In 2025, state employees contributed more than $3.5 million to more than 5,000 nonprofits nationwide!
These contributions help address critical issues such as youth, health, human services, education, community improvement, older adults, civil rights & advocacy, and animals & the environment.
Through the Our Promise campaign, state employees can choose to support causes that matter most to them, whether it’s providing meals for the hungry, supporting educational programs and so much more. This collective effort not only amplifies individual contributions but also fosters a sense of community and shared purpose among state employees.
By giving through Our Promise, California State Employees are making a lasting impact and helping to build a better future for all Californians.
How To Give
To get started, access Cal Employee Connect which is where you view your monthly paycheck and other employee services.
Click on your “User Profile” and click on the button that says “Donate now to your favorite nonprofit(s)” and you will be directed to the Our Promise donation site. If you are an existing donor, you must first log into Cal Employee Connect to access the Our Promise donation site to cancel or modify your donation!
Search for a nonprofit that you’re passionate about. You can give to any valid 501(c)(3) organization in the United States. You can also view GuideStar by clicking here to easily find an organization you’re passionate about.
Sign-up to give your donation via monthly payroll deduction or a one-time donation. New or modified payroll deductions start in January 2026. All payroll deductions continue until you choose to stop your deduction.
Giving Made Simple: Our Promise Video Guides
Quick videos to guide you through every step of the Our Promise giving campaign.
If you have any questions about giving, contact our Donor Services Hotline at (888) 863-6466 or email us at ourpromiseca@uwccr.org.
Frequently-Asked Questions (FAQs)
About the Campaign & Giving
Managing Your Donation
- Log into the Our Promise portal via Cal Employee Connect
- Go to your user profile and click “Donate Now to Your Favorite Nonprofit” and you’ll be directed to the Our Promise website to complete your donation.
There are two ways depending on the time of the year:
- Active Campaign Season (October 1 – December 31): Donations can be modified directly through the Our Promise portal. Once logged in, select “review/change” donation to make any changes to new/existing donations.
- Post Campaign Season (January 1 – September 30): Please contact Donor Services through email at: ourpromiseca@uwccr.org or by phone call at (888) 863-6466.
Log into Cal Employee Connect and access the Our Promise donation portal to review your current deduction and designated nonprofits.
Yes, a 13.5% campaign fee is applied to cover the costs of administering the campaign. This fee is deducted from distributions to your designated nonprofit(s) and collected from the initial payments until the full amount has been recovered.
The California State Controller’s Office also assesses a $0.59 transaction fee for each payroll deduction. This fee is subject to change.
Donated funds shall be sent no later than 45 days after the end of the month in which the donations or recommended donations are received unless the recipient charitable organization is not eligible to be sent the funds.
If a designated nonprofit is determined to be ineligible, you will be contacted and given the opportunity to select an alternative nonprofit recipient. If you do not make a new nonprofit selection, your donation will be directed to United Way California Capital Region, the default alternate nonprofit selection.
Donated funds shall be sent no later than 45 days after the end of the month in which the donations or recommended donations are received unless the recipient charitable organization is not eligible to be sent the funds. If a designated nonprofit is determined to be ineligible, you will be contacted and given the opportunity to select an alternative nonprofit recipient. If you do not make a new nonprofit selection, your donation will be directed to United Way California Capital Region, the default alternate nonprofit selection.
Tax Information
No. Donations are tax-deductible, but they are taken from after-tax income.
Credit Card Donations
Please retain donation receipt(s) for your tax records. Your donation may be tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
Payroll Donations
Because payroll donations are received over time through payroll deductions, tax acknowledgment information will be provided as donations are received. Please retain these acknowledgments, along with your payroll records, for tax purposes. Donations may be tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. Donated funds shall be sent no later than 45 days after the end of the month in which the donations or recommended donations are made unless the recipient charitable organization is not eligible to be sent the funds.
The IRS requires:
- Your pledge confirmation
- Your final pay stub for the tax year
To resend your confirmation:
- Log into the Our Promise portal
- Go to “My Donation History”
- Select “Resend Confirmation” for the appropriate gift
Pay stubs can be obtained through your payroll department.
Retiree Giving
Yes. Through CalPERS, you can continue donations via your retirement check.
Note: Current payroll deductions do not automatically carry over into retirement—you must re-enroll.
- Complete the appropriate form on the Our Promise website
- Changes and cancellations are processed through CalPERS by the Our Promise team