Texas' State Employee Charitable Campaign (SECC) is one of the largest state employee campaigns in the nation.
Created by the Texas legislation in 1993, the first campaign was conducted the following year and raised $2,027,751.
Through the efforts and generosity of state employees since, Texas agency and higher education employees (both active and retired) have contributed $195 million through the SECC — providing aid to their family, friends, neighbors, and countless others in need across the Lone Star state.
Official annual campaign dates: September 1 – October 31.
The SECC is governed at both the statewide and local levels. This ensures that the campaign is conducted fairly and equitably under a strict set of guidelines which give donors confidence in both the charities that benefit and the methods used to solicit.
At the state level, a committee of state employees called the State Policy Committee (SPC) provides governance and oversight. Three members are appointed by the Governor and three each by the Lt. Governor and the Comptroller of Public Accounts. They are responsible for a campaign plan, a budget and ensuring the eligibility of statewide organizations. The SPC also hires a state campaign manager to administer the campaign.
The State Policy Committee establishes the organization and structure of the state employee charitable campaign at the state and local levels ... including:
- establishing local campaign areas;
- appointing any local employee committees the state policy committee considers necessary to assist the state policy committee with evaluating applications from organizations that seek to participate in the state employee charitable campaign only in a local campaign area; and
- appointing any local campaign managers the state policy committee considers necessary to administer the state employee charitable campaign in a local campaign area.
Each fall, state employees are given the opportunity to learn about the charities in the SECC, choose which ones they wish to help, and then fill out a pledge form to indicate how much they wish to donate to which groups.
One of the great benefits of the SECC is the wide variety of charities and causes represented — there’s something for everyone. They range from local organizations and statewide organizations to large and well-known national and international groups.
Giving to a favorite charity through the SECC is an easy, effective and cost-efficient way to give. These contributions help improve the quality of life for people in communities locally, across the country and around the world.