The Maryland Charity Campaign allows Maryland State Employees and Retirees to give to over 700 participating charitable organizations. The participating charities serve the citizens of Maryland and people of other countries in a variety of ways. Donating to the Maryland Charity Campaign provides meals to the hungry, services to the disabled, funds to research disease and technology to clean the environment.

Each fall, pledge cards and the Maryland Charity Campaign Agency Guide and Directory are distributed to all State employees and retirees. This card enables the contributor to specify the charitable organization(s) and the amount of contribution or as a payroll deduction throughout the year. The Maryland Charity Campaign runs annually from September to November with the payroll deductions commencing the following January. The Agency Guide and Directory lists all participating charities with a brief description of the services they provide and information on how to contact the organization.

The Office of the Secretary of State annually reviews the applications to participate in the Maryland Charity Campaign. Applications are mailed to charitable organizations during the last week in November and are typically due at the end of January.

In order for a charitable organization to be eligible to participate in the Maryland Charity Campaign, it must:

be currently registered with the Charitable Organizations Division of the Office of the Secretary of State and in full compliance with the Maryland Solicitations Act;
submit various state and federal documents, including articles of incorporation, by-laws or other organizing document, a 501(c)(3) tax determination letter issued by the Internal Revenue Service, and a copy of the organization's most recent IRS Form 990;
demonstrate that the charity has provided, for at least two years immediately preceding the calendar year of the campaign, a significant level of service to the residents of Maryland or those in need in other countries; and
demonstrate that the charity spends less than 25% of the organization's total revenue on management and fund-raising expenses.