Spectrum - Volume 20 Issue 13 November 20, 1997 - Q&A Regarding the VTCVC

A non-profit publication of the Office of the University Relations of Virginia Tech,
including The Conductor , a special section of the Spectrum printed 4 times a year

Q&A Regarding the VTCVC
The ABC's of CVC: An Interview with Virginia Tech Combined Virginia Campaign Chair Tony Distler

Spectrum Volume 20 Issue 13 - November 20, 1997

Spectrum : What is the CVC?
Distler: The CVC is the Combined Virginia Campaign. It is a voluntary charitable donation program for state employees. It is the only state-wide charitable fund-raising program for which payroll deduction is authorized. Even though it is centrally coordinated through Richmond, it has nothing to do with state government. It provides a convenient way for state employees to donate to local, state, national, and international charities by cash, check, or payroll deduction. By the way, this year's campaign will run from our kickoff on October 9 through December 31. Donations through payroll deduction begin in January, 1998.
Spectrum : How are charities chosen?
Distler: The program is centrally administered by the state CVC office. Each year, charities apply for inclusion in the program and are screened for fiscal accountability, service delivery, and registration with, or exemption from registration by the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. After initial screening, their applications are reviewed by a CVC committee of state employees. This process helps assure that the charities listed in the CVC Directory are qualified and fiscally sound.
Spectrum : Is giving through the CVC the same as giving to United Way?
Distler: No. In each region across the state, 13 local United Ways serve as Campaign Region Organizations (CRO). For example, this means that United Way of Montgomery Radford and Floyd (our local United Way) manages and oversees the CVC for our region by providing organizational and campaign management. They help us by developing and distributing campaign materials, recording pledges and designations, receiving and managing pledges, making quarterly payments to all designated charities and advocating for the campaign at a state level. When you give through the CVC, you have the opportunity to designate to any eligible charity. Our local United Way is one of those many eligible charities. However, the CVC has a large impact on our United Way as it typically comprises 24 percent to 33 percent of the community-wide pledges raised. No other region in the state comes close to representing such high percentages.
Spectrum : When people designate, how much of their contribution goes to a particular charity? In other words, does any of the administrative cost go to the state of Virginia?
Distler: Absolutely no money of any pledge goes to the state of Virginia. All charities which participate in the CVC share in the cost of conducting the campaign. Less than 13 percent is used by the regional CRO to manage and oversee the campaign, print and distribute materials, etc. The National Charities Information Bureau, a charity watch-dog organization, sites 13 percent as being one of the lowest administrative costs for charitable organizations.
Spectrum: Does the CVC give or sell its donor list?
Distler: No. When you give through the CVC you can be sure that your name and Social Security number are not sold to any other organization. Your name and Social Security number is only on the copy of the pledge card that goes to the payroll department. The only information on the pledge card that is forwarded on to the region CRO is your designations.
Spectrum : What do people do if they want to give through the CVC or have questions about the CVC?
Distler: If someone has questions or if they want to give through the CVC and have not already been contacted by a canvasser, then they can contact either me at 1-5921; distler@vt.edu or Gloria Smith at 1-7810; ggsmith@vt.edu .