Last week, we learned that the Presidential Administration issued a “stop work order” to pause the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC)—a move with potentially far-reaching consequences for nonprofit organizations nationwide.
For more than six decades, the CFC has provided federal employees, contractors, and retirees with a simple, reliable way to support charitable causes through payroll deductions. Since its creation in the 1960s, the program has raised nearly $9 billion for nonprofits. Just last year alone, it generated $66 million in charitable giving.
The timing of this suspension is especially concerning. The stop work order was issued just days before the 2025 campaign was scheduled to launch this September—after nonprofits had already invested millions of dollars in application fees and preparation costs. Many organizations were counting on these contributions to sustain programs and services in the year ahead.
In response, the National Council of Nonprofits (NCN) and United Way submitted a joint letter to the Administration urging leaders not to eliminate the CFC. Instead, they called for meaningful collaboration with stakeholders to build on the program’s long-standing legacy of success. This letter has also been shared with key members of Congress, and they are continuing to work alongside national partners to determine additional next steps.
At a time when communities rely on nonprofits more than ever, the suspension of the CFC threatens to disrupt critical funding streams that support health, education, human services, and countless other areas of community life. The nonprofit sector remains committed to advocating for a strong and stable CFC—one that continues to connect federal employees with the causes they care about most.