New York State Employees Federated Appeal (SEFA)

Deadline: circa January 15

http://www.sefanys.org

Summary

The New York State Employees Federated Appeal, SEFA, is the only authorized workplace giving campaign offered to New York state employees. It is divided into 23 different regions. Combined, these regions raise approximately $10 million annually. Unlike other state campaigns, SEFA does not have a central office, and an organization must apply to each region it wishes to participate in.

Eligibility Requirements

Note: This is a summary of the eligibility requirements for admittance to SEFA. These eligibility requirements represent what is found in the SEFA regulations Part 335 dated 03/02. The requirements listed below only represent what is considered generally acceptable among the 23 regions. It is possible that any region may choose to decline the organization for reasons not found in this list of requirements. Organizations should contact each region it wishes to apply to for a copy of the SEFA regulations Part 335 and any additional information.

To gain access to SEFA an organization must:

• Be recognized by the IRS as a 501c3 organization
• File Form 990 with the Internal Revenue Service
• Adopt a standard accounting and financial reporting system commonly used by voluntary, nonprofit organizations. For larger organizations (>$250,000 total revenue) this includes GAAS/GAAP auditing
• Expend no more than 25 percent of its gross revenue on management and fundraising. If the organization’s overhead is above 25 percent, it must present a justification and plan to reduce expenses the net fiscal year
• Be registered to solicit funds with the New York Attorney General’s Office. The form is called CHAR 500. The fee ranges from $25 to $1500 depending on the size of the organization
• Be directed by a volunteer Board of Directors that meet regularly, the majority of whose members serve without compensation
• Provide services to the residents of the local campaign area (to qualify locally), or to the residents of at least 12 New York counties (to qualify statewide) or to people overseas (to qualify internationally)
• Unless the organization has a number in the local campaign region that it is applying to, it must provide a toll free number for the purpose of receiving calls from perspective donors. If the organization is a member of a federation, it may use the toll-free number of the federation

Contact Information

Because there is not a central office for SEFA, contact information varies by region. Click on the following link to find the regional contact of interest:

http://www.sefanys.org/files/2010%20Committee%20Chairs%20and%20Coun.xls

Updated 8/29/11
Regulations and contact information are subject to change without notice.