SECC is Seeking a New State Campaign Manager

Will the SECC continue?

Yes! The State Employee Charitable Campaign is founded in Texas Statute and the Texas Administrative Code (and here) and will continue in 2027. The State Campaign Manager is one of many organizations that help the State Policy Committee ensure that the campaign is carried out each year.

What will happen to employee pledge payments?

Employee pledge payments are processed by the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, Universities, and SECC Local Campaign Managers, not by the State Campaign Manager.

All pledge payments will continue to be processed and distributed to the charity(ies) designated by employees, per guidelines established in the Texas Administrative Code.

Who do I contact if I have questions?

Per contract guidelines, all questions regarding the RFP application will only be answered by contacting the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts: Kathleen Graham, Contracts Attorney, Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, Email: contracts@cpa.texas.gov

The State Campaign Manager (SCM) assists the State Policy Committee (SPC) in the day-to-day administration of the campaign throughout the year. 

Transition level of impact: High

As the SCM contract transitions, careful attention must be paid to the continuity of various key duties. These duties during the year involve a variety of tasks, including, but not limited to:

• SCM providing a calendar of statewide activities, events, and deadlines to the SPC; 
• SCM maintaining current budget information regarding the SECC;
• In accordance with the SPC Chair and General Counsel, SCM staff coordinating and attending SPC meetings, including agenda preparation and posting. SCM provides draft agenda for SPC meetings to General Counsel and the SPC Chair at least 48 hours prior to the posting deadline, and provides meeting process support, organization, and dissemination of meeting materials to SPC members no later than one week prior to the date of the meeting;
• SCM staff acts as liaison to the Secretary of State to post agendas for SPC 
• meetings in the Texas Register and records meetings in compliance with the Texas Open Meetings Laws;
• SCM staff serves on subcommittees as designated by the SPC Chair;
• SCM works on an ad hoc basis with the SPC Chair throughout the year to address any issues as they arise;
• SCM staff facilitates the annual application process for Statewide Charity Federations and their affiliates supporting the SPC's application review;
• SCM designs annual statewide campaign materials and provides for the timely submission of these items for review and recommendation to the State Policy Committee (SPC), as required by State Statute;
• SCM staff maintain the SECC website with SPC guidance;
• SCM staff maintains office and electronic files that include approved SPC meeting minutes and all meeting materials, and acts as SECC records retention administrator according to any schedules and procedures approved by the SPC.

The State Campaign Manager (SCM) provides appropriate administrative support to the State Advisory Committee (SAC) in its periodic work in the campaign.

Transition level of impact: Low

SCM support of the State Advisory Committee includes:

• Assisting with any needed understanding and training in statutory responsibilities, distribution of prepared agenda and meeting materials, and help in convening scheduled conference meetings/ calls/ webinars;
• As part of the contract application, the SCM 2027 applicant will prepare a budget, timeline, and campaign plan for review by the SAC, to facilitate the Committee's feedback on these items for the State Policy Commission's consideration when making final contract decisions;
• SCM will design statewide campaign materials and provide for the timely submission of these items to the SAC for its review and recommendation to the SPC, as required by State Statute;

With the SCM contract transition, continuity will be maintained of these key SAC's duties, falling primarily in Q1 and Q2 of 2027.

The State Campaign Manager (SCM) provides key assistance to Local Campaign Managers (LCMs) in their day-to-day administration roles throughout the year. From assisting them with their annual LCM application to serve in that role, to their facilitation of local charity applications, to managing coordination with state and higher education campaign contacts, the SCM is an essential resource and guide for LCMs.

Transition level of impact: High

As the SCM contract transitions, careful attention must be paid to the continuity of various LCM duties. The first of which will be to apply to the LCM role in December/January, preparing budgets and local campaign plans.

The support of the SCM for LCM duties during the year involve a variety of tasks, including, but not limited to:

• SCM providing leadership and assistance to LCMs regarding SECC management, rules, and administration;
• SCM staff training LCMs on campaign techniques and best practices, while reinforcing the governing statute and rules for managing campaigns and soliciting SECC donations;
• SCM staff plans and organizes an annual SECC conference/webinar for all SECC stakeholders, in part for LCMs to satisfy training requirements, but also to contribute to the overall improved knowledge, management, and execution of the SECC;
• SCM provide LCMs with an information guide designed to assist with their management and administration of the SECC within their own local areas, with emphasis on any legislative changes impacting the campaign and participating organizations; 
• SCM works with Local Campaign Managers and the Local Employee Committees that they support, to implement minimum standards for Employee Campaign Coordinator training and management;
• SCM staff act as a liaison between the Local Employee Committees (LEC) and LCMs that support them and the Secretary of State to post (LEC) meetings in the Texas Register as required by the Texas Open Meetings Act;
• SCM staff is available, schedule permitting, for assistance with local Campaign Coordinator trainings around the state upon request from LCMs and/or LEC Chairs, at no additional cost to local campaigns. SCM staff is also available, schedule permitting, to assist with and attend post-campaign local events;
• SCM provides a calendar of statewide activities, events, and deadlines to LCMs;
• SCM makes an SPC-approved online SECC local charity application available to all LCMs, enabling them to share with any interested local charity federations, affiliates and unaffiliated charities;
• SCM staff supervise and oversee the development and design of statewide campaign results reporting, including local campaign area totals as required by State Statute and Administrative Rules;
• SCM provide LCMs with campaign materials that have been approved by the SPC for local campaign use, by posting them on the SECC website;
• SCM centrally orders campaign materials, such as standard pledge forms, posters, and other agreed-upon campaign materials to reduce costs for LCMs and improve consistency of materials among local campaigns, with the cost of such items accounted for in individual LCM budgets;
• SCM staff supervises the selection, order, and distribution process of statewide campaign incentive items, working to offer LCMs direct access to an approved vendor;
• SCM informs each LCM of their obligation to make upfront quarterly payments to the SCM budget for statewide campaign development and administration costs. These costs are based on the percentage of total campaign dollars raised by each local campaign area and applicable Statewide Charity Federations in the most recently completed campaign.
• SCM assists LCMs in developing social media and virtual tools to assist in the promotion and management of the SECC;
• SCM develops a self-assessment tool that Local Managers can complete to provide the State Policy Committee with direct feedback on their performance and overall campaign operations and effectiveness.

The State Campaign Manager (SCM) primarily provides administrative support to Statewide Charity Federations in their application to and participation in the SECC.

Transition level of impact: Low

With the SCM contract transition, the key item to maintain continuity will be ensuring the approved statewide charity application form and deadlines are available to them in January 2027.

Other SCM support of Statewide Charity Federations throughout the year include, but are not limited to:

• SCM staff schedules and conducts an administrative review of Statewide Charity Federation applications;
• SCM staff make completed applications for Statewide Charity Federations and their affiliates available to the SPC for their review and approval;
• SCM staff work with annually approved Statewide Charity Federations to participate in the campaign by assisting them with employee engagement strategies, as well as information and tools needed to promote their SECC involvement;
• SCM informs applicable Statewide Federation of their obligation to make upfront quarterly payments to the SCM budget for statewide campaign development and administration costs. These costs are based on the percentage of total campaign dollars raised by each local campaign area and applicable Statewide Charity Federations in the most recently completed campaign;
• SCM is responsible for the timely payment of all properly itemized and received invoices associated with the SCM budget using funds collected through up-front cost payments from LCMs and Statewide Charity Federations.

The State Campaign Manager (SCM) provides assistance to key state agency Statewide Campaign Coordinators in their roles facilitating the SECC for their overall agency.

Transition level of impact: Medium

Key support consists of such items as:

• Assisting Coordinators in accessing annual campaign materials;
• Using the current approved charity list;
• Training and use of online giving software;
• Accessing and user set-up of Square credit card processing software. 

As the SCM contract transitions, attention needs to be given to connecting Coordinators with their new contact and detailing how support will be given to them before, during, and after the campaign.