In the upcoming 1996/97 campaign year, the Environmental Fund for Arizona (E.F.A.) is preparing to offer over 60,000 public employees in Arizona an opportunity to voice their concern for the environment by supporting a coalition of 16 different environmental groups. A number of corporations have also included E.F.A. as an option in their campaigns.
A member of the National Alliance for Choice in Giving (N.A.C.G.), the E.F.A. was founded in 1993 with the goal of diversifying workplace giving options to include environmental groups with 501C3 status.
Member organizations such as the Southwest Center for Biological Diversity in Tucson, the Resource Center for Environmental Education in Flagstaff, the Arizona Association for Learning in and about the Environment, the Arizona Heritage Alliance and the Arizona Wildlife Federation represent a wide spectrum of views on environmental issues. As described in the E.F.A. mission statement, their common goal is to broaden financial support for environmentally concerned organizations committed to improving and protecting Arizona's environment through collaborative fund-raising. The first step in this process is to gain access to and coordinate workplace giving campaigns.
Because of prior commitments, E.F.A. members such as the Sierra Club Foundation and/or Sierra Club-Grand Canyon Chapter, Grand Canyon Trust, and The Nature Conservancy, Arizona Chapter may be listed separately in some Combined Federal Campaigns.
The N.A.C.G. is a coalition of funds across the U.S. The N.A.C.G. acts as a support group for a variety of alternative funds. The term 'alternative' is used to distinguish these newer funds from the United Way, which has been a leader in expanding and refining the process of workplace giving. The United Way has traditionally focused on non-profits in the field of health and human services and initially was reluctant to include environmental groups in the campaigns. Contrary to expectations, the introduction of alternative funds into the workplace giving program added a new dimension to the campaigns and in many areas has led to increased giving to the United Way.
As the campaign season opens, the Environmental Fund for Arizona is looking for volunteers to assist in its fund raising efforts. The primary focus will be on gaining the support of Federal employees in the Yuma, Maricopa County, Southern Arizona and Northern Arizona Combined Federal Campaigns. Also at the top of the priority list are the Pima County and City of Tucson employees.
The goal for the 1996/97 campaign year is to achieve a minimal goal of 1 % and a top goal of 3 % participation. Funds in other areas average $ 50 per year per donor. Based on this figure each 1 % participation in the 6 campaigns listed above represents $ 30,000 for the environmental fund. Member organizations are asked to reprint this article in order to help find 50 volunteers around the State who will be responsible for fund-raising activities that will result in at least 600 donors.