Support Our Troops^®  is an authorized national and international nonprofit in the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC).  Federal employees can help Support Our Troops^® by designating to code 31529.

The United States Office of Personnel Management (OPM), oversees and operates the CFC and the review and approval of the eligibility of the charities authorized to participate in the CFC.

Established in 1961, the CFC is a program which enables certain carefully screened and approved charitable organizations to solicit contributions from employees of the Federal Government of the United States.

It is the largest and most successful workplace charity campaign in the world and by law it is the only campaign authorized to solicit for and collect charitable contributions from U.S. federal employees, including civil servants, postal workers, and military personnel.

OPM has plenary authority under 5 CFR (Code of Federal Regulations) part 950 to administer the CFC in compliance with legal standards. Public Law (Pub. L.) 100-202 Sec.  101(m), requires OPM to maintain eligibility criteria and public accountability standards for CFC participation by organizations.

These CFC legal criteria are designed to offer donors the assurance of the integrity of the program's participating charitable organizations.

OPM starts with eight core standards of eligibility and public accountability and three core administrative requirements a charitable organization must satisfy in order to participate and continue in the CFC.  These standards require certifications, documentation, audit, and an annual report to demonstrate compliance.

The CFC mission is to promote and support philanthropy through a program that is employee focused, cost–efficient, and effective in providing all federal employees the opportunity to improve the quality of life for all.

The Combined Federal Campaign is more than a means for federal employees to provide critical financial support to causes they believe in:  it  affords donors the opportunity to meet Support Our Troops^® and see how  their assistance will help us look out for those who look out for all of us here at home.

"I look forward to the campaign because we can to talk to people who believe in what we believe in so strongly,” says Bruce Jonas, Esquire, a director in SupportOurTroops.Org.  “I’m a civilian, with a sister in the military, and this gives all of us a means to step up for the people like here who step up for all of us.”

The federal campaign gives federal employees a chance to easily make a major difference for the troops and their families through the many programs run by SOT^®.

Federal employees can help Support Our Troops® by designating to  code 31529.

Good things like Find-A-Group™ do not spring from thin air.  Someone, always a single human being,  has the idea. Then other human beings pitch in to help do all the work necessary to bring the idea into being.  

Here, the idea for the index was Martin Boire’s.   Then, Nancy Coriale, Daytona Beach Shores, Florida, did all the research work compiling the initial list of groups.  She located the groups, and compiled all of the information for each which you see in this index.  Nancy is what Martin Boire calls a “constant gardener.”  Retired, she is also busy doing volunteer work to better her community and America.  The list was then edited by Berkley college student Giuliana Conti, in  California.   Then high school and middle school students Angela and Connie Pitenis, Ormond Beach, Florida, edited that first gathering.  Next, a final week-long proofing, cross-checking, additions and deletions, was tediously performed by Janet Anania, Port Orange, Florida.  Ever-dedicated to this project  from day one, she is a true American heroine.  Protective of her privacy, it is hoped that nonetheless the troops and their families someday come to know of the risks she has taken, sacrifices she has made, and  things she has done to set forth something good and permanent upon the  landscape of America for them.   Martin Boire then went back through the database for two solid days, looking at each group, their mission statements, checking their websites for currency,  and the uniformity of abbreviations, layouts and the like in the database. 

All of this data to start this consolidated, living searchable, list of groups, was then uploaded and made operational on the website by Marco Conti, California, who had done a great deal of research in locating and customizing a software application to be ready to operate this program.  Marco is another uniquely American participant.   Marco likes to describe himself as a liberal, and that he was drawn to this project out of his belief that regardless the mission, we always stick up for the troops who stick up for all of us. 

Most Americans are wonderfully complex full-thinking people, with multiple facets to their beliefs and personalities.  And in creating this Find-A-Group™ service  those types have once again pleasantly and with determination worked together for the good of all, just like people of civility of old.

All for the sake of the amazing troops and their stalwart families who so diligently look out for all of us.

People  want to help.  People need to know where.   People have a very difficult time finding out how to help, where to help, and who is doing what. People need a known, trustworthy avenue through which to connect up to such groups.  That where SupportOurTroops.org comes in.

Find-A-Group™ facilitates everyone who wants to help.  It connects up those who want to do something with the groups and charities through which they can do it.

People  want to help.  People need to know where.   People have a very difficult time finding out how to help, where to help, and who is doing what. People need a known, trustworthy avenue through which to connect up to such groups.  That's where SupportOurTroops.org stepped up.

Find-A-Group™ facilitates everyone who wants to help.  It connects up those who want to do something with the groups and charities through which they can do it.  People can search by location, or particular service activity, and view contact information.  People can link up and help each other.

This service is operated through the SupportOurTroops.Org website because that is the only means of delivery by which everyone, everywhere, can get at the information instantly, particularly on the spur of the moment when they are trying and desiring to do something.  This is not the government.  This is the people.

Find-A-Group™ is a consolidated, editable, searchable list of all charities and organizations doing anything benefiting the active duty troops or their families.   Hundreds are listed. Moe can be added. It serves all troop-related charities, groups and organizations, which people want to find and access in order help the troops. People can submit additional charities, or organizations benefiting the troops or their families.

Why do this?  Because it is impossible to enough for the troops (our deployed neighbors).  The job of looking out for America’s troops and their families is big, with many special aspects and unique needs, and it takes many interested groups to do it.   Most states are printing our Support Our Troops.org website address on our official Support Our Troops! license plates we are methodically getting issued. Participants in the Seal of Assurance™ use it. It is thus widespread.  We are therefore in a position to provide this badly needed and highly useful service to other troop-support groups and to the public.

And in the end helping everyone who is trying to help is the best way to help the troops the most.