SEFA Campaign

It’s All About Family

State employees support of United Way is vital to our community building effectiveness. The success of this fundraising drive is a prime example of the significant contribution made by state employees of the State Employees Federated Appeal (SEFA) in helping United Way address community needs.

State Employee Federated Appeal (SEFA)

What is SEFA?

SEFA, the State Employees Federated Appeal, is a joint venture of State employees, public employee unions, management and not-for-profit organizations. Through SEFA, State employees provide much needed funding statewide for over 4,000 healthcare and human service agencies. SEFA is people helping people. It is the ONLY authorized fundraising campaign among State employees. Your gift through SEFA reduces the need for participating organizations to conduct separate fundraising drives.  State employees have established a strong tradition of supporting SEFA. In the fall of 2007, the statewide SEFA Campaign raised $9,6 million dollars with our Capital Region area receiving pledges of $2,817,507. 

SEFA – Efficient – Effective – Accountable

Because we rely on State employee volunteers, SEFA campaigns operate at the lowest cost possible. SEFA regulations set a maximum limit of 15% on a campaign's fundraising and administrative costs. Here in the Capital Region, SEFA campaign costs range from 9 to 11 cents of each dollar raised. It is through the dedication and hard work of the SEFA volunteers that we are able to apply your contributions directly to the service organizations, not to administrative costs.  To assure fiscal and professional integrity, your campaign committee, made up of representatives from the State employee unions, management and not-for-profit organizations, carefully review and monitor the organizations that are funded by your gift. Only State employees vote on the committee.  Financial reports for the individual agencies may be requested from either the NYS Department of Law at the following address or directly from the participating agencies. A report for any SEFA campaign may be obtained from the Office of the Attorney General, Charities Bureau - F.O.I.L. Section, 120 Broadway, New York, NY 10271 for a fee.  Thanks to the generosity of over 13,000 State employees, the Fall 2007 Capital Region SEFA Campaign raised $2,817,507.

Here's how the contributions will be distributed:

United Way of the Greater Capital Region (formerly UWNENY) $ 454,474 (16.1%)
Independent Charities of America $ 191,255 (6.8%)
Community Health Charities $ 244,624 (8.7%)
America’s Charities $ 129,553 (4.6%)
Global Impact $ 119,417 (4.2%)
Community Works $ 39,810 (1.4%)
Earth Share of New York $ 61,470 (2.2%)
Neighbor to Nation $ 58,341 (2.1%)
Designated to Other Areas $ 517,901 (18.4%)
Independent Agencies $ 994,939 (35.3%)
Other Federations $5,723 (0.2%)

SEFA Leadership Giving Program

Leadership Giving represents a higher level of community participation, an indication of deep involvement and a desire to do more. The Capital Region SEFA Committee first initiated a Leadership Giving Program in 1995 to recognize donors who pledged $1,000 or more annually with a small token of appreciation. This past fall, 329 donors stepped forward, without much fanfare, to touch the lives of so many with their leadership gifts totaling $491,973.

In 1997, the Capital Region SEFA Committee decided to expand the program to include donors who contribute $500 - $999 annually. This past fall, 1,324 donors contributed at this level for gifts totaling $774,027.

It’s Up To You!

Charitable giving is a personal decision. No one should tell you how much to give or what organizations to support. SEFA was established to provide a system that encourages choice by offering you the opportunity to choose where your money goes and also to offer the convenience of payroll deduction. The United Way of the Greater Capital Region is the campaign manager and fiduciary and a beneficiary of the Capital Region's State Employees Federated Appeal (SEFA) and the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC). These campaigns are conducted in multiple counties in the region. Loaned Executives from state and federal agencies work with United Way to bring the campaign to employees of government agencies. Funds raised from these campaigns are distributed to member and non-member United Way agencies, and many federations locally, across the country and around the world.

For more information about the SEFA campaign, visit the statewide SEFA Home Page at www.sefa.state.ny.us