The State Employee Charitable Campaign (SECC) is a time for state, higher education, and retired state employees to come together, have fun, and do good.
Since 1993, state, higher education, and retired employees in Texas have generously contributed more than $214 million through the SECC. These funds are providing aid to their families, friends, neighbors, and countless others across the Lone Star state.
In running the State Employee Charitable Campaign (SECC), you and your team members are helping those who need it most across Texas. When you run a campaign, your employees’ donations are combined with thousands of other Texas state employees to directly support the work of crucial nonprofits in state, country, and world.
You (the Campaign Coordinator) and your team members lead your agency or University’s SECC efforts and join state agencies in supporting communities across Texas.
Your State Employee Charitable Campaign (SECC) takes place at your workplace. Whether that’s remote or in-person, your campaign can bring people together to raise money for the organizations that your employees care about.
The State Employee Charitable Campaign (SECC) is open from September 1 through October 31 each year, allowing agencies and Universities to hold their individual efforts at any time in those months. Your agency/University can choose the time that best suits your workload.
Campaigns are usually 1-4 weeks long and can be virtual, in-person, or both. Employees can easily donate to their favorite nonprofits and participate in engaging activities.
Campaign goals are typically set to increase the dollar amount of donations and/or to increase the number of employees who participate in your campaign. Click here for a sample goal-setting tool. You can also review previous results at your agency/University to set realistic goals.
Important note: Participation by a state employee in the State Employee Charitable Campaign is voluntary. The Texas Administrative Code specifies that, “a state agency or its representative establishing a goal for 100% of the agency's state employees” is viewed as coercive and is not allowed.
The SECC strongly discourages coercion. Giving is a personal decision and the SECC respects your choice to give, to which charities receive your give as well as your choice not to give.
If you feel you are being coerced to donate money at any time during this campaign, please submit a written complaint to:
Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts
P.O. Box 13528, Capitol Station
Austin, Texas 78711-3528
Please contact your SECC Local Campaign Manager for help in scheduling charity involvement. Expand the list of names to see your region's contact(s).
We offer a set of general SECC talking points and a series of customizable campaign emails that can be sent out to your staff at the times and on the days that best suit your campaign timeline. Click here for talking points, emails, logos and more resources for your use.
SECC offers the convenience of payroll deduction, making it easy to contribute a smaller amount each month throughout the year. Your contribution shows your commitment to your community!
For examples of what contributing $2, $5, $10, $20, and $45 per month can do, click here (and then scroll to the bottom of the page).
Your contribution is tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. Payroll contributions are considered post-tax, not pre-tax.
On behalf of all those who will benefit directly from your generosity, we extend our sincere thanks.
There are no expectations, and you are not obligated to make a contribution. Any amount that you do contribute will be helpful and very much appreciated—every little bit adds up! The SECC is a demonstration of the impact that you and your team members can have in assisting those in need.
State employees may contribute to charities of their choice through the SECC via a payroll, cash, check, or credit/debit card contribution. For more details, click here.
Non-State employees (examples include contractors, university students, vendors) may contribute through the SECC by paying with cash, check, or with a credit/debit card via a Square card reader. Non-State employees may only use the online contribution system if they have a state-issued work email address to login and they receive a payroll through the state payroll system.
While State Agencies and Higher Education systems must offer payroll deductions by Statute, they are free to limit access to cash, check, and Square credit card payment options.
Federations and charities that participate in the SECC meet high standards in order to be listed. These standards are intended to protect you.
The Texas Legislature created eligibility criteria (see Statute and Code) by which charities and federations can participate in the SECC. In some instances, when a charity applies to either the Local Employee Committee or the State Policy Committee, the eligibility criteria is not met. An eligibility appeals process exists to resolve discrepancies.
Two of the reasons why you may not see your favorite charity listed in the directory of charities are:
- The charity may not have applied for eligibility to your area's Local Employee Committee or may not have applied as part of an eligible Statewide Federation in that group's eligibility application to the State Policy Committee.
- The charity did apply for eligibility but the application was not approved by either the Local Employee Committee and/or the State Policy Committee.
Across Texas, Local Employee Committees and the State Policy Committee of state employees review eligibility applications. These people are interested in ensuring that charities listed in the directory meet high standards so that your charitable gift is used in the manner you intended.