigns shows that even organizations with little national name recognition do well if they are in a well-named and well-positioned federation that clearly specifies the cause-related work of its member charities. With so many Americans affected by diabetes, we are continuing our strong track record of attracting significant donations for members of Diabetes Charities of America through the CFC campaign. Diabetes Charities of America has raised one million pledges in the past two years.
5) What types of organizations are participating in the new diabetes federation?
Our members include prestigious national diabetes organizations from around the country--top-ranked diabetes and endocrinology hospitals, medical research institutions, treatment centers, medical camps and summer programs for children, as well as nonprofit organizations conducting research on associated disorders of the kidney, pancreas, and endocrine system. Our members also include numerous innovative charities that are active in diabetes prevention and public health programming to address the obesity epidemic in schools and communities across the country.
6) How are the donations divided among the federation's member charities?
Donations are disbursed to member organizations according to donor designation.
According to federal CFC regulation 950.302.(c) “Each federation, as fiscal agent for its member organizations, must ensure that Federal employee designations are honored in that each member organization receives its proportionate share of receipts based on the results of each individual campaign. The proportionate share of receipts is determined by donor designations to the individual member organization as compared to total campaign designations.”
In accordance with these federal regulations, Diabetes Charities of America distributes funds on a proportionate basis (based on designated pledge amounts to each of its member charities from each of the approximately 160 individual campaigns run across the country by the CFC). Thus, donation amounts received by each beneficiary organization will vary according to donor choice and designation.
7) What is the cost of joining the diabetes federation?
Per the new CFC regulations, federations are no longer permitted to deduct membership fees from the money pledged to charities as of the 2017 campaign cycle. Moving forward, we will issue charities invoices for a proportionate service fee calculated on a sliding scale depending on receipts. No additional charges of any kind are charges of any kind (e.g., process fees) are charged by the federation. All fiscal management services, administrative and admissions support, strategic positioning, and marketing are included in this federation service fee. Diabetes Charities of America has among the lowest fees of any of the approved national/international federations. Furthermore, the service fees do not account for the total cost of running the federation, instead we depend on donations designated specifically to our organization in order to cover costs.
8) Are CFC donations unrestricted?
Donations received through the CFC are unrestricted, and can be used by the member organizations to fund research, operations, special initiatives, etc. Unrestricted donations are becoming much more difficult to secure, and the CFC provides a vital form of support to our charities working to address the diabetes pandemic. CFC donations can become a sustaining funding stream that many organizations count on year after year to deliver on their mission.
9) Other than the requirement to complete an application, are there any ongoing efforts required from our organization in order to participate in the federation?
Surprisingly, no. Because federal employees operate the campaign and solicit the donations, and the federation provides all the fiscal management, the CFC is a highly efficient fundraising vehicle. Once the initial application is complete, there are no ongoing requirements of member organizations other than to make arrangements for wire transfers or check deposits of the donations. However, many organizations enjoy the opportunity to connect with their donors by participating in various CFC kick-off events. And of course, all organizations are encouraged to acknowledge the gifts from those donors who have not asked to remain anonymous. Once accepted into the CFC at the national level, very few organizations leave, and the vast majority remain active participants for years.
10) What is required of a federation by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management?
Many organizations are not nationally known, or do not have a name that is descriptive of their services. In such cases, organizations often opt to create a “dba” (Doing Business As) name specifically for the CFC. This is a very simple process that requires filing a one-page form with the state. It does not change your legal name, and is acceptable by the IRS and other government agencies. A good dba can help attract more donors, especially if it captures the causes that donors are most interested in funding. It can be a good option for organizations whose name may not be recognized by donors as a diabetes-engaged organization.
11) What federal requirements are federations required to meet?
All federations must be 501(c)3 organization that are eligible to accept tax-deductible donations. Diabetes Charities of America has received its 501(c)3 Determination Letter from the IRS, and is approved to operate as a 501(c)(3) public charity. Federations must also meet and comply with strict federal regulations governing fiscal accountability, financial transparency, board governance, and fundraising efficiency. We have met all these federal requirements and have been approved to operate as a federation by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM), which supervises the CFC program. OPM only approves federation applications after review of the following documents:
1) What is Diabetes Charities of America?
Diabetes Charities of America (DCA) is a federation approved by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to participate in the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) on a national and international level. We are a nonprofit organization that includes many national mission-similar member charities. Each of these national charities is the recipient of generous donations raised through the CFC. We provide fundraising, fiscal management, marketing, strategic positioning, and administrative support to our member charities. CFC donations are passed through to our beneficiary charities, less a small overhead percentage that supports the operation of the federation.
2) What is the mission of Diabetes Charities of America?
Diabetes Charities of America is dedicated to helping nonprofit organizations raise transformational funds for life-saving research, treatment and support for those impacted by diabetes and related diseases, disorders and conditions.
3) What specific services will the Diabetes Charities of America federation provide?
One of our most important roles is to strategically position, market, and brand our member charities to be as successful as possible in the CFC campaign. We also assist our member organizations in completing the CFC application and meeting all OPM requirements for participation in the campaign. Once approved by the CFC, the federation and our member charities will be represented in all 150 CFC campaigns across the country in the campaign each year. We provide fiscal agent services for all these campaigns, tracking and recording all pledges, and disbursing the donations. In addition to our admissions support and fiscal agent services, we provide continued guidance on marketing each member for maximum exposure and success in the campaign.
4) How does the federation help charities raise more money?
Diabetes is a major public health issue, and diabetes charities were among the highest-ranking organizations in donations received in the CFC campaign last year. A diabetes-specific federation makes it easy for donors to find those organizations working to prevent, treat, and cure this disease. First-hand experience from past campaigns shows that even organizations with little national name recognition do well if they are in a well-named and well-positioned federation that clearly specifies the cause-related work of its member charities. With so many Americans affected by diabetes, we are continuing our strong track record of attracting significant donations for members of Diabetes Charities of America through the CFC campaign. Diabetes Charities of America has raised one million pledges in the past two years.
5) What types of organizations are participating in the new diabetes federation?
Our members include prestigious national diabetes organizations from around the country--top-ranked diabetes and endocrinology hospitals, medical research institutions, treatment centers, medical camps and summer programs for children, as well as nonprofit organizations conducting research on associated disorders of the kidney, pancreas, and endocrine system. Our members also include numerous innovative charities that are active in diabetes prevention and public health programming to address the obesity epidemic in schools and communities across the country.
6) How are the donations divided among the federation's member charities?
Donations are disbursed to member organizations according to donor designation.
According to federal CFC regulation 950.302.(c) “Each federation, as fiscal agent for its member organizations, must ensure that Federal employee designations are honored in that each member organization receives its proportionate share of receipts based on the results of each individual campaign. The proportionate share of receipts is determined by donor designations to the individual member organization as compared to total campaign designations.”
In accordance with these federal regulations, Diabetes Charities of America distributes funds on a proportionate basis (based on designated pledge amounts to each of its member charities from each of the approximately 160 individual campaigns run across the country by the CFC). Thus, donation amounts received by each beneficiary organization will vary according to donor choice and designation.
7) What is the cost of joining the diabetes federation?
Per the new CFC regulations, federations are no longer permitted to deduct membership fees from the money pledged to charities as of the 2017 campaign cycle. Moving forward, we will issue charities invoices for a proportionate service fee calculated on a sliding scale depending on receipts. No additional charges of any kind are charges of any kind (e.g., process fees) are charged by the federation. All fiscal management services, administrative and admissions support, strategic positioning, and marketing are included in this federation service fee. Diabetes Charities of America has among the lowest fees of any of the approved national/international federations. Furthermore, the service fees do not account for the total cost of running the federation, instead we depend on donations designated specifically to our organization in order to cover costs.
8) Are CFC donations unrestricted?
Donations received through the CFC are unrestricted, and can be used by the member organizations to fund research, operations, special initiatives, etc. Unrestricted donations are becoming much more difficult to secure, and the CFC provides a vital form of support to our charities working to address the diabetes pandemic. CFC donations can become a sustaining funding stream that many organizations count on year after year to deliver on their mission.
9) Other than the requirement to complete an application, are there any ongoing efforts required from our organization in order to participate in the federation?
Surprisingly, no. Because federal employees operate the campaign and solicit the donations, and the federation provides all the fiscal management, the CFC is a highly efficient fundraising vehicle. Once the initial application is complete, there are no ongoing requirements of member organizations other than to make arrangements for wire transfers or check deposits of the donations. However, many organizations enjoy the opportunity to connect with their donors by participating in various CFC kick-off events. And of course, all organizations are encouraged to acknowledge the gifts from those donors who have not asked to remain anonymous. Once accepted into the CFC at the national level, very few organizations leave, and the vast majority remain active participants for years.
10) What is required of a federation by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management?
Many organizations are not nationally known, or do not have a name that is descriptive of their services. In such cases, organizations often opt to create a “dba” (Doing Business As) name specifically for the CFC. This is a very simple process that requires filing a one-page form with the state. It does not change your legal name, and is acceptable by the IRS and other government agencies. A good dba can help attract more donors, especially if it captures the causes that donors are most interested in funding. It can be a good option for organizations whose name may not be recognized by donors as a diabetes-engaged organization.
11) What federal requirements are federations required to meet?
All federations must be 501(c)3 organization that are eligible to accept tax-deductible donations. Diabetes Charities of America has received its 501(c)3 Determination Letter from the IRS, and is approved to operate as a 501(c)(3) public charity. Federations must also meet and comply with strict federal regulations governing fiscal accountability, financial transparency, board governance, and fundraising efficiency. We have met all these federal requirements and have been approved to operate as a federation by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM), which supervises the CFC program. OPM only approves federation applications after review of the following documents:
- An IRS determination letter showing that the federation is a 501(c)3 tax exempt organization
- A 990 filed with the IRS for the fiscal year ending on or after June 30, 2015
- A full audit report (not an audit review or compilation) with no exception statements, conducted by an independent CPA for the corresponding fiscal year
- Audited financial statements for the corresponding fiscal year
- An annual report showing costs of fundraising and use of funds for the corresponding fiscal year
- Detailed information on the Board of Directors