EIU Media Relations

University Newsletter

EIU's Annual SECA fundraising drive underway

Dear Members of the EIU Community,

Please consider joining your EIU colleagues in supporting this year’s State Employees Combined Appeal (SECA), an annual fundraising campaign that provides all state employees the opportunity to unite in an expression of philanthropy. Originally established in 1983, SECA is a workplace-giving campaign that allows State Employees to donate to nearly 1,500 charities at local, state, national, and international levels. Since the beginning of the campaign, State employees have contributed more than $84 million to thousands of worthy causes!

SECA is a state-wide effort that gives State employees the opportunity to contribute to local and national charitable organizations through payroll deductions and/or one-time donations. During this particular season of giving we hope you can consider an expression of solidarity with our colleagues from across the State.

If you choose to participate through a one-time gift or payroll deduction, you can provide support to one or more agencies of your choice. The SECA campaign supports more than 1,000 charities and non-profit agencies. For example, one such organization is the United Way of Coles County, which provides resources to a wide range of local organizations serving our local community. Gifts directed to our local United Way will be invested in support of neighbors in need. You are sure to find a charity that aligns with your values and inspires your philanthropy. To participate in the campaign, please visit https://illinoiscomptroller.gov/constituent-services/state-employee-services/seca to review all participating charitable organizations. There is also a “Charity Search” function on the SECA website so you can look for any charity of your choice.

There are two ways that you can participate:

1. Complete and sign a “Pledge Form” and turn it in for processing. There is a link for the SECA Pledge Form under the “resources” tab on the website mentioned above – you can fill in the form electronically or you can print it off and fill in the blanks with pen and ink. SECA pledge forms should be sent to me by campus mail before the deadline of Friday, December 1, 2023.
2. Complete the online form directly with the Comptroller’s office. Simply click on the link that says “Pledge Now!” and it will take you to an immediate fillable form. The Comptroller’s Office will connect with EIU payroll if you are giving via payroll deduction.

Any gifts you make to the campaign via payroll deduction will not commence until after the new year. For more information or if you need help completing your pledge form, please email EIU’s SECA Ambassador Ken Wetstein at kawetstein@eiu.edu.