Mission Overview & History

Mission

To coordinate a workplace fundraising campaign that enables BC Government employees to support local charitable organizations that strengthen our communities.

Goals

  1. Provincial government employees have the ability to donate to local charitable organizations through bi-weekly and one-time payroll deductions and through fundraising events.
  2. Funding requests are reviewed from non-profit organizations servicing the needs of individuals in the local community.
  3. The donated funds are administered in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles and are distributed to approved charitable organizations.

History

The Provincial Employees Community Services Fund (PECSF) was founded in 1965 to facilitate provincial government employee contributions to local non-profit organizations. This was the beginning of the automatic payroll deduction to charity program for employees.

  • 100% of donations are given to hundreds of charitable organizations.
  • Government absorbs all administrative costs. 
  • Donations stay within the local community.

The Community Fund is registered with the federal government as a charitable employee trust and is the only organization authorized to conduct a canvass of provincial government employees in the workplace. 

Fund Facts

  • The Community Fund central office in Victoria has three staff members who manage and administer the Fund.
  • Each year a Deputy Minister is invited to be the Campaign Honourary Chair.
  • Since its inception, the Community Fund has expanded to serve 28 regions throughout British Columbia, each with its own employee volunteer committee.
  • Community Fund campaigns are coordinated by local employees within their regions. Regional Chairs volunteer through out the Province. In Victoria and the Lower Mainland, each ministry, agency, board or commission designates at least one representative who co-ordinates the local Community Fund campaign. A volunteer group of canvassers, who report directly to their Community Fund representative, canvass their respective work areas.
  • Outside of Victoria and the Lower Mainland, Regional Committees, made up of local government employees, coordinate the campaigns. Canvassers within each of the ministries report to their Regional Chairperson who in turn reports to the Community Fund central office.
  • Each year the Community Fund central office holds training sessions to instruct new Community Fund representatives and canvassers about campaign procedures and refresh seasoned volunteer employees.
  • Each year campaign Kick-Off events are held in Victoria, Vancouver and two regions to initiate the start of the campaign, which runs from September to end of October/early November. The events provide an opportunity for Community Fund representatives and canvassers to meet the charitable organizations funded by the Community Fund. This is also a time for representatives and canvassers to network, share ideas and build a momentum to carry through the campaign.
  • Thank You and recognition events are usually held in February to recognize Community Fund volunteers and their efforts. These sessions are also a celebration of the work carried out for the Community Fund. Awards are presented and certificates of appreciation are sent to canvassers and committee members.
  • All employee contributions are forwarded to the Community Fund central office in Victoria for distribution to the agencies. In most cases, contributions are disbursed on a quarterly basis to the various non-profit agencies indicated by the contributors.
  • The volunteer committees in each region conduct an annual review of the agencies that appear on the pledge forms to ensure that they continue to meet the required criteria. At this time, they may also accept new applications for funding and conduct interviews of agencies wishing to be part of the campaign.
  • The Office of the Auditor General of British Columbia conducts an annual audit. The audit provides the contributors with assurance and confidence, which helps to guide their decision to support the Fund.